Thoughts and success stories

Photo by Jon Flobrant on Unsplash It’s common knowledge that a board of directors should include members with a mix of skills and experience. Every…

Photo by Joshua Coleman on Unsplash You’ve probably heard someone say they “wear a lot of hats.” For people serving on a co-op board of directors,…

Photo by Luz Fuertes on Unsplash Want to be a kick-ass board chair? Start the Good Governance Matters course today!   Every board needs a…

What are the secrets to good co-operative governance? Dr. Murray Fulton and his colleagues at the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives have identified…

Photo by Mathias Jensen on Unsplash   With the ongoing public health crisis, co-op leaders — like other business leaders — have faced the enormous…

Photo courtesy of Co+Host Collective The word “Millennial” has come to mean “change” in business circles in recent years. And while discussions around these changes…

Photo by Loic Leray on Unsplash When deciding whether to start a co-op, people’s first question is often about risk. How much risk am I…

When you’re at a pub with friends, and the waiter brings the cheque, what do you do? Do you split the bill evenly? Pay the…

  It’s a misconception that co-ops don’t have or need profit. In fact, it’s just as important for co-ops to be profitable as other types…

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash Creating rules for a co-op? Write it down. Encouraging members to run for the board? Write it down. Entering into…

  Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Across Canada, provinces are relaxing restrictions on businesses, after three months of social distancing measures. As businesses start…

During a crisis, an organization’s decision-making process is put to the test. While there is no template for how best to manage a crisis, a…

For National Indigenous Peoples Day, we usually attend a large gathering in Saskatoon called Rock your Roots Walk for Reconciliation. The event is a celebration…

The most important thing to understand about being a member of a co-op is this: as a member, you are an owner of the business. …

What started as a conversation about a lack of “cut and wrap” services on a ranch driveway in the Boundary region of BC is about…

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…