On Monday September 14, news broke that Mountain Equipment Co-op's board of directors had unanimously approved a deal to sell MEC's assets to a private U.S. firm. MEC never asked its members (more than 5 million) to weigh in. What happened to Co-operative Principle #2 - Democratic Member Control? Listen in and find out.
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 [...]
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 [...]
This is our monthly checkin for August 4th, 2020. Panel guests are John Kay, Thom Armstrong and Ross Gentleman. We continue our discussion of the impact of COVID-19 on co-operatives. Special guest Adam Trott is the recent winner of St. Mary's University - International Centre for Co-operative Management's essay competition #Co-ops4JustEconomy.
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 [...]
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 [...]
"Our building is closed, but our hearts are open!" That's the motto these days of The Ryde Community Co-operative in rural Ryde, Ontario. Board President Nancy Cronin says COVID-19 has meant shuttering the beloved "little building with a big heart" that has been so much a part of the co-op's history and programming for 20 [...]
The people of Nova Scotia have worked together to remain strong through several major tragedies this Spring AND done so while also adapting to the "new normal" brought by COVID-19. We checked in with local co-operator, Erin Hancock, to find out how folks are coping and how local co-ops are faring during the pandemic. Erin [...]
