Ten years into the sole proprietorship he had founded in Nanaimo, BC, in 2013 Ben Geselbracht was looking for a change. Geselbracht wanted to remain involved with the business without having to shoulder all the day-to-day responsibilities by himself. The worker co-op model beckoned, and armed with a technical assistance grant from CWCF to help … Nanaimo Co-op Does Yeoman’s Work – Kenzie Love
By Kenzie Love Co-op conversions are a hot topic of conversation these days, with many small business owners across Canada poised to retire in the coming years, and few with a succession plan in place. Research suggests that while it may not work in all instances, converting to a worker co-op is one way … CoActive Developments Has Zeal for Co-op Conversions
By Kenzie Love Local Investing YYC, an associate member of CWCF through its participation in Common Good Capital, was incorporated in the fall of 2017. Its founders were looking for ways that all types of investors could invest into the local economy in businesses having a positive environmental or social impact. Travis Inlow, the Co-op’s … Local Investing YYC Looks Beyond the Bottom Line
The group that formed Curbside Farms started out as a campus club in support of proportional representation and wound up as a worker co-op devoted to urban food production. The founders agree they didn’t envision their project would take this circuitous route when they started, but they have no regrets. “In terms of anticipating that … Curbside Farms Promotes Urban Food Production
Co-op l’Argot is a women-led translation and language services co-op based in Montréal, QC. They will be offering simultaneous translation services at CWCF’s 2023 Conference in Quebec City this November. The below is an edited transcript of a Zoom interview by the RéseauCOOP team on February 25, 2021, translated from the original French. Thank you to … Interview with Co-op L’Argot
If Louder Than Ten’s founders had known about worker co-ops at the time of its inception, they probably would’ve incorporated as one. As it was, the Vancouver-based digital project management and operations training company was already operating under the spirit, if not the letter, of what it means to be a co-op from the beginning. … Louder Than Ten Succeeds as a Co-op Conversion – Kenzie love
Whatever their area of expertise, small businesses today often face an uphill battle when it comes to competing against large corporations whose resources are difficult to match. But Wayfinders Business Co-operative of Edmonton is trying to make this competition a little easier by creating an environment where small businesses, freelancers and others can join forces. … Wayfinders Co-op Helps Small Businesses Forge a Common Path – Kenzie Love
By Kenzie Love Many bookkeepers face an unappealing choice between the lack of autonomy in working for a large firm and the hassles associated with going it on their own. Launched in April of 2020, Saskatchewan’s Ambient Bookkeeping aims to provide its members with greater control over their labour than is typical in the sector … Ambient Bookkeeping Offers a Winning Formula for Any Balance Sheet
By Kenzie Love In 2012, three alumni from Vancouver Island University’s Green Building & Renewable Energy Program, inspired by the publicity surrounding the International Year of the Co-op, decided to create a worker co-op of their own: a renewable energy installer that would combine their skill sets while meeting the triple bottom line. The result … Viridian Energy Co-operative Spreads the Warmth of Community
Founded in 2010, SolarShare is Canada’s largest renewable energy co-op. The Co-op owns and operates commercial-scale solar systems throughout Ontario. Once the systems are completed and generating revenue, they are refinanced with community investment—Solar Bonds—from over 2,000 members. Investors in Solar Bonds are also members of the Co-op who are eligible to vote at the … Future Looks Bright for SolarShare – Kenzie Love