The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada, in partnership with CMC and the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation, has established a scholarship fund to commemorate the late Ian MacPherson and his outstanding contribution to the study and promotion of co‑operatives. This fund supports student participation in research conferences, co-operative research, and co-operative involvement. Here are the 2025 recipients the Fund has helped so far:
Candice Minott is a Master of Public Policy student at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, supervised by Canadian Centre for the Study of Cooperatives Director and Strategic Research Fellow Dr. Marc-André Pigeon. Her thesis research examines how Saskatchewan credit unions have responded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #92 and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), with a focus on the influence of moral suasion as a soft policy tool.
A certified co-operative development professional, she applies her expertise beyond academia. As Community Engagement Coordinator at Co-operatives First, Candice supports the development of not-for-profit childcare co-operatives across Western Canada. She will present her research at the 5th ICA CCR Global Co-operative Research Conference in Montréal in July 2025.
Tara Williams (she/her) is a bi-racial settler of American-born Cantonese Chinese and White (English/Welsh/Dutch) descent, living on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples—the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. She carries the complexity of her mixed heritage alongside the privileges she holds as a cisgender, able-bodied, master’s-educated partial woman of colour. Tara centers this awareness in her work, advancing justice, equity, and inclusion in co-operative spaces. As a founding worker-owner-member of GIA Consulting Co-operative, she supports Co-operatives and values-aligned organizations through governance, operations, and strategic development rooted in co-operative principles and values. Tara serves as Vice President, HR Committee Chair, and JEDDI committee member of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation board. She holds a Master of Management in Co-operatives and Credit Unions from Saint Mary’s University, where her research explored ethical AI use in co-operatives, reflecting her commitment to innovation and systemic change.
The recipients’ commitment to co-operative values and social justice perfectly reflects the spirit of the Ian MacPherson Legacy Fund. To support the next generation of co-operative leaders and make a donation: Ian MacPherson Legacy Fund – Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF). The Ian MacPherson Legacy Fund supports student participation in research conferences, co-operative research, and co-operative involvement. Students at post-secondary institutions under the age of 35 will be given priority, with a preference for those studying or researching co-ops and presenting at an event. Applications are accepted year-round, but we recommend that you apply at least 60 days prior to the date of an event you wish to attend. To learn more or to apply, please click here.