News
Check out this eight-page special report on co-operatives and the International Year, published in the Globe and Mail on May 15. Download the .pdf version by clicking here (large file).
Co-ops get a new representative in Parliament, make their way to the White House and get profiled in the Globe and Mail. All that and more in this month's issue of 2012 Matters. Click here to read it online and sign up for your copy here.
In recognition of the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives, the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, MP for Ottawa-Vanier, was appointed Liberal Advocate for Co-operatives by the Honourable Bob Rae, Liberal Interim Leader. Read this press release for more information.
Two large donations are helping the Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF) of Canada reach its $12 million fundraising goal. In April, Vancity pledged $250,000 to CDF's Better World Campaign and on May 3, First West Credit Union made a pledge of $150,000. Both generous gifts will help CDF reduce global poverty through co-op development abroad.
The "Show Us Your Co-op!" photo contest ended on April 30, 2012. Congratulations to our winner, Kootenay Co-op Radio, and to the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Hauterive who wins the second prize! Click here to view the photos of the winners, the honourable mentions, and all the participants.
On April 25, volunteers from The Co-operators, Conexus Credit Union and North Central Family Centre spent their afternoon picking up trash in Regina as part of the International Year of Co-operatives. Learn more by reading this article in the Regina Leader-Post.
Registration is now open for the 2012 CCA/CCCM Congress, taking place at Le Centre Sheraton in downtown Montreal, June 27-29. Click here to register now. For more information, visit our Congress page.
On April 12 a new Facebook and Twitter badge was released, allowing you to show your support for the global co-operative movement and the International Year of Co-operatives. Learn more and then get your twibbon today!
Check out the latest issue of 2012 Matters for news about the International Year of Co-operatives in Canada. In our 12th issue: Congress registration now open, Cirque du Soleil at the 2012 Summit, Gay Lea spreading the word about IYC and more! Click here.
Cirque du Soleil is creating a special performance for the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec City. The world-renowned dance troupe will perform their unique show at the conference gala dinner on October 10. Click here to read more.
Take a look at this article in The Western Producer to learn about one of the many ways Co-operative enterprises build a better world.
In our first online contest for the International Year, we're asking co-operators across the country to take a picture of their co-op and display their IYC pride with window decals from The Flag Shop. The contest closes on April 30. Click here to learn more.
L'Année internationale des coopératives constitue un moment privilégié pour se remémorer la philosophie d'Alphonse Desjardins. Dans un livre construit autour de citations choisies, Monique F. Leroux nous fait plonger dans la philosophie du fondateur du Mouvement Desjardins et montre à quel point le modèle coopératif est pertinent pour relever les défis de 2012. Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus et pour visionner la vidéo.
L'Année internationale des coopératives (AIC) a été saluée par le gouvernement du Québec non seulement en réaffirmant l'importance des coopératives dans la société québécoise, mais aussi en annonçant une série de mesures en soutien au développement du mouvement coopératif.
2012, l'Année internationale des coopératives, est une occassion de mieux faire connaître le modèle d'affaires coopératif. Ce modèle aurait mieux résisté à la crise financière que les entreprises privées et peut constituer une solution au manque de relève dans les PME québécoises.
On March 20 the Ontario Co-operative Association (On Co-op) helds its annual Queen's Park Reception at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. An impressive four MPPs made statements to welcome On Co-op and encourage celebration of the International Year and the contribution of co-ops to Ontario communities! Click here to read the statements.
Dans le contexte de l'année 2012, Année internationale des coopératives, vingt-neuf personnalités du milieu des affaires ont signé une déclaration commune reconnaissant l'apport des coopératives et des mutuelles dans le développement d'un Québec économiquement viable, socialement équitable et écologiquement durable. Cliquez ici pour lire la déclaration.
Melvin Doiron, directeur général de la Coopérative de développement régional de l'Acadie, était reçu à l'émission de Radio-Canada Luc et Luc, le dimanche 18 mars dernier, pour parler de l'impact des coopératives en Acadie. Cliquer ici pour en savoir plus.
En cette année 2012, déclarée année des coopératives par les Nations Unies, l’École des sciences de la gestion de l’UQAM lance son nouveau programme court au deuxième cycle en gestion des entreprises sociales et collectives. Ce programme répond à une demande croissante du secteur de l’économie sociale et vise à former des entrepreneurs et des gestionnaires capables de conjuguer une mission sociale et des activités économiques au sein de leurs organisations. Les premiers étudiants sont attendus dès septembre 2012. Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus.
Congratulations to La Siembra for their success on CBC's new reality show, The Big Decision. La Siembra, a workers co-op best known for its line of Camino products, won the advice and investment of Arlene Dickinson, a well-known Canadian entrepreneur. If you caught the show you can send your feedback. Click here for details.
Click here to download an interview with La Siembra on CBC's Ottawa Morning radio show.
Starting in April and for the rest of 2012, Gay Lea Foods, the largest dairy co-op in the province of Ontario, will feature the IYC logo on its tubs of spreadable butter, Nordica cottage cheese and sour cream! Gay Lea is the first major Canadian producer co-op to include a message about the International Year on its products. Click here to read more.
Co-op grocery stores are finding new life in British Columbia's eat-local movement, just in time for the International Year of Co-operatives. Find out more with this article from BCBusiness magazine.
On March 13, Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development for Newfoundland and Labrador, made a statement in the House of Assembly recognizing co-operatives as integral to community and economic development. He encouraged all ministers to celebrate the value of co-ops. Click here to read the statement.
On March 6, Nunavut MLA Louis Tapardjuk, a former president of Arctic Co-operatives Ltd., made a statement to his fellow provincial leaders about the value of co-ops and the International Year. "It seems obvious that many of us would not be in our situation if we had not been taught about entrepreneurship through the co-op system," he told the Assembly. Read more here.
What's the difference between a bank and a credit union? Credit unions provide financial services the co-operative way. Find out more with this article from the Calgary Herald, which also discusses why many dissatisfied bank customers are unaware of the credit union difference.
Did you know that many co-ops offered women the right to vote before the government did? Dame Pauline Green, president of the International Co-operative Alliance, pays tribute to a variety of co-op women, including Dorimène Desjardins (who helped husband Alphonse Desjardins found Desjardins Group). Click here to see the video.
To celebrate International Women's Day, the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives has announced a list of influential, inspiring and accomplished women ambassadors who will speak at the event in October. Click here for more information.
Click here to listen to a segment about co-operatives and co-op research on CBC Radio's Information Morning show in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Professor Catherine Leviten-Reid explains how co-operatives benefit their members in a number of ways.
Les Affaires, a popular business newspaper from Quebec, presented a series of articles on co-operatives and the new face of the co-operative movement in January. Click here to read the article. (PDF, in French only)
MP Ed Komarnicki made a statement in the House of Commons on March 2, 2012 about the International Year and the significant contribution that co-ops make to Canada's economy. Click here to read the statement. Click here to watch the video.
This Montreal Gazette article talks about the value of co-ops and how they are gaining attention thanks to the International Year of Co-operatives. Read it here and visit our media page for more IYC coverage.
In celebration of the International Year of Co-operatives, Quebec's National Assembly adopted a motion that highlights the contribution of co-ops on February 21. Following the ceremony, Sam Hamad, Quebec's Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, signed a declaration to mark the International Year. Click here to read more.
Click here to view the newest item to be added to the downloadable tools section of our website: A pamphlet that features information about the International Year and fun ways to get involved in 2012.
Online registration is now open for the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives, taking place from October 8 to 11, 2012 in Quebec City. Click here to register for the 2012 Summit and the pre-event conference, Imagine 2012.
On February 15, David Ramsay, the minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Government of the Northwest Territories made a statement in support of small business and included a recognition of the International Year of Co-operatives. Click here to read his statement.
MP Ray Boughen pronounced a statement in the House of Commons on February 6, 2012 encouraging his colleagues to celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives. Click here to read the statement.
Click here for more details.
January 12, 2012, was Canada's launch of the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives! Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent a special greeting to kick off the launch. Read it here.
If you weren't in one of the 14 launch cities, you could join the celebrations with a live webcast, sponsored by the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives. Attendance online exceeded our expectations and www.canada2012.coop went down temporarily, but for those who couldn't log on in advance, an archive of the webcast is available here.
2012 is the International Year of Co-operatives and starting January 1, co-operatives across Canada and around the world have 366 days to raise the co-operative profile and celebrate the success of the co-op movement. The International Year will be launched in Canada in a truly Canadian fashion. On January 12, 14 simultaneous events will be hosted in 14 cities and a live Internet broadcast will be streamed from Ottawa - Canada's capital. What a great way to mark the start of our year!
The Rural and Co-operatives Secretariat, the Canadian Co-operative Association and the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité are pleased to launch the first of a series of IYC contests. Display your IYC sticker and you could win two free registrations to the Annual Congress planned for June 2012 in Montreal. Click here for more details and click here to view the sticker.
Wondering what the connection between co-operatives and the Occupy movement is? Click here to read an article written by John Restakis, executive director of the British Columbia Co-operative Association, to answer your questions.
And read this article by the Inter Press Service, an international news service that focuses on human rights, development, and social movements.
Click here to read an article in the Winnipeg Free Press about the success of Pollock's Hardware co-op, a community owned hardware store in Winnipeg's North End. The popular do-it-yourself hardware co-operative also plans to open a new building supplies store and social enterprise centre in 2012!
Denyse Guy, who will serve as CCA's new executive director beginning January 2, was interviewed by Axiom News about her hopes and goals for IYC 2012. Click here to read the article.
And click here to read about how co-ops provide services from "cradle to grave."
Toronto hasn't seen any new food co-ops for 28 years. But this is about to change! The West End Food Co-op is planning to open a small grocery store next spring. Click here to read more about their efforts in this column from the Toronto Star.
Click here to read an article in the Huffington Post that discusses why co-ops should be getting more attention in light of recent Occupy protests.
Wednesday November 16, 2011 was a day of great celebration and success for the global co-operative movement as the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) launched the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives at its general assembly in Cancun. Click here to watch live videos of the event or visit the ICA 2012 website for more information.
Australia is the first nation in the world to get a commemorative IYC 2012 coin. It features the logo for the International Year of Co-operatives and will be presented to Dame Pauline Green, president of the International Co-operative Alliance, at the general assembly in Cancun on November 18. Click here to read Australia's press release.
Listen to the interview that Dame Pauline Green, President of the International Co-operative Alliance, did with The Current in reaction to the Occupy Wall Street movement. She presents the co-operative model as being part of the solution.
Monday October 31, 2011, will be a historic day in the history of the United Nations and the global co-operative movement, as the UN General Assembly officially launches the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives. Click here to read more about the Canadians who will be attending and the schedule for the day or click here to watch live webcasts of the day's proceedings.
To launch the International Year in Canada, 12 events will take place throughout the country in 12 regions, all on Thursday January 12, 2012. Through web technology all 12 locations will be connected. Stay tuned as more information will be coming soon.
In conjunction with the launch of the United Nations' International Year of Co-operatives, the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives has unveiled its program covering topics of interest to the co-operative and mutual community. Read the complete announcement and the October Summit newsletter.
In conjunction with the launch of the United Nations’ International Year of Co-operatives, the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives has unveiled its program covering topics of interest to the co-operative and mutual community. Read the complete announcement here.
Launched in September 2011, the Global News Hub is a multi-lingual website - created by the UK-based Co-operative Press - shares news information on co-operative enterprises and initiatives from around the world. Click here to connect to the Global News Hub
