In a blink of an eye, March is ending—where has the month gone? Over at CMC we are in full Congress preparation mode, and we are working hard to bring you the most exciting edition yet. In between these tasks, we’ve also been meeting with government officials and members, as we continue to advocate for the co-operative and mutual sector.
The end of March also marks the deadline for the three Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC) scholarships. In collaboration with the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and the Ontario Credit Union Foundation, CMC has been calling for applications for the three scholarships: Alexander Fraser Laidlaw Fellowship (graduate students only), Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship (graduate students only) and the Lemaire Co-operative Studies Award (undergraduate or graduate students). In addition to the monetary prizes, winners of all three scholarships will be awarded a free one-year membership in the CASC as well as free registration to their conference. If you know any students who might fit the bill, the deadline to apply is March 31, 2024.
As for Congress, I am also pleased to announce that thanks to the Emerging Co-operators of Canada’s Education Fund, funding is available for 10 youths who are interested in attending Congress. Each recipient will be able to claim up to 2,500 Canadian dollars to help cover travel, lodging, meals, and registration. Interested parties simply need to complete the form and show meaningful engagement within the Canadian co-operative and mutual sector as an employee, volunteer leader or student/researcher. Deadline is April 12, 2024 – so act fast!
Lastly, I also encourage everyone to register for the 2024 Congress to take advantage of the early bird prices. Under this year’s theme of “Navigating Change Together”, leaders of co-operatives and mutuals from Coast to Coast to Coast will attend thought-provoking plenaries as well as participate in interactive workshops and breakout sessions. Early bird prices end on March 31st, so register now!
I hope you enjoy this month’s edition of our newsletter. As we get closer to Congress, we will be sharing more and more information on what to expect, so please keep an eye on this space—I promise you, it will be exciting!