Co-operative society
Contributing $50 billion and 600,000 jobs* to the Canadian economy, the co-operative sector brings significant value to our society while helping build the social fabric that is vital for resilient communities. We’re committed to championing the co-op movement in Canada by helping co-ops grow their businesses and manage risks. We also strive to inspire young people to learn about and actively engage with the co-operative model.
Our areas of impact
Supporting co-operative education
Engaging youth
Investing in co-operative development
Co-operative Development Program (CDP)
Our partners in a co-operative society
Co-operative education
We support bursaries for youth seeking co-operative management education through Saint Mary’s University. We also provide research funding to the Research and Education Institute for Cooperatives and Mutuals at the University of Sherbrooke and the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at the University of Saskatchewan to help expand knowledge and understanding of the value of co-operative business models.
Youth engagement
We support youth leadership development through co-operative camps across Canada. We also offer the Co-operators Young Leaders Award, in partnership with Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, for up-and-coming changemakers who are making a difference at their co-op and within their community.
Co-operative development
In addition to our signature Co-operative Development Program, we support international development through funding the Insurance Innovation Challenge (IIC), a joint program of the International Co-operative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Insurance and Risk Finance Facility to support projects focused on strengthening the financial resilience of people, particularly women, in developing economies.
Ikajurtigiit is a purpose-driven Inuit construction cooperative in Nunavik. The cooperative promotes the autonomy of Nunavimmiut by offering practical and culturally adapted on-site training jobs in construction, and meeting the infrastructure needs of communities. They dream of a Nunavik where infrastructures are designed, built and maintained by Inuit, for Inuit.
Ikajurtigiit Solidarity Coop
Photo credit: Samuel Lagace, Tumiit Media