Co-op Day and Co-op Week

 

The International Day of Co-operatives (IDC) is an annual celebration of the co-operative movement that is observed on the first Saturday of July. On December 16, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in Resolution 47/90 “the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Co-operatives, marking the centenary of the establishment of the International Co-operative Alliance.” Since then, the United Nations' IDC has been observed jointly alongside International Co-operative Day. The aim of this celebration is to:

  • Increase awareness of cooperatives
  • Highlight the complementary goals and objectives of the United Nations and the international cooperative movement
  • Underscore the contributions of the movement to the resolution of the major problems addressed by the United Nations
  • Strengthen and extend partnerships between the international co-operative movement and other stakeholders

Co-op Week is a uniquely Canadian phenomenon that is celebrated annually in the third week of October. Co-op week events are hosted in communities across the country and help raise the visibility of co-operative organizations, while improving understanding and awareness of the co-operative business model. It is also time to celebrate and highlight the accomplishments and contributions of co-operatives and credit unions. 

Francophones have been celebrating Co-op Week since 1958, and the event went national in 1982 with the encouragement of the Co-operative Union of Canada - a predecessor of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, the national trade association for the co-operative movement in Canada.

While we encourage co-operatives to sing their praises and contributions all year long, here are some of the things that your co-operative can do during Co-op Week:

  • Explain the various benefits of the co-operative business model for creating a sustainable economy in the province
  • Celebrate the significant contributions of co-operatives in their communities across Ontario
  • Promote the relevance of the co-operative model, its mission as a local and sustainable development tool, as well the values and principles that guide it. In other words, promote the  Co-operative Identity – what makes us diverse and what unifies us
  • Explore inter-co-operation through Principle Six: Co-operation among Co-operatives
  • Develop a better understanding of the advantages of co-operation among the board, staff, members of the movement and the general public