In this episode we asked one of our favourite co-op experts, Dr. Brett Fairbairn, to reflect on a recent study on the impact of co-operative businesses. We asked him about the landscape of co-ops in western Canada, how that landscape has changed over time, and how we should think about the place of co-operatives in the economy. 

 Kye is a farmer. But he's not your usual farmer. The acres he grows on depend on numerous locations and convincing people to let him grow his produce in their backyard. To market his products, he helped form and joined a co-op. In this episode of The Common Share, Kye shares some of the struggles, learnings and adventures of urban farming and starting up a co-operative. Give it a listen. 

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking to Carol Kitchen, former President and CEO of United Farmers of Alberta. During Carol’s tenure with UFA she turned its balance sheet and membership engagement around. In this illuminating discussion, Carol talks about her highly successful efforts to refocus the co-op on its core mandate, and to reach out to members (one combine ride at a time).

In this episode, we spoke to Sturgeon Lake Developments CEO April Roberts-Poitras and our own Indigenous Relations Lead Trista Pewapisconias about the opportunities and challenges of setting up co-operative businesses in Indigenous communities. They provide excellent and practical insights.

The legalization of cannabis in Canada hasn't been the boon to small producers that many expected. It's been difficult for small cannabis growers to obtain licences and compete in the market - but a group in BC is exploring how the co-op model could help. 

In this episode we speak to David Hurford with the BC Small Producers and Processors Co-op. David has extensive experience in cannabis policy, and tells us how forming a co-operative can help boost the craft cannabis industry.

Meet two founders of one of British Columbia's newest and most innovative co-ops! In this episode we speak to Adele Therias and Leah Karlberg of Neighbour Lab about how their worker co-op develops community infrastructure that can provide resources during a disaster, and promotes community connections. 

In this episode we speak to three people about the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association's annual youth Co-op Camp: an organizer, a participant, and a camp staff member from the co-op sector. This youth programming has been around for over 90 years, and we talk about how camp benefits both its participants and the co-op sector as a whole.

In this episode we spoke with Shaun Soonias, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan First Nations Economic Development Network (http://sfnedn.com/) . Shaun has had a long career in social and business development, and gives some great insights about both the opportunities and challenges of entrepreneurship in emerging sectors. He talks about the great potential of sectors like tourism and agriculture, as well as SFNEDN's perspective on the co-op model as a tool for First Nations communities. 

In this episode we speak with Cecile Green and Rebecca Fisher-McGinty from consulting firm Round Sky Solutions. Round Sky is a worker co-op that trains co-operative leaders in democratic, self-managing processes; we had a great discussion about the unique attributes and challenges of leadership in co-ops.

In this episode we speak to long-time co-op developer and advocate, Patrick Lapointe. As the former Executive Director (and now board member) of the Community Health Services Association of Saskatoon, recipient of a Saskatchewan Cooperative Association Co-operative Merit Award in 2011, and an SCA co-op developer, Lapointe knows a great deal about getting co-ops started. He talks to us about some interesting co-ops he's helped over the years, the process of creating a co-op, and the challenges that new co-ops face — particularly in the North.