{"id":249642,"date":"2026-04-27T11:18:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/?p=249642"},"modified":"2026-04-27T15:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T19:02:01","slug":"dans-adventures-april-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/dans-adventures-april-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Dan’s Adventures – April 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On the last day of March, Dan made a brief stop in Cobourg, Ontario, on his way home from Toronto\u2014where he discovered the Hamilton Township Mutual Insurance Company (HTM)<\/a>. HTM provides farm, auto, residential, and commercial insurance products and was founded 128 years ago, in 1898, as the Hamilton Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Its origins are a familiar and compelling story: it was created by farmers, for farmers, when they found themselves unable to secure insurance for their own properties and livestock.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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While travelling through the Ottawa Valley over Easter weekend, he couldn\u2019t resist stopping to take a quick photo outside the Alterna Savings<\/a> and Credit Union branch in Pembroke, Ontario. The branch is part of a network of 47 locations serving more than 230,000 members. Alterna branches are located across the National Capital Region, the Greater Toronto Area, northwestern Ontario\u2014and, as of January 1, 2026<\/a>, southwestern Ontario following its merger with Tandia Financial Credit Union. Founded more than 115 years ago, Alterna was the first full-service, member-owned financial co-operative outside of Quebec and remains a leading financial institution rooted in community service.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A few days later, while driving east and passing on the outskirts of Trois\u2011Rivi\u00e8res, Quebec, Dan stopped by the Coop\u00e9rative de solidarit\u00e9 sant\u00e9 de Pointe\u2011du\u2011Lac<\/a>. The co-operative provides accessible, community-based health services to approximately 8,000 patients and is staffed by 13 physicians and three nurse practitioners specializing in primary care. Their work is supported by auxiliary nurses, medical secretaries, administrative staff, and a social worker. Without the co\u2011operative model, the clinic would have been forced to close, and health professionals would have relocated their practices elsewhere. In 2025\u2014declared the International Year of Co\u2011operatives\u2014the co\u2011operative proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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As he continued his drive through L\u00e9vis, a familiar logo caught Dan\u2019s eye\u2014prompting an inevitable quick stop outside a minerals and pre-mixes plant operated by Sollio Agriculture<\/a>. Sollio Agriculture is one of three divisions that make up the Sollio Co\u2011operative Group, Canada\u2019s largest agriculture and agri-food co\u2011operative. This division alone generates $2.5\u202fbillion in revenue, reflecting its significant role in supporting the country\u2019s agricultural sector.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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It would be impossible to drive through L\u00e9vis without mentioning Desjardins<\/a>. This stop even offered a three\u2011for\u2011one view: Dan standing along Boulevard Alphonse\u2011Desjardins, across from the Caisse Desjardins de L\u00e9vis<\/a>, with the Cit\u00e9 Desjardins de la coop\u00e9ration\u2014the six\u2011building headquarters complex\u2014visible in the background. Also nearby is the Maison Alphonse\u2011Desjardins<\/a>, previously featured in an earlier edition of Dan\u2019s Co\u2011op Adventures. This historic site is one of the inaugural 31 Co\u2011operative Cultural Heritage sites<\/a> selected worldwide and marks the birthplace of the financial institution that today serves more than 10 million members and clients.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Dan represented CMC at the annual general meeting and conference of the Qu\u00e9bec Federation of Forestry Co\u2011operatives (FQCF)<\/a>, held in Rivi\u00e8re\u2011du\u2011Loup, Quebec. Representing 40 member organizations, the Federation brings together forest workers\u2019 co\u2011operatives, worker\u2011shareholder co\u2011operatives, and multi\u2011stakeholder (solidarity) co\u2011operatives across Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s forest sector, advocating on their shared priorities. The FQCF is also a key voice and committed advocacy partner in efforts to address issues related to access to the Small Business Deduction for co\u2011operatives outside the agriculture and fisheries sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictured from left to right are: J. Benoit Caron, Chief Executive Officer of the Consortium de coop\u00e9ration des entreprises collectives<\/a>, which provides services to the FQCF; Marie\u2011Jos\u00e9e Paquette, Executive Director of the Conseil qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois de la coop\u00e9ration et de la mutualit\u00e9<\/a> and representative of the francophone provincial and territorial associations on the CMC Board; Annie Beaupr\u00e9, Executive Director of the FQCF; and St\u00e9phane Gagnon, Chair of the FQCF Board.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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On his return drive from the FQCF conference, Dan had the pleasure of sharing a meal with members of the Consortium de coop\u00e9ration des entreprises collectives<\/a>. With close to 100 staff and numerous mandates supporting co\u2011operatives and social enterprises, the Consortium is a true intercooperation success story and a leading example of a deemed non\u2011profit co\u2011operative carrying out commercial activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the many topics discussed over lunch was the launch of the newly established F\u00e9d\u00e9ration qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise des coop\u00e9ratives du num\u00e9rique<\/a> (FQCN). The FQCN evolved from the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des coop\u00e9ratives de c\u00e2blodistribution et de t\u00e9l\u00e9communication du Qu\u00e9bec (FCCTQ) and now serves as a unified voice for digital co\u2011operatives in a context marked by challenges related to digital access and sovereignty, as well as the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence. Fran\u00e7ois Allaire, pictured on the left and Director of Strategic Development, spoke about this evolution with the pride of a parent watching a child embark on a new chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also pictured are two Congress 2026<\/a> speakers: J.\u202fBenoit Caron, Chief Executive Officer (on the right), who will share stories of co\u2011operatives in unexpected places as part of the Not the Usual Suspects stream; and Luka Aubin\u2011Jobin, Director of Public Affairs (centre), who will lead the At the Table or on the Menu advocacy session.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Close to home\u2014but far enough to warrant a stop\u2014the Centre Wakefield La P\u00eache<\/a> has a particularly compelling backstory. This multi\u2011stakeholder (solidarity) co\u2011operative was founded in 2006 by four founding member organizations to create a permanent home for their activities and to provide residents with access to programming and event spaces through a member\u2011owned and operated community centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The founding members\u2014the local library, Wakefield Activities for Youth (WAY), the Wakefield Recreation Centre, and Th\u00e9\u00e2tre Wakefield\u2014offer a strong example of organizations coming together to address a shared need: the creation and long\u2011term preservation of spaces for arts, culture, and leisure activities. The Centre Wakefield La P\u00eache Co\u2011operative is also frequently cited as a model of a member\u2011governed co\u2011operative that serves its members while remaining accessible to the broader public\u2014a distinction that is often worth clarifying as part of co\u2011operative awareness efforts.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The adventures continued in Halifax, home to the headquarters of 53 co\u2011operatives. It was therefore no surprise that several could be spotted simply by walking around\u2014including one of the eight branches of Credit Union Atlantic (CUA)<\/a>, which can be found from Cole Harbour to Tantallon. Established more than 75 years ago in 1948 as the Dockyard Credit Union, CUA now serves 25,000 members and manages assets exceeding $1\u202fbillion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Grainery Food Co\u2011op<\/a> was the next stop\u2014an established and respected non\u2011profit co\u2011operative that has been serving Halifax\u2019s North End (K\u2019jipuktuk) for 25 years. Entirely volunteer\u2011run, the Grainery offers a wide range of bulk food items\u2014from nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to cereals, legumes, and whole\u2011grain flours\u2014with a strong emphasis on local and organic options. As outlined on its website, the co\u2011op operates according to an \u201cethic of enough,\u201d grounded in a caring economy and the belief that food should be a human right\u2014first and foremost a means of building community, rather than generating profit.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Dan then brought greetings on behalf of CMC and shared an overview of the Canadian co\u2011operative movement at the Annual General Meeting of the Atlantic Retail Co\u2011operative Federation (ARCF). The Federation, which legally assumed responsibility for Co\u2011op Atlantic in 2016, has continued to evolve and now provides support to members across Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARCF offers a broad range of business advisory services, including store manager recruitment and other human resources supports, governance training, by\u2011law and policy reviews and updates, supplier negotiations, and more. The event also marked an important leadership transition, with the announcement that long\u2011serving Executive Director Murray Hatchard would be retiring. He will be succeeded by Darren MacKinnon, currently General Manager of the Tignish Co\u2011operative<\/a> in Prince Edward Island, as ARCF\u2019s new Executive Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan is pictured here with R\u00e9mi Roy, ARCF Board Chair; Jeff Yuill, President and CEO of the Nova Scotia Co\u2011operative Council<\/a>; and the outgoing and incoming Executive Directors.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Prior to departing the East Coast, Dan took the opportunity to connect with two Halifax\u2011area co\u2011operators: Karen Miner, a nine\u2011year CMC Board veteran and Managing Director of the International Centre for Co\u2011operative Management at Saint Mary\u2019s University<\/a>, and Alejandro (Alex) Mediavilla, Director of Economic Development and Affordable Housing at the Nova Scotia Co\u2011operative Council<\/a>. Their wide\u2011ranging morning conversation touched on governance, advocacy, \u201cthe map,\u201d member engagement, housing, and more\u2014and could easily have continued, uninterrupted, for days, if not weeks or months.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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If you would like to invite Dan to visit your co\u2011operative, credit union, caisse<\/em>, or mutual during his travels, please contact him at dbrunette@canada.coop<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On the last day of March, Dan made a brief stop in Cobourg, Ontario, on his way home from Toronto\u2014where he discovered the Hamilton Township Mutual Insurance Company (HTM). HTM provides farm, auto, residential, and commercial insurance products and was founded 128 years ago, in 1898, as the Hamilton Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":249644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[133],"tags":[685,684,686],"class_list":["post-249642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-dan-en-cavale-en","tag-dan-en-cavale","tag-dans-adventures"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249642"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":249690,"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249642\/revisions\/249690"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada.coop\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}