December 2008

Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald announced the creation of the Premier's Economic Advisory Panel. The 14-member group is made up of business leaders from across the province. Panel members represent a range of businesses including retail, infrastructure, agriculture and economics. Through their business interests, panel members provide jobs for thousands of Nova Scotians.

Of particular interest is appointment of the Nova Scotia Co-op Council's CEO Dianne Kelderman to the panel. 

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is gearing up for "Celebrating a Century of Co-operation: Honouring the Past, Building the Future", and has planned a number of centenary events and activities to celebrate the co-operative movement across Canada throughout the year.

Record-breaking attendance at the annual Co-op Conference and Gala was almost overshadowed by a record-breaking fundraising amount.  For the first time ever, $10,000 was raised to support Co-operative Young Leaders (CYL), a leadership camp operated by the Ontario Co-operative Association. 

New BALTA report explores formation of social co-ops

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) has called on government and financial institutions to increase their investment in co-operatives in the wake of a Statistics Canada survey on co-op financing.

Board Elections at CWCF’s AGM on November 14th in Winnipeg, the membership passed changes to the by-laws enabling expansion of the Board from 5 to 7 members, and also passed a resolution on Board diversity. Marty Frost (BC) and Alain Bridault (Quebec) were acclaimed, being the only candidates in their respective region.  Then in a very close election (with 6 candidates for 3 seats) that went to a second ballot, the following directors were elected:  Eric Tusz-King (Atlantic Director), Ms. Tigist Dafla (Director-at-large) and Yuill Herbert (Director-at-large).