Co-op Week
Co-op Week is an annual opportunity for Canadian co-operative and credit union members to celebrate the fact that they have collectively helped to build this country and to recognize their continuing contributions at home and abroad.
Credit Union Day is designated as the third Thursday of October each year. Co-op Week is celebrated during the week in which Credit Union Day falls. In 2012, Co-op Week will take place October 14-20, with Credit Union Day falling on Thursday October 18.
NEW! Because of the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives celebrations, CCA and On Co-op are encouraging co-operatives and credit unions to also celebrate International Co-operative Day. This year is falls on Saturday, July 7, 2012. Normally this day is not widely promoted in Canada - but this year, with IYC festivities taking place, many organizations are holding events that day including co-op clusters in Guelph, Ottawa, Sudbury, Peterborough and Kitchener/Waterloo.
The History of Co-op Week in Canada
Co-op Week has been celebrated by francophones throughout Canada since 1958. In 1981 celebrations were held among anglophone co-ops in the Maritimes and Saskatchewan. The event went national in 1982 with the encouragement of the Co-operative Union of Canada, a predecessor of the Canadian Co-operative Association.
Co-op Week is a uniquely Canadian phenomenon. In the US, October is Co-op Month, in the UK it is Co-ops Fortnight, and the International Co-operative Alliance and United Nations have an International Day of Co-operatives on the first Saturday in July.
National Co-op Week is always a busy time in the co-operative sector. It is a time to celebrate and promote the role, accomplishments and contributions of our co-ops and credit unions. Co-op week events help raise the visibility of co-operative organization, and improve understanding and awareness of the co-operative business model.
CO-OP WEEK TOOL KIT AND PLANNING GUIDE
The Saskatchewan Co-operative Association has created the Co-op Week Toolkit: A Practical Guide to Planning Your Co-op Week Celebrations. This comprehensive toolkit is a co-operative's guide to creating a memorable and successful celebration. Download the toolkit from the 'related documents' link at right.
The toolkit includes information on what co-op week is, why it is celebrated, great ideas for community involvement, building membership, educating youth, advertising your event, having a civic proclamation and much more.
Our thanks to the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association for allowing us to bring their tool kit to Ontario.
PROMOTING OUR MEMBERS' CELEBRATIONS
On Co-op is pleased to promote our memberships' Co-op Week celebrations: By the end of October, please send On Co-op a summary of your events, with high-resolution photos, if possible. We will present a summary of your events on our website and in other publications.
