Co-ops in the time of COVID – w/ John Kay, Thom Armstrong & Ross Gentleman / special guest Adam Trott

How are co-ops managing during the pandemic?

What’s the latest news on post-pandemic economic recovery? What role will co-ops play?

Listen to our monthly checkins for August 4th, 2020 and get the latest information. 

Our guest panel 

• John Kay, President of the board Co-ops and Mutuals of Canada, Vice-Chair of the BC Co-operative Association, and CEO of Realize Strategies Co-op
• Thom Armstrong, CEO, Co-operative Housing Federation of BC
• Ross Gentleman, Former General Manager of CCEC Credit Union and a blogger on credit union matters at CuFutures.ca

Tonight’s discussion topics include 

• • Economic Impacts
    • Buying local with our shortened supply chains
    • Retail co-ops 
    • Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) 
    • Federal discussions on economic recovery
    • Looking forward to the next budget in February 2021
  •  Credit Unions Impacts
    • Lower interest rates 
    • Federal programs for loans 
    • Relief for consumers 
    • Growing consumer deposits (saving)
  • Housing Impacts 
    • Massive response to COVID-19 needs
    • Local housing purchase in hotels but where are the needed supports
    • Despite unprecedented housing investments, for every affordable home created, three homes are being lost
    • Lack of political will
    • City lease negotiations (yes, still an ongoing discussion, however an end may be in sight!) 

Special Guest: Adam Trott 

Adam is the first place winner of the St. Mary’s University – International Centre for Co-operative Management’s essay competition #Co-ops4JustEconomy, answering the question, What role can co-operative play to energize a just economy post-pandemic?

Adam Trott is a recent graduate of a Masters in Co-operative and Credit Union Management from St. Mary’s University. He works as the Director of Member Relations for Shared Capital Cooperative, a national CDFI loan fund that connects co-ops and capital to build economic democracy. He is also the Executive Director of the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives, a co-op of worker co-ops that supports, develops and educates about and for worker co-operatives. Adam spent 13 years as a worker/member of Collective Copies, a collectively managed worker co-op and union shop offering full service printing and book-binding services in western Massachusetts. 

Adam shares his thoughts on how co-ops can help build a better world and much more. Have a listen to the full interview.