The Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation is a national, bilingual grassroots membership organization of and for worker co-operatives, related types of co-operatives (multi-stakeholder co-ops and worker-shareholder co-ops), and organizations that support the growth and development of worker co-operatives. CWCF was incorporated in 1992.
At the CWCF, our vision is…
A fair and strong economy across Canada, built by and with worker co-operatives.
Our mission is…
The Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) supports a solid worker co-operative movement by building our team, tools, systems and processes. We help worker co-operatives take action together to make change rooted in justice, democracy, and shared prosperity. We do this by supporting worker co-operative development, strengthening how we manage money and run the organization. We connect co-operatives across the country, creating a fair economy for all.
Background
At a meeting in February of 1990, representatives of worker cooperatives from across Canada came together for the first time to discuss whether there was a need for developing a national organization to represent their interests. Although worker co-ops had been on the agenda with the Canadian Co-operative Association (now Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada) and the federal Co-operatives Secretariat, which saw them as having the potential to lead a new wave of co-op development, worker co-operators themselves had little input on the national level and only marginal communication among themselves.
It was clear after a couple of days of meetings that there was an opportunity that could only be met by forming a national organization. Further discussion led to outlining the following objects to guide the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF), which was founded the following year in the spring of 1991, in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Our Objectives
To work for the development and expansion of businesses organized according to co-op principles and the principles of worker ownership and control, and to promote the ideals of democracy in the work place.
To provide leadership and a voice for worker co-ops through:
- Creating a vision and a strategy for the development of worker co-ops in Canada;
- Representing the interests of worker co-ops to the co-op sector, governments, other organizations and the public;
- Creating and maintaining adequate resources for the development of existing and new worker co-ops, both alone and in cooperation with others;
- Increasing support for, and understanding of, worker co-ops;
- Providing forums for networking between worker co-ops and support for regional and industrial actions on appropriate issues; and
- Encouraging the development of worker co-ops internationally.
The CWCF has carried out its activities on a relatively modest but sustainable budget and, with a very involved volunteer Board of Directors. An Executive Director is employed to manage operations. Starting in 2010, an Operations and Member Services Manager was also hired. An RRSP Program Manager, Administrator and Assistant to run our Common Good Capital program which enables placement of co-op shares into RRSPs and TFSA’s. There is also a part-time Communications Assistant, a full-time Executive Assistant, and a part-time Information Technology Assistant.
The CWCF board approved its 2026-2029 strategic plan in January 2026.