The Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives’ 2024 Top Co-op Issues Survey Report contained many of the same issues from years past in the top spots, with lack of awareness once again in the lead. Further down the list, however, was a newer issue, one that while not cited by as many people, has … Federations Have a Critical Role to Play in Building the Co-operative Ecosystem
By Kenzie Love The problems with AI are well-known, and the promise of this technology is likely overstated. Thus as David Montgomery observes, “it’s risky to leave it in the hands of distant corporations.” As in other instances, however, the work being undertaken by co-ops may offer an alternative to the current domination by a … Co-op AI Aims to Offer an Alternative to Corporate Platforms
By Kenzie Love Amid a growing market for climate change mitigation and adaptation planning, Sustainability Solutions Group (SSG) faces stiff competition when it responds to requests for proposals. The award-winning consultancy already has one significant differentiator from most of its competitors: it’s a worker co-op. But while this should be an indicator that SSG doesn’t … B Corps Are One Piece of a Complex Puzzle
By Kenzie Love The Trump administration’s recent actions on international trade have destabilized the global economy, and co-ops have felt the impact. The old economic order as it pertained to trade may be a thing of the past. But instead of pining for the supposed stability and prosperity of a bygone era, it’s important to … Trade Agreements Must Prioritize People Over Profits: Worker Co-ops Can Help
By Kenzie Love Much has been written in recent years about the rise of precarious employment and the decline of permanent, salaried 9-to-5 positions. Although this is indeed a serious issue, lamenting the decline of these jobs is only part of the story, since as Ronaldo Munck observes, it centres the experience of workers in … Lessons from the Global South
By Kenzie Love With 2025 being a UN-declared International Year of Co-operatives, co-ops are in the spotlight as a key means of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. While co-ops can play a valuable role in achieving all of the goals, Goal 7, clean and affordable energy is an area where they have already demonstrated their … Co-ops Are the Way Towards Affordable and Clean Energy
By Kenzie Love As the world marked International Women’s Day this year with a theme of “For ALL Women and Girls: Equality. Rights. Empowerment,” it is clear that there is still considerable progress to be made in making this vision a reality. None of the markers around the Sustainable Development Goal (“SDG”) number five on … Co-ops’ Continued Focus on Women’s Empowerment Is Critical to Achieving the Agenda for Sustainable Development
By Kenzie Love Co-operativism has a rich history within the Black diaspora, one that had long been overlooked but is gaining new attention through books such as Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard’s Collective Courage. Reviewing the history of co-ops in Black communities offers important lessons for the wider co-op movement. As Gordon Nembhard notes, there have … Lessons from the Black Co-operative Movement
By Kenzie Love Inflation is top of mind for many Canadian small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) these days. A recent survey of Canadian SMEs found 90 percent of them had been impacted by inflation, and another survey of 500 Canadian accountants revealed inflation as the most significant financial threat to Canadian SMEs. With the vast … Inflation Poses Unique Challenges for Worker Co-ops
Co-operatives Are At a Pivotal Point By Kenzie Love When the United Nations General Assembly declared 2012 as the first International Year of Co-operatives, it seemed to herald a bright future for the movement. With the theme of “Co-operative Enterprises Build a Better World”, the International Year of Co-operatives had three main objectives: increasing awareness, … Co-operatives Are At a Pivotal Point