The Co-operators Group Limited is a 100% Canadian-owned company with over 60 years of history as a co-operative. Our member-owners are co-operatives, credit unions and like-minded organizations, representing a variety of sectors and regions across the country. Our focus extends beyond increasing profits and share values, to a concern for satisfying the needs of clients, staff members, member-owners, and communities.

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Co-operative organizations are owned and democratically controlled by the people who buy their products and use their services. All co-operatives around the world share the same basic principles. The International Co-operative Alliance defines these principles as:

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
   • Co-operatives are voluntary organizations open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
2. Democratic Member Control
   • Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Elected representatives are accountable to the membership and all have equal voting rights.
3. Member Economic Participation
   • Members contribute to and democratically control the capital of their co-operative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, benefiting members in proportion to the amount of business they do with the co-operative, and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4. Autonomy and Independence
   • Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations or raise capital from external sources, they ensure continued democratic control by the members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
5. Education, Training and Information
   • Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives and staff, so they can contribute effectively to the development of their organization. They also seek opportunities to inform the general public about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
6. Co-operation among Co-operatives
   • Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together. This can include furthering programs in co-operative education, offering funding and business consulting to struggling and emerging co-operatives, and involvement in local, national, and international co-operative associations.
7. Concern for Community
   • Co-operatives work to bring meaningful change and contribute to the sustainable development of their communities through projects approved by their members.

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Co-operatives are community-based organizations that care not only about the bottom-line of their business, but also about their member’s needs, and the quality of life in their communities. Co‑ops and credit unions have found a way to successfully compete in the marketplace without abandoning the values and principles that set them apart from other business models. Co‑operatives differ from corporations in three key areas:

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