Thoughts and success stories

Surviving a pandemic will be hard for most small businesses. But if you’re an artist-run start up with a revenue model based in events ……

Photo by Frederick Tubiermont on Unsplash When the economy takes a downturn, it’s hard on businesses — small to medium business (SMBs), in particular — and not every…

  Click here to download our Guide to Online Meetings Hosting online meetings complicates things, but it’s not impossible. Numerous online platforms and conference call…

Main streets across the western provinces are going through significant change. Numerous businesses are or are about to change hands. If there are no buyers…

Even under normal circumstances, member engagement can be tricky. Co-ops are always looking for effective ways to get members involved. At the moment, though, engaging…

It’s Annual General Meeting time again — but this year AGMs will be a bit more complicated than usual. Co-operatives First has a lot of…

Manitoba AGM and Annual Returns Co-operatives in Manitoba should have received notice encouraging them to delay or postpone annual meetings. Learn more. Tax deferrals and…

Co-ops play a big role in keeping communities vibrant in Canada’s North. In the latest podcast episode, we spoke to Mary Nirlungayuk from Arctic Co-operatives…

A co-operative is an incorporated business and this legal status comes with some distinct advantages. So, at what point should a group consider incorporating their…

Community Investment Co-ops are an exciting way to support community development. They allow people to invest their money in local businesses and initiatives. A CIC…

Sangudo, Alberta is nestled within a bend of Pembina River and is home to just under 300 residents. Like many rural communities across the prairies,…

What makes co-ops different from other businesses? What sets them apart? One trait that makes a co-op a co-op is that every member gets one…

Residents of Pouce Coupe, BC have some colourful characters brightening up their streets this year. These friendly fire hydrants can be seen around Pouce Coupe,…

The housing market can be uncertain: housing co-operatives are a way to provide stability. In this episode we speak to Tim Ross, Executive Director of…

Hamiota Mayor Larry Oakden and The Backroad Diaries’ Jack Thompson The rural municipality of Hamiota, Manitoba is full of creative thinkers not afraid to try…

Photos: Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives It’s a challenge we hear about a lot: that co-operative businesses struggle to obtain the financing they…

  Every co-op is governed by a board made up of member shareholders, and these directors generally bring different skills and experience to the table. Typically,…

In this episode we asked one of our favourite co-op experts, Dr. Brett Fairbairn, to reflect on a recent study on the impact of co-operative…

Co-ops are governed by boards of directors. Ideally, these boards are full of well-meaning, experienced people who guide the business effectively. Unfortunately, this isn’t always…

Kye is a farmer. But he’s not your usual farmer. The acres he grows on depend on numerous locations and convincing people to let him…

Strangely, the answer to “What’s a co-op?” can vary depending on where you live. From our perspective, a co-operative is a business model. In this…