In March, schools closed across Canada when COVID-19 took hold. Lessons moved online and parents pitched in when they could. All summer provincial premiers and public health officers promoted the importance of getting students back to school for their social and emotional well being, while keeping everyone safe. But parents demanded online options not wanting [...]
MEC Members Oppose Sale of Co-op to U.S. Firm On September 14, news dropped that stunned members of Mountain Equipment Co-op; the assets of Canada’s largest consumer co-op will be sold to U.S.-based Kingswood Capital Management. MEC’s Board of Directors made the decision without consulting members, who are also voting shareholders. Today, two petitions began [...]
Students and staff in post-secondary programs had to adapt quickly once COVID-19 lockdowns began in March. Over the course of a weekend, in person classes went online, not always a smooth transition, and facilities and services were no longer available. Now, as the fall term begins, a "new normal" is in place. This transition has [...]
Nanaimo Helps Stock The Lockers for Students The Nanaimo-Ladysmith Foundation is once again partnering with local organizations to Stock the Lockers for local students. “While we’ve seen significant economic upheaval due to COVID-19, more children will be coming to school hungry, without supplies, shoes for PE or ill-fitting clothes” according to Foundation Executive Director [...]
Bus Stop Theatre Co-op Buys Building Halifax’s Bus Stop Theatre has finalized the purchase of its building after a two-year campaign! Previously, the co-op rented space in the building on Gottingen Street, but the whole place went up for sale in 2019. Executive Director Sebastien Labelle then rallied community members and with donations and funding [...]
In Part 1 of this series, we introduced Oasis Senior Supportive Living which promotes aging in place for seniors with activities to combat social isolation and foster good health. Oasis began in one apartment building in Kingston, Ontario 11 years ago. Members there have created a supportive community through social activities, communal meals and group [...]
Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver is going co-op!?! Artistic Director Kim Selody explains how the co-op is a way to move forward during the COVID-19 pandemic and opens up opportunities for artists to collaborate and connect. Also, our Worker Co-op Sector Checkin with Chris Nichols of Woodshop Workers Co-op.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the inadequacies of long-term care for seniors with high rates of infection and subsequent deaths in these institutions. Moreover, the isolation, already felt by so many residents, has been made worse as family and caregiver visits were put on hold, only now beginning to resume in [...]
New Arts Co-op a Response to COVID-19 Presentation House Theatre (PHT) in North Vancouver has created a co-operative as a way to pivot and move forward in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new PHT Creative Hub Co-operative is an “opportunity to create a mutually supportive community of artists who feel a sense of connection [...]
Vancouver's People's Co-op Bookstore was created in 1945, just before the end of WWII. It has always served the community with books that are socially significant. I spoke with Board Chair Laurel McBride about how the co-op got started, its evolution and where it goes from here. (Note: Since this interview, the bookstore has announced [...]
