On March 30, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada’s Senior Director, External Affairs Daniel Brunette visited Together We’re Bitter
Co-operative Brewing Inc. (TWB), a vibrant microbrewery and community hub in Kitchener. A proud member of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation and the Ontario Co-operative Association, TWB operates as a worker-owned co-op with a mission to make craft beer more accessible and inclusive.
Daniel was warmly welcomed by Kasia along with friendly patrons eager to share the TWB story. Since its incorporation in 2013 and opening in 2016, TWB has focused on collaboration and community engagement — most recently partnering with the Waterloo Region Down Syndrome Society.
As a Certified Living Wage Employer, TWB includes fair compensation in its pricing, removing the need for tipping and creating a more stable, equitable workplace for staff.
TWB also offers a diverse selection of beers and embraces opportunities to respond to social and political moments. One example is their participation in the Glorious & Free initiative — a cross-country collaboration led by Dominion City Brewing Co., where breweries use 100% Canadian ingredients and donate proceeds to local causes.
TWB is a standout example of how co-operative values and craft brewing can go hand in hand.
In Toronto on April 2, Daniel met with Andria Barrett, a co-founder of the Banker Ladies Council and a director of the ROSCA Network of Canada, to discuss common interests and potential opportunities for cooperation. ROSCA (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations) are informal mutual aid financial structures that are self-managed by a specific group of individuals. Often referred to as Partna in Jamaica and Susus in West Africa, these community-based savings groups are found globally and are especially common within newcomer communities in Canada. The ROSCA Network is backed by the Ontario Co-operative Association and the Banker Ladies Council received financial support from
Co-operators.
On April 3, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada Executive Director Mike Toye and Senior Director, External Affairs Dan Brunette met with Mike Langdon, Vice President, Corporate and
Co-operative Affairs and Kelly McNamara, Lead – Community Investment & Gay Lea Foundation from Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. in Mississauga as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen connections with our members across Canada.
The visit was a fantastic opportunity to understand their operations and explore how we can continue working together to build a stronger, more sustainable Canadian co-op community.
What we learned:
- Innovation in dairy production: Gay Lea’s commitment to quality and innovation in the dairy industry was truly inspiring. We saw firsthand how they balance tradition with new production and processing practices (did you know they have the newest milk dryer in the country?).
- Co-operative values in action: The dedication of their team reflects the co-operative spirit that is at the core of their members’ priorities, reinforcing a broader notion of the value created through their business activities and community impacts.
This visit provided valuable insights into how we can support our members with their efforts to reinforce the co-operative identity and apply that advantage for principled growth.
Also on April 3, Mike and Daniel, along with Tara Williams from GIA Consulting Co-operative, met with R.J. Ramrattan, General Manager – Canadian Arctic Producers to see their showroom and all the beautiful artwork on display.
They are the wholesale Inuit art marketing arm of Arctic Co-operatives Limited, a federation made up of over 30 co-operatives in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
On April 11, Daniel Brunette, Senior Director of External Affairs at CMC, met with Scott Ross, Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) to discuss the vital role that agricultural and food processing co-operatives play in Canada’s food system.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore key issues affecting the sector, including the Tax-Deferred Co-operative Share Program for agricultural co-operatives, set to expire in December 2025. Other topics of discussion included financing, tariffs, interprovincial trade, abattoirs, forestry, and the conversion of farms and farm-related enterprises into co-operatives.
CMC values its ongoing relationship with the CFA and looks forward to continued collaboration in support of Canada’s co-operative and agricultural sectors.
Thank you TWB, ROSCA Network of Canada, Gay Lea, Canadian Arctic Producers, and CFA for welcoming us and for the valuable discussions. We look forward to working together and advancing co-operatives in Canada.
Want to see Daniel in your town soon so that your co-operative can be featured? Get in touch with him to see when he’ll next be in your province or territory so you can appear in a future edition of Dan’s Adventures! Email him at: dbrunette@canada.coop.