Our 2019 Conference newsletter is available here.
Author: Kenzie Love
Rapport sur la journée bilingue de CoopZone/ Report on CoopZone’s Bilingual Day
Par / by Amine El Hafa **English version follows.** La journée bilingue de CoopZone a été un franc succès. Pour cette année, CoopZone a pensé environnement et énergie renouvelable. Les sujets abordés ont eu bonne presse auprès des participants du fait de leur diversité et complémentarité. On a parlé d’économie circulaire, la coopération et notre avenir, la succession d’entreprises par le modèle coopératif et de financement pour les coops. On a également eu la chance de découvrir davantage sur la coopérative North Nova Forest Owners Co-op Ltd, basée à Wentworth N.-É., qui œuvre à améliorer la qualité et la valeur de nos boisés. Tout cela dans une ambiance chaleureuse et décontractée. On pense déjà à notre prochaine conférence! The bilingual CoopZone day was a great success. For this year, CoopZone covered primarily the environment and renewable energy. The topics were well received by the participants because of their diversity and…
Building Resilient Communities: CWCF-CoopZone Conference 2019
By Kenzie Love and Hazel Corcoran CWCF concluded a successful conference in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, which offered both valuable new insights in forums and workshops and the familiar social and networking opportunities participants have come to expect. The conference kicked off with a land acknowledgement, welcoming remarks by CWCF President Reba Plummer and CoopZone President Pascal Billard, and an icebreaking activity in which participants shared in small groups and played “human bingo.” We next moved on to the two all-day intensive sessions. Feedback on the “Human Issues in a Worker Co-op” Intensive was very positive; please see separate article on this session. Amine El Hafa, Senior Development Officer with the Cooperation Council of Ontario, commented on the CoopZone Developers’ Network Intensive that “Participants appreciated the topics discussed because of their diversity and complementarity. We talked about the circular economy, cooperation and our future, the succession of businesses through the cooperative…
Employment Opportunity with SSG
Position: Business Development and Communications Coordinator Organization: Sustainability Solutions Group Workers Cooperative GENERAL DESCRIPTION The purpose of this position is to coordinate SSG’s business development and communications activities. The Coordinator will perform many diverse tasks, including leading the RFP monitoring and proposal writing process, researching new business opportunities, maintaining SSG’s customer relationship management (CRM) software, and managing SSG’s web and social media presence. The Coordinator will work with SSG Principals and staff to ensure that SSG’s efforts align with the goals in its business development and communications strategies, updating the strategies where required. https://www.goodwork.ca/jobs/business-development-and-communications-jobs-55096
Perspective from the Board Chair of the Co-operators
By John Harvie On October 25th and 26th, I had the opportunity to attend the CWCF annual conference and AGM. I attended along with Alexandra Wilson and Wendy Carruthers. Also attending in their CWCF positions were The Co-operators Board members, Hazel Corcoran, Reba Plummer, and Jessica Provencher. We were recognized as regular partners in many areas and as sponsors of this conference. The Co- operators got plenty of notice and appreciation. I will begin with the AGM. The CWCF has just embarked on an ambitious new 4 year strategic plan. Both the President/Chair Reba Plummer, and the Executive Director Hazel Corcoran, in their reports to the assembly, made reference to the hard work and dedication of Board and staff that went into the creation of this plan. Quote, “our plan calls for CWCF to take some risks, negotiate new partnerships, and find new sources of funding.” Quote, “The plan maps…
2019 AGM Documents
Below are the files related to CWCF’s 2019 AGM in Tatamagouche. We regret that these documents are available only in English. / Nous regrettons que de ces documents ne soient disponibles qu’en anglais. Si vous avez besoin d’aide pour comprendre la langue, consultez en français s’il vous plaît avec la directrice générale Hazel Corcoran, hazel@canadianworker.coop. Merci. AGM agenda 2018 AGM draft minutes CWCF 2019 financial statements 2019 form for resolutions Proposed bylaw resolution CWCF 2019-20 Budget Annual Report Board candidate bios Evan Proven Frank Bezanson-Harris
September 2019 newsletter
Our Setpember 2019 newsletter is available here.
Climate Leadership through Electric Vehicle Production in Oshawa
By Hazel Corcoran CWCF and Green Jobs Oshawa funded a preliminary feasibility study on transitioning to electric vehicle (EV) production under democratic ownership at the GM plant in Oshawa. After having received over $10.8 billion in federal and Ontario government bail-outs in 2009, some of which was never repaid, GM Canada announced last year that it would close the plant in Oshawa in December 2019 terminating 2,500 jobs in the plant, with estimates as high as 20,000 total jobs lost including multiplier jobs. The feasibility study, written by Russ Christianson and released at a public forum in Oshawa on September 19th concludes that converting the plant to EV production is possible. Significant government investment and procurement including for Canada Post vehicles would be required. Green Jobs Oshawa is in favour of democratic public ownership, which CWCF has advocated should include a meaningful element of worker and community control. Converting this…
Welcome New Members!
CWCF is pleased to welcome three new members. Congratulations to Eyemole, Drivers Coalition, and Hypha! Eyemole Arts and Technology Co-operative, Vancouver: Eyemole is a worker co-op that produces digital media and provides consulting services to values-aligned clients. Services include app development, web design and development, augmented and virtual reality, graphic design, and more. Drivers Coalition Worker Co-op, Edmonton: Drivers Coalition Worker Co-op has recently incorporated, and it seeks to provide transport and moving services including truck repair and provision of parking and towing. The Co-op does not yet have a website. Hypha Worker Co-op, Toronto, etc.: Hypha is a tech worker co-operative offering web design, digital product development, research, and strategy services. With members located in Ontario, it seeks to cultivate collective growth and meaningful livelihoods through learning and building technologies together.
Climate Strike newsletter
Our newsletter on the Climate Strike September 27, 2019, is available here.