The Latest News From Canada's Worker Co-op Sector
October 2022 Volume 14 Issue 10
In This Issue

  • CWCF 2022 Conference:
  • Featured Workshop: Tools of Accountability for Worker Co-operator Collective Wellbeing, Saturday, November 19
  • Changes to Hybrid Nature of Conference
  • Business Conversions to Social Purpose Enterprises - for Equity-Deserving Groups
  • Racial Justice Funding Programs Deadline Approaching
  • Co-op Identity Survey Deadline Approaching!
  • Viridian Energy Co-operative Spreads the Warmth of Community, by Kenzie Love
  • La coop Viridian Energy propage la chaleur humaine, par Kenzie Love
  • Sociocracy - a Compelling Governance Model for Worker Co-ops
  • Documentary Celebrates CWCF Member Island Flower Growers Co-op
  • Welcoming a New Member Co-op
  • Welcoming a New CWCF Staff Member
  • Upcoming CWCF Events
  • Online Courses Available from Local Food and Farm Co-ops
Featured Conference Workshop: Tools of Accountability for Worker Co-operator Collective Wellbeing, Saturday November 19

Engaging workshops are always a highlight of CWCF’s Conferences, and this year promises to be no exception. As one of the workshops, CWCF is pleased to feature Tools of Accountability for Worker Co-operator Collective Wellbeing, presented by Daniella Preisler. Originally from Chile, Daniella is a past board member of the US Federation of Worker Co-ops, a board member of CICOPA-North America, and a consultant on co-operative development in the Latinx community. 

Daniella will present on how the keystone for democratic leadership starts with a clear and shared process for accountability. The workshop will share how to unlearn oppressive top-down hierarchical structures and embrace conflict prevention strategies, acknowledging that conflict is an organic process that allows us to grow. In this session, we will share practical tools and processes to put a shared process for accountability in place.

Register now to participate in this and other Conference sessions!

Changes to Hybrid Nature of Conference
By Hazel Corcoran

CWCF had planned to hold a fully hybrid Conference in Vancouver next month, with something at nearly every time slot to be available virtually as well as in-person. We regret to announce that we have realized that a hybrid Conference to the degree we'd planned is beyond our capacity, at least this year.

Business Conversions to Social Purpose Enterprises - for Equity-Deserving Groups*
November 16, 7-9 p.m., YWCA Hotel, Vancouver

This free session will cover the context and types of Social Purpose Organizations as well as explore the possibility that Equity-Seeking Groups might feel alignment with the structure of Social Purpose Organizations, as they differ from traditional business models that have often underserved and under-represented them. We will also explore how transitioning to co-operatives, B-Corps, and Social Enterprises could be the right fit. There will be broad discussion about whether and how to transition to a Social Purpose Organization (SPO), the benefits of transitioning, and sources of support. Additionally, we will hear from an existing SPO about their challenges and successes. Questions are encouraged throughout the presentation.

Register here.

*by Equity-Deserving Groups, we include BIPOC people, people with disabilities, women, LQBTQ+, and youth.
Racial Justice Funding Programs Deadline Approaching

CWCF's BIPOC Training Bursary and Racial Justice Project Grants were first launched in Fall 2022, as part of CWCF’s JEDI Action Plan. The first round of applications closes Oct 31, 2022.

If you need more time to prepare your application, contact Rebecca at exec-assist@canadianworker.coop

Co-op Identity Survey Deadline Approaching!

Have you taken a few moments to answer the #CoopIdentity survey? If you haven’t done so, or you started filling it in and didn’t finish, the deadline is next Monday 31st October!  

The survey is an important step in our examination of whether the cooperative identity–our principles and values, our cooperative difference–is well defined and understood. Help us shape the future of our movement: take 10 minutes and add your voice.

If you have already answered the survey and encouraged others to do so, please accept our sincere thanks.
Viridian Energy Co-operative Spreads the Warmth of Community
By Kenzie Love


In 2012, three alumni from Vancouver Island University’s Green Building & Renewable Energy Program, inspired by the publicity surrounding the International Year of the Co-op, decided to create a worker co-op of their own: a renewable energy installer that would combine their skill sets while meeting the triple bottom line. The result was Viridian Energy Co-operative.


La coop Viridian Energy propage la chaleur humaine
Par Kenzie Love

La coop Viridian Energy a été fondée en 2012 par trois diplômés du programme en bâtiment écologique et énergies renouvelables de l’Université Vancouver Island. Inspirée par l’engouement de l’Année internationale des coopératives, l’équipe a choisi cette formule pour lancer son service d’installation d’énergie renouvelable. Viridian Energy est née de leur désir de mettre leur expertise au service de la triple performance.
Sociocracy - a Compelling Governance Model for Worker Co-ops
By Kenzie Love

A growing number of co-ops have adopted sociocracy, which they believe leads to more engaged members and better decision making.
Documentary Celebrates CWCF Member Island Flower Growers Co-operative

Growing Slow, a short film focusing on Vancouver Island's Island Flower Growers Co-operative, is now available to watch on YouTube. Director Nick Ogden was the recipient of CWCF's 2021 young adult arts and culture grant, which he used to help produce the film.
Welcoming a New Member Co-op

We're excited to announce GIA Consulting Co-operative of Vancouver as CWCF's newest member. Please join us in congratulating them!
Welcoming a New CWCF Staff Member

CWCF is pleased to announce the hiring of Janielle Maxwell as Project Coordinator for the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)
Social Acquisition Project. Read more about her here.
Upcoming CWCF Events


Note: All of the webinars will begin at 12 p.m. ET.

Image courtesy Molly Graham, artist
Online Courses Available from Local Food and Farm Co-ops

Local Food and Farm Co-ops is now offering two online courses starting in November to support your co-op, small food business or social enterprise. Launch your business or bring more co-operative team building to any workplace and take your organization to the next level with these courses. 

Each online course includes:
  • Access to the Pollinators of Change peer-to-peer online network
  • A 10-month online course with downloadable materials, tools, templates, resources and exercises for your team
  • Guest speakers and co-facilitation from food/farm/co-op experts
  • Small group peer sessions to learn with others at your stage of development
  • Ecosystem based relationship building to help you identify key organizations, funding opportunities and partners in the local food and farming sector best suited to your needs
  • Weekly online engagement and monthly live Zoom sessions

Limited spots available. Limited number of subsidies available for those facing barriers to participation thanks to Kindred Credit Union, The Co-operators, Gay Lea Foods Heritage Museum and Cooperative Education Centre.

Please visit https://www.localfoodandfarm.coop/courses or get in touch with LFFC for details at info@localfoodandfarm.coop.
The Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) is a national, bilingual grassroots membership organization of and for worker co-operatives, related types of co-operatives (multi-stakeholder co-ops and worker-shareholder co-ops), and organizations that support the growth and development of worker cooperatives. CWCF's e-newsletter is available free of charge to anyone with an e-mail address and an interest in worker co-operative developments in Canada. Please send any comments and suggestions, or news about your co-op, to:  

Kenzie Love
Editor of CWCF Newsletter 
Fo.(403) 276-8250