People in rural communities are looking for solutions. They want amenities, food security, and economic stability and growth, but they are tired of waiting for them.  

That’s why dedicated folks are choosing to start co-operatives – to create for themselves the things they want. 

Lindsay Alliban and Kevin Raymond are two community leaders who know this well. Lindsay, an Economic Development Officer in Southwest Saskatchewan, has helped to get three co-op projects off the ground. The Gull Lake Property Development Coop formed to buy and upgrade an abandoned building in that community’s downtown and create space for entrepreneurs and renters. The Hazlet Wellness Cooperative created a community gym, and the Southwest Tourism and Investment Hub – a regional project – was designed to strengthen tourism, investment, and economic development. 

Kevin Raymond, Executive Director of the Primrose Lake Economic Development Corporation, led the initiative to establish a co-op grocery store in Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan. That store, which is now run by Meadow Lake Co-op, established greater food security in the community. 

Through these projects, both Lindsay and Kevin learned the challenges and benefits of creating a co-op that provides something their communities want. In a recent webinar, they gave tips and insights you can use to start your own co-op. 

1. Make sure you have people who will drive the project  

You can recruit a group of well-meaning people to create your co-op, but they need to be committed to doing the work required to move the project forward.  

“Form your group with like-minded, and I’m going to say the most important – reliable individuals,” Kevin said. “You need people who are going to be on the same page as you and put in as much effort. A lot of the initiatives and ideas die at the board table when decisions are made, and nobody does anything at the end of the day. You need people who are going to work.” 

Many volunteers are busy people who may not be able to take on the responsibility of steering a large project. Lindsay emphasized that if the municipality has a paid employee who can oversee the creation of a co-op, it’s more likely to make progress.  

“If your community doesn’t have an Economic Development Officer yet, you should really consider that,” Lindsay said. “…having someone to drive a project can go a long way.” 

2. Build key relationships early 

Key partnerships will be important to your co-op’s success, and it’s best to cultivate them early on. In Île-à-la-Crosse it was important to get the municipality and funders on board, and Kevin said they made those connections in the early stages. They even had a Town Councillor, Economic Development Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer on the steering committee, which helped establish that bond.  

You can also shoulder-tap key community members to be part of the project by joining the steering committee or first board. Lindsay said they sought out community leaders, people with a background in finance, well-trusted people with good community connections, and passionate, creative folks who would move the projects forward in a positive way.  

Think about your project: what kinds of connections would help it succeed? 

3. Engage your community 

To build a co-op that is responsive to what your community members want, make sure to gather their input and share the message about what you’re trying to accomplish. It can be hard to get people’s attention – but there are many ways to try.  

Kevin said their group ran many social media campaigns and had strong engagement with community members on Facebook. They spoke to local residents, did interviews on local radio stations, and put lots of information on their website so people could learn more.  

He also suggests holding a community meeting to discuss the idea.  

“It turns out anybody can hold a community meeting – you don’t have to be mayor, you don’t have to be council,” he said. “…[You can] sit in your town hall and say, ‘you know what, is this something you guys want?’, and then it can just start from there. That’s how we started ours – conversations.” 

An important component of engaging with people is knowing how to clearly explain what a co-op is and how you envision yours working. Kevin said you “really need to know a co-op to sell a co-op”, so make sure you understand it well, and can talk about what your specific co-op could do in a way people will grasp easily.  

To learn more about how a co-op works so you can explain it like a pro, take our Intro to Co-ops course. 

4. Get help from supportive organizations 

The goal of creating a co-op might feel unattainable at times – but there is support out there.  

“There’s a lot of help once you get rolling,” Kevin said, “you don’t have to do it alone.” 

If you’re in Western Canada, we can help! Reach out to us with your idea, and we could provide business planning, incorporation, and board training support.  

“Contact Co-operatives First, they are beyond helpful,” Lindsay said. “I’ve learned so much in the past few years working with them and their team…probably once a month I message and say ‘how do I do this again?’, so they are a good source of information.”  

To hear about Lindsay and Kevin’s co-ops and get all their advice, watch our Start-up Tips from Co-op Entrepreneurs webinar.