In mid-February, Dan represented CMC at CEDEC’s inaugural Flagship Workshop, Prospère Q, a gathering of public, private, and civil society leaders from across Quebec focused on shaping the 2026–2028 Collaborative Economic Development Roadmap. Dan was there to spotlight the economic potential of co-operatives and connect with key sector allies, including Pascal Harvey, President and CEO of the Réseau des SADC et CAE, pictured here. The network represents 67 of the 267 offices in the Community Futures of Canada Network.
Later that month, Dan attended the Sollio Co-operative Group’s annual general meeting, where he captured a photo of CMC Executive Director Mike Toye with Stéphane Forget, Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Co-operation and Corporate Responsibility at Sollio, and a member of CMC’s Board of Directors. Sollio reported revenues of $8.29 billion for the year, reaffirming its position as Canada’s largest agri-food co-operative. During the event, Dan also visited the booth of SOCODEVI, a Quebec-based international co-operation organization founded in 1985 and long supported by Sollio. He was pleased to see a photo of himself and Claire Gosselin-Gagnon of the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité (CQCM) featured in SOCODEVI’s annual report, taken during a mission to Ghana with cocoa farmers as part of the TogetHER project.
In March, Dan travelled to Alberta to deepen CMC’s understanding of the province’s co-operative and economic development ecosystem. His visit included a United Farmers of Alberta–focused tour that began with a site visit to the Goldeye Centre (a name to remember for those attending Congress and doing the quiz) in Nordegg, the longtime home of the Co-operative Youth Leadership Camps, now operated by UFA’s charitable arm. The Centre is set to host the camps again in 2026 following a brief hiatus, while also expanding its role to include leadership retreats and, over time, serving as a hub for regional tourism. A tour led by the Centre’s new General Manager, Dylan Meisner, highlighted the scope of the revitalization underway. Dan looks forward to returning once the rejuvenation plan is complete and the Centre’s core mission—supporting youth leadership through co-operative education—continues to build on its strong legacy.
At the UFA AGM banquet, held following confirmation of the most successful year in the co-operative’s history, Dan connected with members and sector leaders from across the organization. UFA reported revenues of $2.2 billion and a membership of more than 120,000 co-op members. Among those Dan met was Kevin Hoppins—former Chair, current Director, and grandson of one of the founders of the Goldeye Centre. Today, UFA operates 34 Farm & Ranch Supply stores, 121 petroleum agency and cardlock locations, six fertilizer blending facilities, and maintains a presence in five provinces.
Dan also had the opportunity to fulfil a long-standing promise with a visit to the Bettcher Family Farm in Taber, Alberta. The farm is owned and operated by Jim Bettcher—a former long-serving CMC director—alongside his wife and son, with enthusiastic support from the next generation. The award-winning operation produces sugar beets, forages, cereals, and grasslands, and raises purebred Gelbvieh and commercial Angus cattle. For Dan, who comes from a non-farming background, experiencing calving season firsthand and touring the farm with an owner deeply proud of his family and operation made for a particularly memorable visit.
While in Alberta, Dan also visited several co-operative enterprises, including Mountain View Seed Cleaning Plant Ltd. Established in 1957, the co-operative has 590 members and is one of 67 farmer-owned seed and grain processing co-operatives operating across Alberta and the Peace region of British Columbia. These co-operatives are members of Alberta Seed Processors and were part of the successful renewal of the tax-deferred co-operative share program for agricultural co-operatives, led by CMC.
During his travels, Dan also noted the strong presence of Federated Co-operatives Limited’s CO‑OP® brand across food, agriculture, fuel, and home-related outlets, as well as on the vehicles servicing the 1,600 locations within the Co-operative Retailing System. Pictured here, Dan stands in front of Central Alberta Co-op’s Spruce View gas bar and food store.
Dan also had the opportunity to meet Aaron Mackay, a gas utility operator at Rocky Gas Co-op in Rocky Mountain House and a member of the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. (FedGas), a CMC member organization. With no natural gas co-operatives operating in the Gatineau–Ottawa region, Dan found it particularly informative to learn how the Alberta government supported the creation of gas co-ops more than 60 years ago to extend natural gas service to rural communities. Rocky Gas Co-op is now preparing to expand its service area to Nordegg. The co-op also operates alongside a neighbouring co-operative, Blue Mountain Power Co-op, a frontline member of the Alberta Federation of Rural Electrification Associations (AFREA), another CMC member.
While in Calgary, Dan met with fellow Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada board member Jodi Chambers of Conexus Credit Union, who also serves as a Director with the Canadian Credit Union Association. They were joined by Finton Ryan, a former Irish—and later Canadian—credit union CEO who now works as an executive coach. The two first met years ago in Ghana while working on a Canadian Co-operative Association (now CMC) project that brought Canadian and Irish credit union expertise to the country. Their discussion offered valuable first-hand insights into co-operative culture, sector dynamics, and consolidation within the credit union system. As of January 1, 2026, Conexus Credit Union is the result of the amalgamation of Conexus Credit Union (2006), Cornerstone Credit Union Financial Group Limited, and Synergy Credit Union Ltd. The organization’s roots date back to 1937, when its first location was established as the Regina Co-operative Savings and Credit Union.
Speaking of credit unions, a Servus Credit Union branch located just down the street from the brunch venue provided another photo opportunity. In 2025, Edmonton-based Servus Credit Union Ltd. became Canada’s largest credit union, with $30 billion in assets (excluding the Desjardins Group, which is composed of caisses), following its successful merger with connectFirst Credit Union in 2024. Today, Servus operates 147 branches across 80 communities.
While in Calgary, Dan also connected with colleague Nancy Wanye, CMC’s Manager of Government Relations, who suggested meeting at the Calgary Farmers’ Market West—a striking, modern facility operated as a New Generation Co-operative. As described by Kyle White of Co-operatives First, New Generation Co-operatives enable farmers and ranchers to invest in downstream, value-added enterprises that purchase their commodities at fair market value, keep investment dollars within the community, and enhance returns—potentially generating dividends in addition to guaranteed purchases.
Thanks to modern technology, Dan was also able to present an overview of the Canadian co‑operative ecosystem to the Board of EconoCoop, supporting their Principle 5 efforts related to education, training, and information for strong co‑operative leadership. Founded in 2020, EconoCoop was created to support francophone early learning and childcare services in minority‑language settings through the co‑operative model. In just a few years, it has grown to serve more than 750 service points nationwide by offering group purchasing, back‑office services, and other shared supports to a wide range of childcare providers. EconoCoop became a member of Co‑operators in 2025 and is actively collaborating with both Co‑operators and Desjardins Financial Group on promising Principle 6 initiatives. Its engagement in the broader co‑operative movement is further reflected by the involvement of CMC Board member Tyler Paturel and Fatim Kouyaté, a member of Canada’s Emerging Co‑operators.
Dan’s final meeting was with Hazel Corcoran, the soon-to-be-retired Executive Director of the Canadian Worker Co‑operative Federation, who shared reflections from her 35‑year career in the co‑operative movement and her leadership in building strong, connected networks across the sector. Dan also noted that Hazel’s position is currently posted and expressed his hope that CWCF will continue to benefit from strong leadership, given its important role in supporting the broader co‑operative movement in Canada.
On his way back to the airport, Dan made a brief stop in Strathmore, taking the opportunity to visit the local Calgary Co‑op grocery store. He concluded his travels with a final photo in front of the Strathmore UFA Petroleum Agency & Cardlock, also located in the community.
If you would like to invite Dan to visit your co‑operative, credit union, caisse, or mutual during his travels, please contact him at dbrunette@canada.coop.