REGINA, June 16, 2024 — Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Annual CMC Awards. Each year, CMC honours individuals and organizations working within the Canadian co-operative and mutualist sector to recognize their outstanding contributions. Once again this year, CMC was pleased to present two awards that reflect the ongoing evolution of the sector, highlighting its commitment to JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) and environmental priorities. Notably, for the Environmental Initiative of the Year Award, two recipients were named as co-winners. All award recipients were announced during the Gala at CMC’s Annual Congress, held at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina, Saskatchewan.
“Our co-operative movement is rising to meet complex challenges with bold, values-based leadership,” says Mike Toye, Executive Director of CMC. “This year’s award recipients have shown what’s possible when co-operatives put inclusion, innovation, and community resilience at the heart of their work. Their achievements are not just impressive — they’re setting a new standard for what leadership in our sector looks like.”
Award recipients are carefully selected by members of CMC’s Awards and Nominations Committee. The Committee reviews all nominations submitted by CMC’s member co-operatives and mutuals. The Committee is composed of Chair Dave Walsh, along with Jim Bettcher, Mary Nirlungayuk, Reba Plummer, and Pascal Billard.
Here are the 2025 winners:
CO-OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD: Sarasvati Maharajh
The CMC Co-operator of the Year Award honours individuals who have contributed outstanding efforts to the cause and the development of co‐operative and/or mutual enterprises. This award provides recognition to an individual who has contributed in especially significant ways to promoting, developing, or uniting co‑operatives and/or mutuals in Canada and/or internationally.
Sarasvati Maharajh is the recipient of the 2025 Co-operator of the Year Award from Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, a recognition that highlights her outstanding commitment and international influence in the co-operative sector. As Chair of the Credit Union Leaders Association (CULA), she plays a central role in promoting leadership, strategic development, and intercooperation within credit unions. Her active involvement with the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions reflects her global vision and dedication to strengthening ties among co-operative movements across the Americas and beyond. Through her work, Sarasvati embodies an inclusive, sustainable, and innovative approach to co-operative development, inspiring a new generation of leaders to build more just and resilient economies.
YOUNG CO-OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD: Margot Pasquier
The CMC Young Co-operator of the Year Award honours individuals of 35 years of age or less who have contributed outstanding efforts to the cause and the development of co‐operative and/or mutual enterprises.
A heartfelt thank you to Sollio Cooperative Group for sponsoring this award at the 2025 CMC Congress and for its ongoing commitment to the development of the co-operative movement.
Margot Pasquier is the recipient of the 2025 Young Co-operator of the Year Award presented by Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, in recognition of her inspiring leadership and deep commitment to the co-operative movement. Active within the solidarity co-operative 25e heure, which she co-founded, she serves as Director of Communications and Public Relations, where she champions a vision of growth firmly rooted in co-operative values. Her influence extends beyond her organization: Margot actively contributes to several co-operative bodies in Quebec, advocating for democratic, inclusive governance with a clear focus on the future. At the intersection of communications, mobilization, and co-operative development, her journey embodies a new generation of leaders committed to building a more equitable and sustainable economy.
SMALL CO-OPERATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Marc-André Pigeon, The Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives
The Small Co-operative of the Year Award honours Canadian co‐operative and/or mutual organizations that have made significant contributions to co‐operatives and/or mutuals in Canada and/or internationally.
The Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (CCSC) is an interdisciplinary research and teaching centre located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan. Founded in 1984, the CCSC is financially supported by major co-operatives and credit unions from across Canada, as well as by the University of Saskatchewan. Our goal is to provide practitioners and decision-makers with the information and conceptual tools needed to understand co-operatives and to develop them as solutions to the complex challenges faced by communities worldwide.
LARGE CO-OPERATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD: THE FOGO ISLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED
The Large Co-operative of the Year Award honours Canadian co‐operative and/or mutual organizations that have made significant contributions to co‐operatives and/or mutuals in Canada and/or internationally.
CTMA (Coopérative de transport maritime et aérien) has been serving the Magdalen Islands for many years, with a mission to provide safe, reliable, and courteous transportation of people and goods, while contributing to the social, economic, and tourism development of the region. Rooted in strong values—pride in a job well done, honesty in all relationships, respect for individuals and procedures, and mutual trust—CTMA relies on the commitment of its team to deliver quality service. Safety remains its top priority, guided by rigorous international standards and a constant drive for improvement. Thanks to its expertise and cooperative foundation, CTMA is much more than a transporter: it is a pillar of vitality for the Magdalen Islands community.
JEDI (JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION) INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Créations Partage, coopérative de solidarité
CMC’s JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Initiative of the Year Award honours Canadian co-operative and/or mutual organizations that have made a significant contribution to integrating notions of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion into their practices, their organization and their community.
Créations Partage is a community organization born from a collective vision: to offer a welcoming space where parents and children can grow and thrive together. Focused on the perinatal period and the early years of parenthood, the organization supports families through a variety of services tailored to their needs: workshops, resources, meetings, and support. By promoting an inclusive, compassionate approach rooted in the sharing of knowledge and experiences, Créations Partage builds a strong, diverse, and engaged community.
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Shawn Fitzgerald, Co-operators
The CMC Environmental Initiative of the Year Award honours Canadian co-operative and/or mutual organizations that have made a significant contribution, through a project or the implementation of new practices, to reducing their environmental footprint.
Co-operators is a major player in the Canadian co-operative movement, recognized for its strong commitment to environmental sustainability and community resilience. As a financial co-operative, it integrates the principles of the circular economy and responsible finance into its operations, investments, and governance. Co-operators has committed to achieving carbon neutrality across all its activities by 2040 and actively supports projects focused on ecological transition, renewable energy, and climate resilience. True to co-operative values, the organization works collaboratively with other co-operatives and community partners to build a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive future.
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD: Dave Saunders, NewfoundSAND Glass Recycling Co-operative
The CMC Environmental Initiative of the Year Award honours Canadian co-operative and/or mutual organizations that have made a significant contribution, through a project or the implementation of new practices, to reducing their environmental footprint.
NewfoundSAND offers a comprehensive range of specialized services, including building, landscaping, construction, gardening, water filtration, sandblasting, concrete work, and beach restoration. The company is also involved in the creation and maintenance of golf courses, road painting, beach volleyball courts, and much more. Thanks to its diverse expertise, NewfoundSAND meets the varied needs of its clients with professionalism and skill, contributing to sustainable development and the quality of outdoor spaces.