Canadian Co-operative Association
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is a national cooperative federation
for Canadian co-operatives headquartered in Ottawa
, Ontario
. CCA represents over 2000 co-operatives and credit union
s with 9 million members. CCA member organisations come from many sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, agri-food and supply, wholesale and retail, housing, health and the service sector. CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world.
CCA collaborates with the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité, its francophone
sister organization in Canada.
. Although the college itself was short-lived, its formative years go back to the late 1930s and early 1940s, when there was a strong push and a practical need for an educational link to the co-operative movement.
Among those who have led CCA and the CUC since its inception in 1909 are A.B. MacDonald, a prominent leader in the Antigonish Movement
, Alexander Laidlaw and Dr. Ian MacPherson
.
Cooperative federation
A co-operative federation or secondary co-operative is a co-operative in which all members are, in turn, co-operatives.Historically, co-operative federations have predominantly come in the form of co-operative wholesale societies and co-operative unions...
for Canadian co-operatives headquartered in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. CCA represents over 2000 co-operatives and credit union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
s with 9 million members. CCA member organisations come from many sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, agri-food and supply, wholesale and retail, housing, health and the service sector. CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world.
CCA collaborates with the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité, its francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
sister organization in Canada.
History
CCA was created in 1987 by the merger of the Co-operative Union of Canada (founded on March 9, 1909) and the Co-operative College of Canada. The Co-operative Union of Canada was formed in 1909 to encourage sharing of information, mutual self-help and concerted actions among co-operative organizations. From 1973 to 1987, the Co-operative College of Canada was a national centre for co-operative education and research. It was established to provide co-op business training and to teach co-op principlesRochdale Principles
The Rochdale Principles are a set of ideals for the operation of cooperatives. They were first set out by the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers in Rochdale, England, in 1844, and have formed the basis for the principles on which co-operatives around the world operate to this day. The...
. Although the college itself was short-lived, its formative years go back to the late 1930s and early 1940s, when there was a strong push and a practical need for an educational link to the co-operative movement.
Among those who have led CCA and the CUC since its inception in 1909 are A.B. MacDonald, a prominent leader in the Antigonish Movement
Antigonish Movement
The Antigonish Movement blended adult education, co-operatives, microfinance and rural community development to help small, resource-based communities around Canada’s Maritimes improve their economic and social circumstances. A group of priests and educators, including Father Jimmy Tompkins, Father...
, Alexander Laidlaw and Dr. Ian MacPherson
Ian MacPherson (historian)
Dr. Ian MacPherson is a Canadian historian, and a supporter of the co-operative movement.-Education:MacPherson received his B.A. from the University of Windsor in 1960. After working as a high school teacher for four years, he returned to school, earning his M.A. and Ph.D...
.
Provincial co-operative associations
- Alberta Community & Co-operative Association
- British Columbia Co-operative Association
- Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick
- Manitoba Cooperative AssociationManitoba Cooperative AssociationThe Manitoba Cooperative Association is the provincial association of cooperative organizations, created by its members to enhance and support the development of a united, growing and influential cooperative movement in Manitoba...
- Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives
- Nova Scotia Co-operative Council
- Ontario Co-operative AssociationOntario Co-operative AssociationThe Ontario Co-operative Association or On Co-op is a co-operative association serving co-operatives and co-op member organizations in Ontario, Canada...
(OnCoop) - Prince Edward Island Co-operative Council
- Saskatchewan Co-operative Association