Episode 6: Dealing with conflict on a board
In this episode, Audra, Kyle, and Aasa tackle what happens when things get contentious on a board. We discuss the kinds of conflict that boards…
This innovative construction company is a co-op
In the construction sector there is plenty of room for inefficiency. Often one contractor will frame a building, another will wire it, someone else will…
With Growth on the Horizon, Stocksy United Removes its Membership Cap
For the first time since inception in 2012, Stocksy United, an artist-owned photography + cinematography co-op run by some of the world’s best creatives and…
Episode 5: Working board versus policy board
We dive right into the discussion of working vs policy boards with a controversial question: Why do working boards suck? Being on a working board…
What succession planning is and why it matters
Succession planning is how business leaders answer the question of how their business continues without key players, like owners and high performance or essential skill…
A catalyst for opportunity
The Mountain CoLab co-operative The nature of work is changing, and with it, the model of traditional office space. With the rise of the gig…
Podcast Episode 4: Getting People Involved in Board Governance
This episode kicks off our four-part series on co-operative governance with Co-operatives First’s Executive Director Audra Krueger. Kyle, Aasa, and Audra talk about why people…
5 ways to increase membership engagement
Most co-ops have, at some point or another, encountered difficulties getting their members involved in the organization. Low engagement can reveal itself in a variety…
What the heck is Membership Engagement
Defining member engagement for a specific organization is often tricky. It can also be hard to measure. But defining member engagement for your organization and…
Video: The Food Forest and Learning Centre Co-operative
The Food Forest and Learning Centre Co-operative Maggie Bluewaters shares a story of healing and food security in rural Saskatchewan. Our thanks to Maggie and…
Podcast Episode 3: Why we need governance
Episode 3: Why we need governance In this episode, Kyle and Aasa from Co-operatives First talk to Paul Thompson, Research Officer at the University of…
6 unique businesses that also happen to be co-ops
The co-operative business model is versatile and being used successfully in every sector of the economy. Businesses using the model bring utilities, like power, water…
How newcomers are using co-ops to succeed in Canada
For newcomers, barriers to well-being can be bigger and more complex than for much of the Canadian-born population. Newcomers often experience isolation when they arrive…
Podcast Episode 2: What makes a co-op?
In this episode, Kyle, Dan, and Aasa discuss the different definitions of co-operatives, the seven co-operative principles, and the ways co-ops are different from other…
8 To-Dos When Naming a Co-operative
Coming up with a name for your co-operative can be one of the more enjoyable parts of the ‘noinky bits’ of incorporating a co-operative. The…
Introducing The Common Share Podcast
In this episode, we interview Kyle White, Education and Engagement Lead for Co-operatives First, to discuss the purpose of the podcast, what his role is…
Trust, Technology and Credit Unions: an interview with Eric Dillon
“Trust is perhaps the single most important underlying element of running a financial cooperative.” Eric Dillon, CEO Conexus Credit Union Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, and…
3 Co-operative Options for the Financial Sector
The Co-operatives First team is regularly asked “what is a co-operative?” and many of our posts display various uses of the co-operative model to explore…
Finding opportunity for self-determination in a “digital divide”
In today’s world, there’s no getting around it: socially and economically, communities need reliable, high-capacity internet, no matter how small or remote they are. Governments…
3 themes in Budget 2018 impacting Canadians today
The federal government has released its budget for fiscal year 2018, Equality and Growth: A Strong Middle Class. While many commentators, pundits, and partisans focus…
Why diverse boards are rare and what to do about it
On a board of directors? At your next meeting, take a look around the table. Does everyone look and sound similar to you? If so,…