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SASKATOON – The Board of Directors of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) elected Jack Wilkinson President and Chair of CMC on June 18 in Saskatoon during the 2015 AGM. Mr. Wilkinson is a Director of The Co-operators. read Mr. Wilkinson’s bio here. Hazel Corcoran and Denis Richard remain Board Vice-presidents.

Members at the AGM also ratified two new Board members. Doug Potentier, of Victoria BC was appointed as the designated representative of Federated Co-operatives Ltd (FCL). Mr. Potentier was named VP of the FCL Board earlier this year. René Moreau, VP of Change Management at Agropur Co-operative, was appointed as a designated representative to the Board.

CMC delegates passed 6 resolutions put forward at the AGM.  An important resolution on CMC Board composition resulted in the addition of one designated seat for a youth representative. This position will be reserved for emerging co-operators aged 18 to 35 and the position will be elected at the 2016 AGM in Winnipeg.

A resolution was adopted to work on a national co-operative celebration for Canada’s 150th Anniversary in 2017.

The delegates also resolved that CMC become the main contact for the provincial councils and associations to approach the federal government to obtain matching funding for co-op development support.

The delegates also resolved that Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada establish a working committee to study the needs of higher education in the co-operative and mutual sector. This committee will commission a report with specific policy proposals for a comprehensive higher education strategy in 2015-2016.

There is a great deal of unanimity around the board table and in the membership; everybody is clearly focused on the big opportunities in front of CMC,” said Jack Wilkinson. “We have a great opportunity leading up to the federal election this fall to share the importance of co-operatives in the Canadian economy.  It is an ideal time to lobby for a renewed partnership for co-op development at the national level.”

About Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada

The Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) is the national, bilingual association for co-operatives and mutuals in Canada. CMC’s members come from many sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, agri-food and supply, wholesale and retail, housing, health and the services sector. CMC provides leadership to support, promote, and develop the co-operative economy for the benefit of Canadians.

Brendan Denovan, Manager of Communications  613.238.6712 x206 Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada 275 Bank Street, Suite 400 Ottawa ON K2P 2L6