The Common Share

Overall, co-operatives have a proven track record of being more sustainable than other forms of business – with over 90% remaining successful after 3-5 years.

While working in rural and remote parts of western Canada, our team encounters a variety of concerns shared by local leaders, business-owners and passionate community members. Through their stories,...

Co-operatives are businesses. They provide products or services, create jobs and generate wealth. They also generally maintain local control. This attachment to community is often the economic...

Co-operatives have existed, in one form or another, for centuries. Found across industries, and in big and small places all around the world, co-ops are everywhere. The versatility of the model is...

In Canada, co-operative businesses are legally defined by incorporation under provincial or federal legislation. But we think co-ops are a lot more than a legal designation. Just because an...

Co-operative businesses operate in all industries and can be big business. Given the interest generated by 4 co-ops you probably didn’t know were co-ops, we’re expanding the list.

The Co-operatives First team travels across western Canada raising awareness of the co-operative business model and exploring business opportunities in rural and Indigenous communities. We attend a...

Recently, Twitter made headlines with news a group of shareholders are calling for the company to investigate the feasibility of turning the social media giant into a co-operative. The process of a...

The co-operative business model is versatile and can succeed in any industry. The model can also be shaped to suit the unique needs and characteristics of a community. Innovative co-operatives are...