Community leaders and economic developers in the Métis community of Île-à-la-Crosse in Saskatchewan’s northwest know the value of co-operatives. Using the co-op business structure is a key piece of its economic development strategy – one that has paid off. Co-ops are a great way for people to come together to solve problems, and small, isolated communities like Île-à-la-Crosse know a thing or two about self-sufficiency and ingenuity. 

Here are the ways this community has used co-operatives – and the economic development resources available to them – to improve its local economy and the lives of residents.  

Food security, local services, and jobs  

For a long time, residents of Île-à-la-Crosse lacked access to healthy, affordable food. The community had two convenience stores: one owned by a local entrepreneur, and another by the Northwest Company. Neither provided adequate access to things like fresh produce or meat, and community members often had to travel to nearby communities to access the goods they needed. And regardless of the location, the cost of goods was high. For lower prices, people had to travel further away to larger centres.  

Community members not only wanted to buy groceries closer to home, they wanted to create good local jobs, and spend their money in their own community. In 2017, community members and economic development officers came together to solve this problem. Métis-focused economic development agencies, Sakitawak Development Corporation, Primrose Lake Economic Development Corporation, Saskatchewan Métis Economic Development Corporation, and Beaver River Community Futures, provided support and funding to create the Île-à-la-Crosse Co-operative Association. 

Though it took a while, the effort was worth it. In 2020, they incorporated the co-op, and in July of 2022, the grocery store opened its doors. Not only has the store brought increased food security to the community, it now hosts a branch of Innovation Credit Union as well, filling a gap in financial services that had existed.  

“A co-op is a powerful tool for change in a community,” the co-op’s board president, Kevin Raymond, said in a speech at the co-op’s grand opening. “…Our co-op is only as strong as your support. Every time you buy a bag of chips or pick up bread at the Co-op, you’re not adding to our bank account, you’re helping us pay liveable wages, secure benefits for employees. Every dollar you spend will stay in the community and be used for donations and programming that may impact you in ways you couldn’t imagine.”  

Helping local fishers thrive 

Leaders in Île-à-la-Crosse understand that it’s important not only to start co-ops but to find ways to support and expand existing co-operatives that are driving your economy. 

To support a vital local sector, the Big Island Fisheries Co-operative and Sakitawak Development Corporation worked together to create the Ile-a-la-Crosse Fish Company.  

 In this way, an economic development organization has partnered with a local co-op to help it scale its business and provide services and stability to the sector.  

The fish company provides direct value-added processing of the fish co-op members’ walleye, pike, and trout, ensuring quality of the product and packaging it to be sold under the Co-op Pure Gold brand by Federated Co-operatives Limited. This partnership has helped the 42 local licenced fishermen who own the co-op to scale their own operations. 

Tyler Morin, the Chief Executive Officer of Sakitawak Development, said the fishing co-op has two seats on the fish company’s board of directors, and having their insights is vital to its operation.  

“We really hear from the challenges that they’re facing on from day to day. We keep those in mind for any decisions we make any product development marketing, they have a voice in anything we do, and I think that’s important.” 

The potential of co-operatives in economic development  

According to Morin, the community is interested in exploring opportunities for further co-operative ventures that could benefit the local economy.  He said the co-op model provides an excellent structure for decision-making and development in rural communities. 

“I would say the tool again is hearing from what everybody has to say, it’s collective reasoning and decision-making…so it’s not just one person making a decision. You kind of gather the knowledge and the opinions of your membership, and I think that’s important. And so I think that’s why, for economic development, especially in a smaller community, it’s quite impactful, and it’s overall, a great model.” 

Want to know more about how co-operatives can benefit your community? Reach out with your questions or ideas, or take our free, online Introduction to Co-operatives course. If you work in economic development, sign up for our next Creating Connections workshop.