{"id":246950,"date":"2025-04-24T14:53:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T18:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/?p=246950"},"modified":"2025-04-24T14:53:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T18:53:32","slug":"visiting-co-operatives-and-partners-in-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/visiting-co-operatives-and-partners-in-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Co-operatives and Partners in Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On March 30, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada’s Senior Director, External Affairs Daniel Brunette visited Together We’re Bitter <\/a>
Co-operative Brewing Inc.<\/a> (TWB), a vibrant microbrewery and community hub in Kitchener. A proud member of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation<\/a> and the Ontario Co-operative Association<\/a>, TWB operates as a worker-owned co-op with a mission to make craft beer more accessible and inclusive.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n


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<\/a> \u2014 most recently partnering with the Waterloo Region Down Syndrome Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Certified Living Wage Employer<\/a>, TWB includes fair compensation in its pricing, removing the need for tipping and creating a more stable, equitable workplace for staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> initiative \u2014 a cross-country collaboration led by Dominion City Brewing Co., where breweries use 100% Canadian ingredients and donate proceeds to local causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWB is a standout example of how co-operative values and craft brewing can go hand in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In Toronto on April 2, Daniel met with Andria Barrett<\/a>, a co-founder of the Banker Ladies Council<\/a> and a director of the ROSCA Network of Canada<\/a>, 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<\/em> in Jamaica and Susus<\/em> 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<\/a> and the Banker Ladies Council received financial support from
Co-operators<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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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 \u2013 Community Investment & Gay Lea Foundation from Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd.<\/a> in Mississauga as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen connections with our members across Canada.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n


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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What we learned<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n