The eight winning finalists of The Co-operators’ National Co-op Challenge have been announced, and between them they will be receiving a total of $200,000! Sixteen small and emerging co-ops from across Canada were selected as finalists, four from each of four regions. Each created a video to raise awareness of their enterprise while also educating the public about the co-operative business model. People were able to vote for their favourite co-op through the contest website from September 3 to October 1, with the two co-ops in each region garnering the most votes declared the winners.
“Every co-op in this contest makes an impact on its local community, providing needed goods and services and contributing to the overall strength and resilience of the community,” said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. “The contest helped promote these wonderful enterprises, which operate in a wide range of sectors, from urban farming and culture to health care and alternative energy — a true representation of the great diversity of the co-op sector in Canada.”
Congratulations to the winners!
Detailed press releases about the winners from each region are available on The Co-operators web site, with links provided here for your convenience.
Atlantic Region: Coopérative de développement régional Acadie Ltée (Caraquet, NB)
Tignish Health Co-operative Association LTD (Tignish, PEI)
Quebec Region: Coopérative La Mauve (Saint-Vallier, QC) and Coop Le Grenier Boréal (Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, QC)
Ontario Region: Garden City Food Co-operative (St. Catharines, ON) andNiagara Local Food Co-operative (St. Catharines, ON)
West Region: Glorious Organics Workers Co-operative (Aldergrove, BC) and Urban Eatin’ Gardeners Worker Co-operative Ltd. (Winnipeg, MB)