New Years' Message from the ED
2020 is such a big year! We have been declaring goals for 2020 for so long I didn’t think it would ever arrive.
As per Gretchen Rubin’s advice, I have set a one word theme for the year because it is such a big year: results. We have been working through our strategic plan for a couple of years now, laying the foundation for some big ideas to come to fruition. Entering our third year now, it is time to see action and results.
I am excited to be back in the driver’s seat after a year of maternity leave with my fourth child. My focus out of the gate has been on government relations. We need to implement the changes to the CCA that were included in the Fall Economic Statement Bill 138. We also need to check the final box on our advocacy goals and increase exemption limits for offering statements. We participated in the pre-budget consultations this week and have our upcoming Queen’s Park breakfast on February 25th, both focused on this needed regulatory change.
Then we need to set new goals – goals that will have a significant impact on the sector. They will be based upon research we will undertake in early 2020 to better understand the needs of co-operatives in our sector and legislative barriers to their success.
In education, a new hire is planned early in the fiscal year to improve our program delivery at OCA and find new opportunities to share the co-operative message. New education programs and partnerships will roll out beginning this spring and existing programs will be revitalized and improved.
In Co-operative Development and Member Relations, we are always looking for ways to collaborate with and connect with our members. Building on successful partnerships with Libro Credit Union through their Prosperity Grant for succession planning, delivering CYL at the Co-operative Education Centre as a partnership with Gay Lea Foods Co-operative, and partnering with The Co-operators on our Government Relations and Advocay goals, we are excited for new initiatives in 2020 that will improve services to our members and developing co-operatives.
2020 will be a fun and exciting year for the co-operative sector and I am proud to be part of it all. Tomorrow needs us.
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New Director joins OCA Board
On December 9, the GROWMARK board of directors selected Terri Naylor as its newly appointed director to sit on OCA’s board of directors, representing the Ontario GROWMARK System.
Terri has dedicated 32 years of her career to the co-operative sector. She has held a variety of positions that have provided her with valuable experience in a diversity of roles. As controller for an FS Co-operative, she worked directly with the co-op’s board of directors assisting in governance decisions.
Terri’s current position as manager of business integration and special projects entails mediating between partners on a daily basis with a focus on financial, operations, system conversions and acquisitions.
“With Terri’s broad background and passion for the co-operative system, we are confident she will be an exceptional asset to the OCA board team,” says Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK executive director, Ontario operations.
The OCA staff welcomes Terri and looks forward to working with her through 2020 and beyond!
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OCA submits consultation to Ontario Government
On January 24, Executive Director Erin Morgan submitted a pre-budget consultation paper to the Ministry of Finance. The document recognizes and thanks the provincial government for their commitment to modernize the co-operative legislation, as detailed in Bill 138 and tabled in fall 2019.
It also highlights the need for modernization of the Regulations as they pertain to Offering Statement limits and exemptions, noting that the limits have not been reviewed since 1995 and are inadequate for co-operatives to raise the money they need in order to capitalize their businesses.
Morgan presentied her submission at the pre-budget hearings on January 30 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Guelph ON. View her speech.
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CYL gearing up for 2020 program year!
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The 2020 Co-operative Young Leaders (CYL) program is being held at the Co-operative Education Centre in Aylmer ON, owned and operated by Gay Lea Foods Co-operative. This amazing location provides participants with an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while developing their understanding of our co-operative principles and leadership skills through co-operatives games, activities and community projects. The traditional camp atmosphere also provides time to enjoy camp fires, swimming and the opportunity to meet and make new friends from across the province. Check out all the fun we had in 2019 by reading the wrap-up and viewing our photo gallery!
BECOME A FACILITATOR!
CYL is a great opportunity not only for youth participants but also offers a unique professional development opportunity for adult facilitators. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer facilitator for one week of camp this summer, please note that previous experience is not required and all ages are welcome. All we ask is that you bring with you your love for all things co-operative and your creativity! Training will be provided prior to camp and there is no cost to you or your co-operative. Apply and register to be a facilitator here!
PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION
CYL registration is now open for participants! The dates are as follows:
Junior (ages 13-14)
- A – August 2 – August 7
- B – July 19 – July 24
Intermediate (ages 15-16)
- A – August 9th – August 14
- B – July 26th to July 24th
Senior (ages 17-18)
For more information visit our website or contact our Director, Co-operative Young Leaders, Carol Fleming at cfleming@ontario.coop or 519-763-8271 ext 25.
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A secial thanks to The Co-operators
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OCA would like to extend a special thank you to Joel Santos and his team at The Co-operators for their continued support of our communications and awareness-building initiatives, including this monthly newsletter and our media releases. Please stay tuned for information in the coming months about a webinar we will be hosting in partnership with the Co-operators and Co-op Guard on Risk Management and Director and Officer Liability! In the meantime, visit them online to learn more about them, or to learn more about Co-op Guard, insurance for co-operatives!
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Jordan Moat, Director
Representing Libro Credit Union
Tell us a bit about yourself (i.e., your background (where you grew up, education, children, which co-operative you work for, your position, etc.)
Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, I was drawn to Waterloo Region in 2012 where my lovely wife Samantha and I gave birth to our son. I have been involved in the credit union movement for the past nineteen years’, including 11 years in various management roles applying my business and marketing education as well as my PFP designation. I am currently the Regional Manager for Libro Credit Union in Waterloo Region, a position I’ve held for the past 3 years.
How long have you been involved in the co-operative movement, and what do you love most about it?
I have been involved in the co-operative movement for the past 19 years working with various credit unions, but have been a member of a credit union since the day I was born as my mother also worked for one! What I love most is the passion for the people that our organizations possess. It is people helping people, making lives better. It is a noble way for a business to be run.
If there is one thing you would want people to know about co-ops, what would it be?
What I would want people to know, especially in this current climate of cynicism towards corporations, is that a better business model already exists. A business model that values relationships over profit. Where everyone involved in the business, all along the supply chain, benefit from the business success.
Why is your co-operative a member of OCA?
In 2018, Libro became a voting member of the Ontario Cooperative Association in an effort to have a deeper connection to the broader cooperative community. We are committed to supporting the co-operative movement and felt this was a great way to do that. It also gave us an opportunity to support advocacy efforts for co-ops from a collective perspective.
What do you think are some of the benefits of being a member of OCA?
Connection to leading co-operatives to understand the challenges and opportunities we face. To be part of helping the co-operative movement grow. Keep in-tune to the issues and opportunities in this segment to help advocate and support change. To network with other co-operatives.
Why did you decide to join the OCA board as a Director?
I have had the opportunity to serve on the board of some local Not for Profits and wanted to further my board experience while also contributing to the co-operative movement that I am so passionate about. I look forward to this opportunity to help the board and the OCA in strategically advancing our place within the system.
How has your past experience helped you in this role?
My nineteen years within the co-operative sector - especially those in leadership roles - has given me a strong insight into the issues the sector faces, as well as the ability to strategically plan for the future. My time on other Board of Directors has provided me the competence in governance to be a strong member of the OCA board.
What do you think are some of the opportunities and challenges facing OCA in the next 3 - 5 years?
It’s all about awareness. Awareness of the co-operative sector within Ontario across all business sectors and awareness of the OCA amongst existing co-operatives. The more we can grow our awareness, the greater the resources we will have to be agents of change. We’ve seen some great success recently with our government relations and we want to continue with this momentum. We are being heard!
What is your vision for OCA?
My vision for OCA is that through collaboration we create an organization that promotes the co-operative principles allowing this age old business model to thrive and grow, and be recognized as the model of choice for business, today and in the future.
Share a fun/silly thing that not many people know about you!
One of my son’s middle names is Bailey, which we named after George Bailey from the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He worked for what would be considered a credit union!
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Welcome Our New Member!
Member-Owner
Consolidated Dealers Co-op
Canada's First National Auto Dealer Buying Group. Consolidated Dealers is a buying group owned 100% by the new car dealers of Canada, providing all products and programs necessary to make each dealership department more profitable. Consolidated Dealers is a true co-operative which returns its profits back to its dealer owners. More than 2,000 new car and truck dealerships are members of Consolidated Dealers, from Victoria to Halifax. For more information visit www.consolidateddealers.com
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(Submitted by Janelle Leitch, Marketing)
Brooke Telecom Co-operative has been offering telecommunication services and connecting rural communities since 1911. In the past 100+ years, so much has change in the telecommunication industry, but we have learned to grow and adapt.
Our mission is to deliver quality communication services to our local communities with an exceptional customer experience. We deliver fibre, copper and wireless internet, television, traditional telephone and mobile services in the rural areas of Southwestern Ontario to approximately 2,500 homes and businesses.
From the beginning, it was just Inwood, rural Alvinston and rural Watford. We have evolved from delivering services on copper facilities to fibre facilities delivering fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-farm and offering internet speeds up to 1 Gbps and digital television including video on demand in a mainly rural area. Venturing outside of our traditional serving area we became a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) to serve more customers with better services and excellent customer service all while competing against some of the telecommunication industries giants. Our first expansions were into the town of Watford and then Alvinston, both relatively small rural communities followed by wireless internet to some of the surrounding areas where no internet services were available.
To date we have had great success in all the communities we serve and often hear when customers move away, they are disappointed to leave the Brooke Telecom Co-operative family. Most importantly for our members is the economic impact that out services deliver for our local communities. Through our high speed internet, farms are able to utilize the latest technology for monitoring barns and greenhouses as well as planting and harvesting. Residents can work remotely in our community and enjoy the connectedness with the larger online world from our small rural community as YouTubers and through social media whether at home or one of our many free WIFI hotspots.
We continue to look at possibilities of other areas for expansion and utilizing government broadband programs to expand our services as well as continue to improve services in our local area. Over the past 10 years, Brooke Telecom has invested over $8.5 M in local infrastructure to serve our community’s telecommunication needs. As a Co-operative, our members enjoy the benefit of having all their profits invested right back into the local economy and this has resulted in major infrastructure investments that other communities can only dream of. These investments improve the ability for our community to attract and maintain residents and businesses and we have seen local real estate values increase as reliable high speed internet is a key feature for any potential home owner.
While our mission is important, our values are equally important including quality service, respect and integrity. Our members appreciate the fact that we are a company they can trust and depend on to deliver their telecommunication needs and we hear that often at our annual customer appreciation dinner with over 250 members participating in this annual event.
Learn more about us at www.brooketel.coop
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CO-OP CORNER: News, Events & Jobs
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Check out the following articles as they relate to Ontario co-operatives...
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Check out the following events coming up in the co-operative sector...
Local Food & Farm Co-op’s 11thAnnual Assembly. “2020: Visions for a Sustainable Future.” March 3 – 4, 2020 in Port Sydney ON. Early Bird registration now open. LEARN MORE.
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Co-opalooza Conference & Retreat. A two-day education & networking retreat connecting co-operative professionals, educators & community builders. July 25 – 26, 2020 at the Co-operative Education Centre near Aylmer ON. LEARN MORE.
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Have any co-operative events coming up that you’d like us to add to our Event Calendar online? Send us the information to Audrey at aaczel@ontario.coop.
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The Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada has three volunteer opportunities available in Indonesia. Learn more.
Want to promote a job in the co-op sector on the Job Postings page of our website? It’s free! Send us your job description and details via email to Audrey at aaczel@ontario.coop.
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Check out the following articles as they relate to the greater co-operative movement that we think you'd enjoy!
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