--- title: "Episode 3: Why we need governance" description: In this episode, we talk to Paul Thomson from the U of S to explore why we need governance. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform. --- [![Co-operatives First](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/hubfs/CooperativesFirst_December2018%20_Theme/Images/logo.png)](https://cooperativesfirst.com/) - [HOME](https://cooperativesfirst.com/) - [ABOUT US](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [WHO WE ARE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [BOARD OF DIRECTORS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/board-of-directors/) - [ANNUAL REPORT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/annual-report/) - [OUR SERVICES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [ONLINE GOVERNANCE COURSE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/governance/) - [CREATING CONNECTIONS WORKSHOP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/workshop/) - [RESOURCE SITE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/resources/) - [INSPIRING LEADERSHIP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/exploring-opportunity/) - [CREATING A NEW BUSINESS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/create/) - [HELPING CO-OPS THRIVE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/thrive/) - [WHAT IS A CO-OP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - [CONSIDER A CO-OP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/consider-a-co-op/) - [TYPES OF CO-OPERATIVES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/types-of-cooperatives/) - [Co-operative FAQs](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - [BLOG](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/) - [THE COMMON SHARE PODCAST](https://cooperativesfirst.com/common-share-podcast/) - [THE BACKROAD DIARIES](https://thebackroaddiaries.com/) - [CONTACT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/contact/) - [HOME](https://cooperativesfirst.com/) - [ABOUT US](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [WHO WE ARE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [BOARD OF DIRECTORS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/board-of-directors/) - [ANNUAL REPORT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/annual-report/) - [OUR SERVICES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [ONLINE GOVERNANCE COURSE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/governance/) - [CREATING CONNECTIONS WORKSHOP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/workshop/) - [RESOURCE SITE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/resources/) - [INSPIRING LEADERSHIP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/exploring-opportunity/) - [CREATING A NEW BUSINESS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/create/) - [HELPING CO-OPS THRIVE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/thrive/) - [WHAT IS A CO-OP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - [CONSIDER A CO-OP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/consider-a-co-op/) - [TYPES OF CO-OPERATIVES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/types-of-cooperatives/) - [Co-operative FAQs](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - [BLOG](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/) - [THE COMMON SHARE PODCAST](https://cooperativesfirst.com/common-share-podcast/) - [THE BACKROAD DIARIES](https://thebackroaddiaries.com/) - [CONTACT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/contact/) April 30, 2018 • Aasa Marshall ## Episode 3: Why we need governance In this episode, we explore why we need governance. Kyle and Aasa from Co-operatives First talk to Paul Thompson, Research Officer at the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, and creator of the Good Governance Matters course. We talk about the actors involved in governance, some of the challenges involved in getting governance right, and why governance is like steering a ship…and also marriage. ## **Links referred to in this episode** [Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan](http://usaskstudies.coop/index.php) [Good Governance Matters course](https://cooperativesfirst.com/governance/) [The Failure of Co-op Atlantic](https://www.grocer.coop/sites/default/files/article_files/183_-_failure_of_co-op_atlantic_0.pdf) [The Two-Hat Problem](https://words.usask.ca/thinkingaboutcoops/2017/01/24/the-two-hat-problem/) ## Stay in the know. Sign up for our monthly newsletter. Share to FacebookFacebookFacebook46 [Share to TwitterTwitterTwitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/30/podcast-why-we-need-governance&text=Episode%203:%20Why%20we%20need%20governance) Share to PinterestPinterestPinterest #### [Previous Video: The Food Forest and Learning Centre Co-operative](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/30/video-the-food-forest-and-learning-centre-co-operative) #### [Next 6 unique businesses that also happen to be co-ops](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/26/6-unique-businesses-that-also-happen-to-be-co-ops) 4-1810 8th Street East Saskatoon, SK S7H 0T6 \_\_ Monday - Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm [Email](mailto:info@cooperativesfirst.com) [Call](tel:306-382-4410) Map #### Co-operatives First 4-1810 8th Street East Saskatoon, SK S7H 0T6 Canada