Ontario Co-operative Association
30 Douglas Street N1H 2S9 Guelph, ON, Canada

Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) is calling for applications for the three CASC scholarships administered by CMC... learn more at https://canada.coop/en/programs/education/casc-scholarships

Great blog post by Libro's CEO Steve Bolton!

How do #coops practice, protect and promote #humanrights in #valuechains? 10 December https://bit.ly/ICETTonHR... MORE INFO > https://ica.coop//how-cooperatives-practise-protect-and-pr An #ICETT event under #thecoopway series of online events! #HumanRightsDay #WeAreCoops

Any passionate and up-and-coming co-op leaders (under 35) here? Apply to join Canada's Emerging Co-operators - a committee of new co-op leaders from across Canada!

Worthy of a quick watch! Did you know that Mondragon is the 10th largest company in Spain and unemployment in the Basque region is less than half of what it is in teh rest of Spain?

The Mustard Seed Co-op has created two holiday bags this year that would make wonderful gifts! And even better, they are suporting three community organizations through the purchase of each bag. #PrincipleSix #PrincipleSeven Learn more: https://mustardseed.coop/holiday-bags-2020/

We are pleased to be launching a brand new campaign to highlight our Associate Members who provide a valuable product or service that can help your co-operative! We will showcase a new Co-op Service Provider every two weeks. Learn more about our first organziation, Ag Energy Co-operative Ltd., an awesome consumer co-op at https://agenergy.coop/

Check out our latest edition to our series of free Guided Learning resources! https://ontario.coop/training-workshops

Fantastic initiative!

We are proud to have Ag Energy as a long-time member of OCA! Please learn more about them and how they may be able to help your co-operative with its energy needs.

"It’s all about collaboration, it’s all about partnerships,

La Siembra Co-operative, the owner of the Camino brand of fair trade and organic chocolate and sugar, celebrates Co-op Week with the launch of their new packaging designs featuring their Canadian Worker Co-op identity! Check it out: https://bit.ly/3nPHmuW

Check out CoopZone's information sessions to explain more about the CoopZone training program and how it could be useful to you!

Please join Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) for a National Town Hall on October 19, 2020 from 2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. (EST) to discuss why Mountain Equipment Co-op found itself in the situation it’s currently in, how Canada’s co-op community can prevent this from happening again, and what should be our next steps as a national community. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3dz6pha

"The co-op model may not have been fully appreciated within the court ... We definitely want to explore the opportunities to make sure that that doesn’t happen in the future.

SaveMEC / SauvonsMEC Update / Mise à jour - 12 Oct 2020

Check out the Fair Finance Fund's promotional video highlighting some of the work they've been doing. Get a glimpse into the local food and farm social enterprises they invest in, the social and environmental change they're inspiring, and how they're igniting a sustainable and resilient local food system in Ontario!

This #coopweek2020 we celebrate that Canadian communities are more resilient and diverse thanks in large part to the existence and contributions of the thousands of co-operatives across the country. #CelebratingCoops

The SaveMEC Zoom meeting is being broadcast live right here on Facebook.

While not a new document, perhaps a timely one given the need to re-examine how (effectively) our organizations are practicing the #cooperative principles!

Project/Projet Redemption - Take over the co-op at the AGM (or sooner)Project Redemption is an idea that we can (a) monitor the sale of MEC's assets, (b) continue to push for an AGM to hold the directors accountable, reform the co-op's bylaws, and elect a new board of directors, and (c) protect the corporate records of the co-op and use it as a base for building back better. This would not be able to stop MEC's sale, but we'd save the corporate body that is the co-op, if possible. Are you interested? Ask questions here and chat with each other - and volunteer: https://bit.ly/3nnLRN5

Project/Projet Ascension - Build an NGO to continue our fight for co-ops and social enterprises and change lawsProject Ascension is an idea that we can take the passion for our co-op that we've built since mid-September and scale it to an organization that promotes best practices in democratic and social businesses like co-ops, and advocates for proper recognition in the law so that a forced sale like MEC's cannot happen again. We'd work with partner organizations and friends... to speak with a loud, coordinated voice. If you're interested in this work, volunteer: https://bit.ly/3nnLRN5 Ask questions and chat with each other about possibilities here!

Today, Monday, October 5, at 8:00pm EST organizers of the #SaveMEC campaign will host a webcast where they will discuss the fate and future of MEC and member-owned co-operatives in Canada. Register here: https://savemec.ca/

"It is possible that the campaign could appeal against the decision but this is a costly process with a slim chance of success. However, Save MEC has drawn up three possible routes to take." www.thenews.coop//members-of-mec-meet-to-consider-their-o/

"Co-operatives can play a valuable role in ensuring Canadians and businesses remain successful and help lead us toward a sustainable, green, and people-centred economic recovery but only if the government prioritizes this innovative business model and quickly addresses the barriers to growth."

On October 2, the Government of Ontario made regulatory amendments under the Business Corporations Act (OBCA), Corporations Act (CA), Co-operative Corporations Act (CCA) and Condominium Act, 1998 (Condo Act) that extend the temporary legislative amendments permitting corporations governed under the OBCA, CA, CCA and Condo Act to call and hold meetings virtually, as applicable, notwithstanding current requirements. These temporary legislative amendments have now been extended to end on May 31, 2021. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2EoOw7v

In essence, the Save MEC campaign was co-operation at its most real and its best. And it’s this essence that Canada needs more of, today.

Yesterday was a sad sad day for the Canadian co-operative movement.

Save MEC statement on today's BC Supreme Court Ruling: After a week of deliberations the Supreme Court of British Columbia has decided to approve the sale of our co-op’s assets. We recognize the decision, but are of course disappointed. We are currently meeting to discuss the decision and review it with counsel. We will be releasing a statement on the decision shortly. Once our statement is released, our spokespeople will be available to take questions from the media.Après u...ne semaine de délibérations, la Cour suprême de Colombie britannique a décidé d'approuver la vente des actifs de notre coopérative. Nous reconnaissons cette décision, mais nous sommes bien sûr déçus. Nous nous réunissons actuellement pour discuter de la décision et l'examiner avec nos avocats. Nous ferons paraître sous peu une déclaration sur la décision. Dès que notre déclaration aura été publiée, nos porte-parole seront disponibles pour répondre aux questions des médias.

This is so cool.

"The co-operative model is too important as a pillar of the social and economic stability of Canada to be undermined by one decision, should that decision not consider this case to be more than the sale of a financially troubled retailer." View the CMC's latest statement here... https://canada.coop//statement_courts_decision_regarding_m

Member-to-membre update 04: Day 3+4 of CCAA hearings Mise-à-jour pour les membres 04: 3ème et 4ème journées d'audience à l'LCAA

Update / Mise à jour Oct 1: Court judgement is coming tomorrow