Each for All: The Co-operative Connection

May 11th, 2006

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In this episode, we continue with our month’s theme of Co-ops 101: AnIntroduction to Co-operatives In Canada. Last week, we introduced theco-op model and discussed the co-operative movement somewhat. Today, welook deep into Canada’s co-operative heritage and find that it has manyfacets we may not be aware of living here in BC.1. First Robin attends the Mountain Equiptment Co-op (MEC) grandopening in Victoria and interviews some co-operators in, Word on the Street!2. Then we present the second part of a our two part series introducingthe co-operative model and movement. This week, Eryk finishes hisinterview with Dr. Ian MacPherson (Director of the BCICS) and we learn about the co-op movement in Canada. 3. Following the interview we have the Co-operative Community Bulletin.4. And stay tuned at the end of the show for another chance to win theBCICS prize package and Robin will do his Kermit the Frog impression(just kidding)!

Co-operative Community Bulletin

4th Annual InternationalBuilding Co-operative Futures Youth Conference in Manchester andRochdale, United Kingdom, May 24-27, 2006. This year’s theme is Co-operating Out of Poverty: Can Co-ops Save the World? Visit www.co-op.ac.uk or bcics.uvic.ca/youthzone formore information. A local co-operative oriented event is coming up nextweek, on the evening of May 17th (that’s next Wednesday) join theCanadac Co-op Developers at the Fairfield United Church as they presentYaks, Camels and Hope: An evening of information, discussion and videos on life and work in Mongolia. Call 414-0308 or email co-op@canadac.comto register. It’s a free event, donations are welcome so come on outand support a small-scale Canadian project that is bringing hope tovulnerable families in Mongolia. That’s Wednesday May 17th at 7pm.We’ll post this information on our website too.

Random Co-op Trivia

We only had one entry last week, so thereis a very good chance you could win if you submit your answer thisweek. The question again was…Name the largest non-governmental organization in the world? And thehints were: Founded in 1895 and has the word co-operative in its name.Enter your submission to win a BCICS prize package, including a BCICSpublication of your choice, shipped to your door. Email your answers tobcics@uvic.ca,please include your name and mailing address. Winners will be announcedMay 25th during the final week of Co-ops 101. All correct entries willbe placed in a random draw for the prize.

Episode Supplemental Information:

*more info comingInfo from MEC opening: 1 in 10 Canadians are a member of MEC, makingMEC the fourth largest organization in Canada after Canada, Ontario,and Quebec. The opening event was fun. Nice to see so manyco-operatively minded people inspired by the stories of MEC’sbeginnings and by Silken Lauman’s speech on the merits of kid’s play.Robin also had a chance to stand out front of the store the followingmorning and asked people about what “co-op” means to them and if theycould name any other co-ops in BC. Ian’s Interview SupplementalContent:1. Antigonish Movement - Moses Coady - Xavier2. Credit Union beginnings on East Coast3. Grain Elevators and the Prairie Movement4. Types of Co-ops in BC5. Rod Glenn on VI, other names.6. BC Movement: Credit Unions, Consumer, Housing, Fishing, PlannedCommunities, Organic Foods, Agriculture, Dairy

Bibliography

For background information on some of the topics discussed in this week's show please see the following publications.

• Butler, Richard. “The Antigonish Movement.” Unpublished Paper. [British Columbia Institute for Co-operative Studies (hereafter BCICS) call number: 0769.162 B]
• Compton, Hume.Time for Change: An Opportunity for Progress in Co-operative Retailing.Nanaimo: Nanaimo District Savings Credit Union and Mid-Island Consumer Services Co-operative, 1982.
• Dunae, Patrick A. Excelsior!: A History of Nanaimo Credit Union, 1946-1996. Lantzville: Oolichan Books, 1996.
• Fairbairn, Brett. A Century of Prairie and Saskatchewan Farm Co-operatives: Philosophy, Organization, and History. Unpublished Paper. [BCICS call number:0773.132F]
• Girard, Jean-Pierre, with Suzy Brière. An Identity to be Asserted, a Gap to be Filled –Historical Overview of the Co-operative Movement in French Canada: 1850-2000. Montreal: University du Quebec a Montreal, 1999.
• Glen, A.R. “A Practical Model for Consumer Co-operation” in The Conference on Co-operative Thought and Practice: Economic Efficiency and Democratic Control: A Report by the Co-operative College of Canada. Saskatoon: Co-operative College of Canada, 1978.
• Henry, Tom. Small City in a Big Valley: the Story of Duncan. Vancouver: Harbour Publishing, 1999.
• Hill, A.V.Tides of Change: A Story of Fishermen’s Co-operatives in British Columbia. Prince Rupert: Prince Rupert Fishermen’s Co-operative Association, 1967.
• Levasseaur, Roger, and Yvan Rousseau. “Social Movements and Development in Quebec: The Experience of the Desjardins Movement.” Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics / Annales de l'économie publique, sociale et cooperative, December, 2001. Vol. 72, Number 4. 549-579.
• MacPherson, Ian.Co-operation, Conflict and Consensus: B.C. Central and the Credit Union Movement to 1994. Vancouver: BC Central Credit Union, 1995)
• MacPherson, Ian. Each for All: A History of the Co-operative Movement in English Canada, 1900-1945.Toronto: Macmillan, 1979.
• MacSween, R. J. “A History of the Nova Scotian Co-operative Movement.” [BCICS Manuscript, call number: 0700.162M]
• Staples, R.S. ‘Yes…We Can!’ Consumerism in Action: A History of Mid-Island Consumer Services Co-operative. Nanaimo: Mid-Island Consumer Services Co-operative, 1980.
• Welton, Micheal R. Little Mosie from the Margaree: A Biography of Moses Michael Coady. Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing Inc., 2001.
• Wilson, Kevin. Practical Dreamers: Communitarianism and Co-operatives on MalcolmIsland. Victoria: British Columbia Institute of Co-operative Studies/Sointula Museum, 2005.