Upcoming Webinars

Strategic Planning for your Co-op’s Future

Every co-operative needs a strategic plan. Whether this is a formally designed, written document or notes that you’ve captured on a whiteboard, your team needs to be on the same page when determining the work your co-op will undertake. A good strategic plan will help your team chart a course for the next 3-5 years, delivering on your purpose, meeting the needs of members, and growing your co-operative.

In this informative session, our Director of Education, Kyle White, will be joined by Cathy Edwards, our Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Cathy brings over a decade of strategic planning experience to this conversation and will share insights into the process she uses to help our clients build strategic plans. We’ll work through the purpose of a strategic plan, its key elements, and provide some guidance to those building their own. This session takes place on Tuesday, June 16th at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

SIGN UP

Unlocking Local Capital for Community Co-op Development

Communities across Canada are looking for new ways to finance local co-op projects. From housing and childcare to community facilities and local business ownership, access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges communities face. Join Co-operatives First and Catalyst Community Finance for a conversation exploring how community investment and social finance models are helping communities unlock local capital, strengthen local ownership, and support community-led development. This webinar will share insights and emerging trends from the recent Catalyst Community Investment Summit held in Winnipeg and explore how municipalities, co-operatives, and community organizations can play a role in building stronger local investment ecosystems. This session takes place on Tuesday, June 23rd at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

SIGN UP

Launching and Supporting Co-ops: A Practical Approach

Over the last decade, more than 160 co-operatives have launched across Western Canada, thanks to the dedication of local communities and the support of economic development partners. Grassroots co-op initiatives continue to drive meaningful change and expand opportunities. 

If you are considering the co-op model, preparing to launch your own co-op, or are part of a business support organization or an economic developer looking to offer targeted assistance, this webinar is for you. Join us on June 25 at 11 am MT for an in-depth look at business supports specifically tailored for business start-ups. Our featured guests include Cherylynn Walters from Sagehill Community Futures Indigenous Business Development Services (IBDS) in Saskatchewan, and Shawna Morningbull from Community Futures Treaty Seven in Calgary. 

SIGN UP

For our webinars about Indigenous-specific topics, visit our Your Way, Together website.

 

Watch Past Webinars

“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