Exploring Opportunity

A Workshop for Community Leaders and Builders

The Exploring Opportunity workshop offers community leaders and builders a chance to gain clarity and set goals. With our expert support, map out next steps, create roles, inventory assets and make plans for how to best take the idea forward. Plus, gain the tools, resources and connections to take your idea forward.

Explore an opportunity with us and put your co-op on the path to success.

What you get

  • Facilitated meeting
  • Suggested next steps

Who should use this service

  • Community leaders
  • Business owners interested in succession planning
  • Groups interested in developing a co-operative business
  • Elected officials
  • Economic, business and community development professionals
Request a workshop

Not sure if this workshop is right for you? Check out the Co-op Creator, a unique resource site designed to help community leaders build co-operative enterprises. This site combined with our team of experienced professionals can get you up, running and on a path towards success.

Testimonials

“Our experience working with the Co-operatives First team was absolutely fabulous. The staff was accommodating, knowledgable and patient. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have such a wealth of skill and resources available to a non-profit. They were invaluable to our successful launch!” – HeartLinked Community Service Cooperative

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Co-operative First! The staff are very friendly, easy to talk with and always willing to help. They’ve given us the resources we needed to build a thriving business. Indeed they have been a tremendous help to our team in helping us transition to a Co-operative.” – Blooming Ladies Multi-Stakeholder Cooperative

“Heather and the team at Co-operatives First are top-notch. Not only their knowledge but their understanding of the project. They have truly helped us along every step of the way. Their timely response and knowledge of the steps are extraordinary. They are forthcoming with information. This is one of the most knowledgeable and friendliest teams I have ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Weyburn Theatre

“Co-operatives First made the process of establishing our Artisan Co-operative a very clear and easy process. The expanse of available tools and resources provided by Co-operatives First answers many questions and lightens the workload. Greatly appreciate having the connections made with Trista and Kyle, they keep the co-operative moving forward.”

Nehiyawaskiy Indigenous Peoples Art Co-op

“Our experience working with the Co-operatives First team was absolutely fabulous. The staff was accommodating, knowledgeable and patient. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have such a wealth of skill and resources available to a non-profit. They were invaluable to our successful launch!”

Heart Linked Community Services Cooperative

“Working with Co-operatives First was fantastic! We are still new to the cooperative world, and we relied heavily on their advice and expertise when drafting our rules/bylaws, and our memorandum of association. The team has experience with many different cooperative models, so they provided advice on what has and hasn’t worked for other cooperatives. We wouldn’t have been able to incorporate without their help!”

Ananda Cooperative

“We have had a very positive experience with everyone at Co-operatives First. They have helped us in multiple ways. Right from the first step in knowing how to incorporate, how to set our business and offering ideas for us to help steer us in the right direction plus allowing us to really make our own decisions. If our decisions go off track, they have gently guided us back to where we needed to be. The Co-operatives first guys are always eager to answer questions, and give ideas to us that got us off the ground.”

South East Butcher Block