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Thoughts and success stories

What is limited liability, and why is it important?

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…

Read More August 6, 2020 • Kyle White
co-ops profit

5 Reasons Co-ops Need Profit

  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…

Read More July 9, 2020 • Kyle White

What Co-op Membership Really Means

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. …

Read More June 12, 2020 • Kyle White

4 reasons co-ops do better in a crisis

When the economy takes a downturn, it’s hard on businesses — small to medium business (SMBs), in particular — and not every business survives. Co-operative…

Read More May 29, 2020 • Aasa Marshall

Online AGMs and Social Distancing

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…

Read More March 26, 2020 • Dan Matthews

Where you live can define what a co-op is for you

To define what a co-op is Co-operative businesses look different in different places. Strangely, where you call home can provide a different answer when you…

Read More September 17, 2019 • Kyle White
fueling-western-canada

Co-ops: an often-overlooked economic gem of the prairies

Co-ops and the prairies share a history Much of western Canada was settled with the help of co-ops, but prairie co-ops are often-overlooked (and misunderstood)…

Read More May 17, 2019 • Dan Matthews
The Common Share Podcast

Co-op Camp

In this episode we speak to three people about the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association’s annual youth Co-op Camp: an organizer, a participant, and a camp staff member…

Read More April 25, 2019 • Aasa Marshall

How this YXE bike co-op gives back

Co-ops are great at giving back. In our recent Holiday Podcast, Aasa spoke with some amazing co-operatives in western Canada. Each of them gave us insight…

Read More January 3, 2019 • Dan Matthews
how-coop-gives-back

How Co-op is giving back

Co-ops are great at giving back. In our recent Holiday Podcast, Aasa spoke with some amazing co-operatives in western Canada. Each of them gave us insight…

Read More January 2, 2019 • Dan Matthews
how-affinity-credit-union-gives-back

How Affinity Credit Union gives back

Co-ops are great at giving back. In our recent Holiday Podcast, Aasa spoke with some amazing co-operatives in western Canada. Each of them gave us…

Read More January 2, 2019 • Dan Matthews
The Common Share Podcast

How Co-ops Give Back: A Special Holiday Podcast

The holidays are a time of giving, when people often think about donating to charitable causes. As businesses rooted in their communities, co-ops are great…

Read More December 21, 2018 • Aasa Marshall

5 unexpected places you can find a co-op

Most people know grocery stores can be co-operatives. Some may have heard of daycare or housing co-ops. But the reality is the co-op model can…

Read More November 23, 2018 • Aasa Marshall
westlock-view-from-westlock-terminals

Powering rural with infrastructure co-ops

Previously we’ve talked about the important role co-operatives might play in succession planning for rural businesses as baby boomer business owners begin to retire. The…

Read More September 10, 2018 • Kyle White
The common share

Episode 10: a conversation with Dr. Brett Fairbairn

A conversation on the history of co-ops. Dr. Brett Fairbairn has been researching co-operatives for over 30 years; as a Fellow at the Centre for…

Read More August 13, 2018 • Aasa Marshall
succession-planning

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…

Read More May 29, 2018 • Dan Matthews

6 unique co-ops that may surprise you

Unique co-ops are more common than you think The co-operative business model is versatile and being used successfully in every sector of the economy, leading…

Read More April 26, 2018 • Dan Matthews
Financial Sector

3 Financial Sector Co-operative Options

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…

Read More March 15, 2018 • Kyle White

How farmers benefit from ag equipment co-ops

Farmers benefit from ag equipment co-ops Farming is expensive. The cost of the machinery and labour required to run a farm is daunting, and many…

Read More January 26, 2018 • Aasa Marshall
co-ops-you-didnt-know-were-co-ops

Another 3 co-ops you probably didn’t know were co-ops

As we’ve noted in past blogs, co-operatives operate in all industries, often going unnoticed. Many co-operatives have recognizable brands, but do not necessarily tout their business…

Read More January 17, 2018 • Kyle White
Community Service Co-ops

Community Service Co-ops and Non-Profits – What’s the Difference?

Community service co-ops vs. non-profit corporations Choosing the business model for a venture, even a non-profit one, should be based on practical reasons. But, spotting…

Read More December 19, 2017 • Kyle White
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Co-operatives First

Funded by the Co-operative Retailing System and Federated Co-operatives Limited, Co-operatives First promotes and supports business development based on the co-operative model in rural and Indigenous communities across Western Canada.

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