Our 2020 Annual Report is now available.

2020 Annual Report

Thank You To Our Funder

The Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) and Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) have been a vital part of healthy, thriving rural communities across western Canada for nearly 100 years. It’s an incredibly unique business built over time by many people with a lot of perseverance. This year perhaps more than any other, their robust network, infrastructure, and place in the supply chain played an essential role in ensuring rural people had safe access to food, fuel, and other necessities.

Thanks to their ongoing investment in rural and Indigenous communities across Western Canada, community leaders working together to do more, be better, and adapt to rapidly changing social, cultural, and economic environments also had numerous supports. One of these supports is Co-operatives First.

We thank the thousands of people that make up the CRS and FCL for their continued investment in our organization and their faith in the ingenuity of rural and Indigenous people.

Past Reports

2019 Annual Report
 
2018 Annual Report
 
2017 Annual Report

“Heather and the team at Co-operatives First are top-notch. Not only their knowledge but their understanding of the project. They have truly helped us along every step of the way. Their timely response and knowledge of the steps are extraordinary. They are forthcoming with information. This is one of the most knowledgeable and friendliest teams I have ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Weyburn Theatre

“Co-operatives First made the process of establishing our Artisan Co-operative a very clear and easy process. The expanse of available tools and resources provided by Co-operatives First answers many questions and lightens the workload. Greatly appreciate having the connections made with Trista and Kyle, they keep the co-operative moving forward.”

Nehiyawaskiy Indigenous Peoples Art Co-op

“Our experience working with the Co-operatives First team was absolutely fabulous. The staff was accommodating, knowledgeable and patient. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have such a wealth of skill and resources available to a non-profit. They were invaluable to our successful launch!”

Heart Linked Community Services Cooperative

“Working with Co-operatives First was fantastic! We are still new to the cooperative world, and we relied heavily on their advice and expertise when drafting our rules/bylaws, and our memorandum of association. The team has experience with many different cooperative models, so they provided advice on what has and hasn’t worked for other cooperatives. We wouldn’t have been able to incorporate without their help!”

Ananda Cooperative

“We have had a very positive experience with everyone at Co-operatives First. They have helped us in multiple ways. Right from the first step in knowing how to incorporate, how to set our business and offering ideas for us to help steer us in the right direction plus allowing us to really make our own decisions. If our decisions go off track, they have gently guided us back to where we needed to be. The Co-operatives first guys are always eager to answer questions, and give ideas to us that got us off the ground.”

South East Butcher Block