Worker Co-op Profiles

By Kenzie Love For Vancouver Island-based worker co-op Weaver Digital Design & Storytelling, the year since its launch has been one to remember, with the impact of the pandemic offering both challenges and opportunities. Initial concerns about whether there would be enough work to go around were soon replaced by the realization that there might … Creating Websites Just the Starting Point for Weaver Digital Design & Storytelling

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By Kenzie Love Precarious, low-paying work has long been a feature of employment in the arts sector. A group of Vancouver artists, however, wanted to change that, so they founded VALU (Vancouver Artists Labour Union) Co-op, a unionized worker co-op intended to provide stable income for its members.  VALU’s members were also motivated by a … VALU Co-op Offers Artists the Chance to Make a Living and a Life

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  By Kenzie Love It all started with a Facebook post. Daniel Ramjattan, a Toronto guitar teacher, had taken to social media to express his frustration with the exploitative practices of traditional music schools. To his surprise, he received a flood of responses from other musicians expressing similar sentiments. The ensuing conversation spurred the creation … Just and Accessible Music School Strikes a Chord With Both Teachers and Students

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By Kenzie Love It’s sometimes said that “if you love what you do, you’ll never ‘work’ again.” It might seem like a cliche. But for the members of Toronto’s Urbane Cyclist, it’s not very far from the truth. Urbane’s founding in 1997 was led by the late Eugene Yao, who wanted to establish a repair … Urbane Cyclist Places Passion Over Profits

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By Kenzie Love When it comes to building houses, Winnipeg’s Sun Certified Builders Co-operative firmly believes that less is more. By building “passive houses”, well-insulated buildings that require little energy for heating or cooling, Sun Certified’s builders are able to deliver houses that have a lower carbon footprint than ones heated or cooled with conventional … Sun Certified Proves That Less Can Be More

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By Kenzie Love With its physical demands, always-present risk of injury, and sometimes unpleasant weather, bicycle courier work might not seem like a dream job. And for an employee of a traditional business, it probably isn’t. But when it comes to working for Toronto’s SendIt Courier worker co-op, Kat Exner couldn’t be happier. “I just … SendIt Courier Offers Deliveries with a Difference

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By Kenzie Love From its modest origins as a bike repair shop in founder Jawn Lafratta’s basement to the multifaceted operations it now carries out in Nanaimo’s downtown core, Hub City Cycles has come a long way. Established as a multi-stakeholder co-op in 2012, Hub City grew out of the desire of Lafratta and his … Hub City Cycles is “the Little Co-op That Could”

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By Kenzie Love Newly incorporated as a co-operative and looking forward to a busy spring and summer, Island Flower Growers Co-operative (IFGC) had its first market of the season scheduled for April 1, 2020. It wasn’t intended as an April Fool’s joke — although by the time that date rolled around, it was clear that … Island Flower Growers Succeeds Amidst Difficult Times

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By Kenzie Love BeetBox Farm  is a worker co-op that places community at the heart of its operations. Established in 2017 near Nepean, Ontario,  its founders were driven by a desire to grow healthy food they could share with people in the surrounding area, primarily through their Community Supported Agriculture program. The BeetBox program allows … BeetBox Farm Cultivates Community

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  When Andrew Loveland started working for Planet Bean in Guelph, Ontario, three years ago, he didn’t know much about worker co-ops. But he had a passion for coffee and an interest in ensuring it was Fairtrade Certified. If those were the things that got him to join Planet Bean, however, it was the worker … Planet Bean Finds Success With New Model

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