The current political and economic climate stands as a perfect illustration of the power and purpose of co-operation. Let’s take for example, the collective action that Canadians are taking in response to President Trump's imposed tariffs.
Canadians are rallying together in a powerful display of unity and patriotism. Across the nation, there's a growing movement to support local businesses and buy Canadian-made products. While not new concepts, the buzz is certainly sweeping across the country and taking on a new significance and sense of urgency. Canadians are embracing their homegrown goods with pride, determined to demonstrate that we won't be easily swayed by external pressures. This unified effort is not just about economic resilience; it's a statement of solidarity and a testament to the strength of the Canadian identity.
Across social media, Canadians are sharing their favorite local brands and encouraging others to do the same. Facebook groups have popped up such as “Canadian Made” (with already over half a million followers), or "Made in Canada," dedicated to providing lists of Canadian versus American-made products, advertising locally made products, and reminding us about the benefits and impact of buying “local.” Stores are starting to respond in-kind with special signs or stickers to help people identify products made in Canada.
Beyond the more obvious purpose and objectives of these initiatives, this grassroots movement is fostering a sense of community and shared purpose, proving that when faced with adversity, Canadians can come together to support one another and stand strong against external challenges. We as co-operators already understand that what we are witnessing is the power of co-operation in action. (Now if only we could get all Canadians to see that this is something we have been doing for over 180 years!)
As co-operators, we understand that making an impact as individuals often seems impossible; we feel helpless and don't know what to do. But working together with others that have similar interests and shared goals, more often than not, results in significant change and transformation. Co-operatives, after all, were created as tools for leveraging collective power and action.
So here's a thought... let's take the current movement to “Buy Canadian” one step further, by encouraging one other to purchase products and services from Canadian co-operatives, while also sharing and promoting the many benefits of supporting the co-operative sector.
Here are some key reasons to support (and encourage others to support) the co-operatives in your community:
Empowered Ownership & Control: Co-operatives are owned and democratically controlled by their members, who use their services or buy their goods, meaning decisions are made with the members' best interests in mind.
Community Development & Well-being: Co-operatives often prioritize local needs and community development, investing in the community and local economy. Co-operatives often engage in socially responsible initiatives, such as supporting local charities, providing education and training, and fostering community well-being.
Sustainable & Ethical Practices: Many co-operatives place a strong emphasis on sustainable and ethical business practices, including environmentally friendly operations and fair labor practices.
Profit Sharing & Economic Equity: Profits are shared among members or reinvested into the co-operative to improve services, rather than being distributed to external shareholders. They also promote economic equity by providing equal voting rights and distributing benefits fairly among members.
Collaboration: Co-operative serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures. They understand that co-operation and collaboration are key to success.
Local Production & Prosperity: Many co-operatives support local farmers, artisans, and producers, helping to sustain local economies and reduce environmental impact.
Job creation: Co-operatives help create jobs by fostering economic growth through shared ownership, democratic decision-making, and reinvestment of profits into local communities.
Economic Resilience & Stability: Co-operative businesses can be more resilient during economic downturns because they are driven by member needs rather than profit maximization.
Your money matters – and where you’re choosing to spend it matters - now more than ever. When you’re supporting a co-operative, you’re supporting the community as a whole, and contributing to economic growth and equality. You are supporting ethical businesses, better work environments, and creating opportunities for more connection and collaboration between people, which contributes to better health and well-being. The list goes on and on, but you get the drift.
The political and economic climate is ripe for us to put Principle Six into action by supporting one another, standing strong and united in a collective voice, and sharing the benefits of co-operation with anyone and everyone who will listen. Hopefully a lot of this will happen organically as we celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives, but let's each do our part and we will see the positive impacts it will have on our communities across Canada.
For a comprehensive list of co-operatives in diverse sectors across Canada that you can support, download our FREE Choose Co-operative! resource.
Submitted by Audrey Aczel, Communications Manager, OCA
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