Expert service providers are organizations or consultants that provide resources, training, mentoring, and other learning opportunities to co-operative across the country to help them get established, scale or diversify. CMC wants to ensure that co-operatives across the country have access to relevant services that meet their specific needs. This list will be updated gradually. Please note that CMC is not responsible for the services offered by those providers.

Would you like to join our list of expert service providers for the co-operative sector?

Language

Service(s)

Province or territory

Province or territory

British Columbia

Language

English

GIA Consulting Co-operative

GIA Consulting Co-op was founded in 2021 by a group of graduates of the Co-operative Management Education Master’s program at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. GIA was founded to serve new and established cooperatives by providing support for operations and governance that is grounded in the cooperative principles and values. The members of GIA bring expertise in fields including Member Engagement, Marketing, Human Resources, Purchasing, and Supply Chain Management, Executive Leadership, Retail Marketing, and Social Environmental Sustainability.

Services

Branding and marketing, Business planning, Business writing, Conversion to a co-op, Governance, Impact measurement, Incorporation of a co-op, Market study, Product development, Strategic planning

Province or territory

Ontario

Language

English

Ontario Co-operative Association

OCA offers business development support to those wanting to start a new co-operative, or to grow an existing co-operative. If you want to know any of the answers below, you’ve come to the right place!
Do you want to know if the co-operative model is the right one for your business idea?
Do you want to know how to incorporate your co-operative?
Are you interested in learning where you might be able to tap into funding for your business venture?
Do you need tools to effectively govern your new co-operative?
Do you want some pointers on how to expand, change, or revitalize your established co-operative?

Services

Business planning, Business writing, Conversion to a co-op, Governance, Growth strategy, Incorporation of a co-op, Networking support, Strategic planning

Province or territory

Saskatchewan

Language

English

Saskatchewan Co-operative Association

Saskatchewan Co-operative Association is a provincial coalition of co-operatives and credit unions. We work together to educate people about co-operatives, promote co-ops, and support the development of co-operatives. Find out more at www.sask.coop.

Services

Business planning, Governance, Incorporation of a co-op, Strategic planning, Viability study

Province or territory

British Columbia

Language

English

Turning Times Research & Consulting

I have been offering co-op development and support services for the past 10 years working mostly with small to medium size co-ops on Vancouver Island and Vancouver area. I have experience with agriculture and on-line marketing co-ops, worker co-ops, shared services co-ops, consumer co-ops, and more. A lot of my work has been to support co-ops through incorporation and the start-up stage of operations. I have worked on business development, business plans, strategic plans, etc. Please see my website for more info on my work.

Services

Business planning, Business writing, Conversion to a co-op, Governance, Incorporation of a co-op, Market study, Networking support, Product development, Strategic partnerships, Strategic planning, Viability study

Province or territory

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan

Language

English

Co-operatives First

Co-operatives First is a non-profit organization funded by Federated Co-operatives Limited and the Co-operative Retailing System. Founded in 2015, the organization provides co-op start-up resources, such as feasibility studies, business plans, board training, and incorporation support to rural and Indigenous entrepreneurs across western Canada. Our goal is to help leaders in these communities build new businesses, grow local economies, and support community development.

Services

Business planning, Conversion to a co-op, Financial modelling, Governance, Incorporation of a co-op, Market study, Viability study

Province or territory

New Brunswick

Language

English

Co-operative Enterprise Council

Technical advisory and consultation services for start-up and growth of co-ops and social enterprises, including structure, bylaws, policies, HR, access to capital, investment readiness, strategic planning, training, facilitation, feasibility studies and business plans, governance and board development, research, access to legal and accounting advice, and basically anything a group needs to move its mandate forward.

Services

Business planning, Business writing, Conversion to a co-op, Financial modelling, Fund development, Governance, Growth strategy, Impact measurement, Incorporation of a co-op, Market study, Networking support, Strategic partnerships, Strategic planning, Viability study

Province or territory

British Columbia

Language

English

Capstan Association for Community Economic Development

We help businesses transition to employee and community ownership.

Services

Business planning, Conversion to a co-op, Governance, Incorporation of a co-op, Strategic planning, Viability study

Province or territory

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Language

English

The Communitas Group Ltd.

The Communitas Group is a private Alberta based corporation. Communitas grew out of the needs of community groups and the needs of those who assisted community groups. It was formed in 1972. The basic goals of Communitas are to ensure that individuals and community groups have access to the information, resources, and tools they require to develop a humane environment over which they have control. In order to achieve these goals Communitas has established services in the following areas:

– Housing Development & Project Management
– Community Development
– Research and Planning
– Co-operative and Community Economic Development

Services

Accounting services, Business planning, Business writing, Conversion to a co-op, Financial modelling, Fund development, Governance, Growth strategy, Impact measurement, Incorporation of a co-op, Market study, Strategic partnerships, Strategic planning, Viability study

Province or territory

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Language

Bilingual

Tango RJ consultant Inc.

Small team of consultants with over thirty years’ experience in the co-operative movement, both as an employee and director in various cooperative sectors. As Vice-President of CoopZone, I work to promote the network of cooperative business developers across Canada.

Services

Business planning, Business writing, Conversion to a co-op, Governance, Growth strategy, Incorporation of a co-op, Market study, Networking support, Strategic planning, Viability study

Province or territory

Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec

Language

Bilingual

Le Consortium de coopération en entreprises collectives

The Consortium is the shared services center for co-operatives, mutuals and non-profit organizations. It provides over 60 professionals in 20 fields of expertise to accompany and support collective enterprises in their development, and to offer them the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Services

Accounting services, Branding and marketing, Business planning, Financial modelling, Governance, Growth strategy, Legal services, Market study, Networking support, Strategic partnerships, Strategic planning, Viability study