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Co-operatives First @Coops_First

Co-operatives First provides start-up resources, support, and business coaching to help community leaders across western Canada start co-ops.

Joined January 2016
  • Tweets 4,460
  • Following 517
  • Followers 1,887
1,911 Photos and videos
Kyle was in Toronto this week for Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada's Congress and Co-op Developer Day! He joined a panel to discuss "The co-op development ecosystem."
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We've worked with many "co-op champions" who make change in their communities — like George Casimir from Community Futures of Central Interior First Nations. Here, he tells us about his organization's services and the important role of co-ops. Listen: bit.ly/4eaHIXO
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This week Kevin is at the Keeping it Rural Conference in Kelowna to talk about successful and innovative rural development initiatives and how co-ops can play a role. Thanks to the BC Rural Centre for a great event!
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Proud to be working with this dedicated group to meet their community's childcare needs: bit.ly/4vlXbeO

Meath Park childcare co-op moves closer to September opening

A group of Meath Park mothers who could not find local childcare are now helping build the kind of service they were missing.The Meath Park Early Learning C

paherald.sk.ca
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Every co-op needs a strategic plan to help your team chart a course for the next 3-5 years. Join Cathy and Kyle for our webinar to learn how to make a plan to deliver on your purpose, meet the needs of members, and grow your co-operative. Sign up FREE: bit.ly/4x8ct8E
Webinar announcement titled "Strategic Planning for Your Co-op's Future," scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th at 1 PM (MT). Features circular photos of speakers Cathy Edwards in a yellow jacket and Kyle White in a dark suit. Organized by Co-operatives First.

ALT Webinar announcement titled "Strategic Planning for Your Co-op's Future," scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th at 1 PM (MT). Features circular photos of speakers Cathy Edwards in a yellow jacket and Kyle White in a dark suit. Organized by Co-operatives First.
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Can you believe it? Kyle's been with Co-operatives First for 10 years! We celebrated this incredible milestone of the organization's first-ever employee, and all the knowledge, support, and guidance he's given to our clients and team over the years. Congratulations Kyle!
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In this month's newsletter, learn about a co-op that's doing great work helping newcomers access the labour market. Plus our new summer student, upcoming webinars, and more! bit.ly/4dUsMNt
A green background with white letters that say "June Newsletter". Two photographs - one of a group of nine people smiling for the camera and cutting a large cake, and another of a young woman with long curly hair, holding a camera, with a field and blue sky in the background.

ALT A green background with white letters that say "June Newsletter". Two photographs - one of a group of nine people smiling for the camera and cutting a large cake, and another of a young woman with long curly hair, holding a camera, with a field and blue sky in the background.
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Kyle's been at the Rural Innovation Festival and Forum in Estevan, Sask this week! Hosted by the Southeast Tech Hub, the event is focused on how technology, academia, and arts contribute to rural success.
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There are infinte ways co-ops can be used to make things better for people — and this includes end-of-life planning and care. Here's how one co-op in Alberta has been making funeral preparation easier for its members and their families since 1966: bit.ly/4a0oUt2
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Missed our webinar? Watch it now! Learn five key ways your co-op's board can build better processes, plan for the future, and ensure it's meeting the needs of its members. Watch here: bit.ly/3PDUfej
This image features a group of people working together at a table with a laptop. The text reads "Webinar Replay: Elevate Your Co-op’s Governance." A small inset shows an individual labeled as Kyle White, Director of Education. The Co‑operatives First logo is at the bottom.

ALT This image features a group of people working together at a table with a laptop. The text reads "Webinar Replay: Elevate Your Co-op’s Governance." A small inset shows an individual labeled as Kyle White, Director of Education. The Co‑operatives First logo is at the bottom.
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To succeed, a co-op needs good governance. In this webinar, you'll learn from the mistakes of notable co-ops that failed, so your co-op can build better processes, plan for the future, and ensure it's meeting the needs of its members. Sign up FREE: bit.ly/4wsTq8w
This image is a promotional graphic for a webinar titled "Elevate Your Co-op's Governance," scheduled for Wednesday, May 20th at 1 p.m. MT. It features three people collaborating at a table with a laptop. The bottom section includes a photo of the webinar's instructor, Kyle White, and the logo for Co-operatives First.

ALT This image is a promotional graphic for a webinar titled "Elevate Your Co-op's Governance," scheduled for Wednesday, May 20th at 1 p.m. MT. It features three people collaborating at a table with a laptop. The bottom section includes a photo of the webinar's instructor, Kyle White, and the logo for Co-operatives First.
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Our annual report is out! Read it to find out why 2025 was a year of communities using co-ops to invest in themselves, and how we helped them do it. bit.ly/4dq3LKZ
A selfie of members of the Co-operatives First team - three women and two men - holding copies of the 2025 annual report, a document with a dark blue cover and a map of western Canada.

ALT A selfie of members of the Co-operatives First team - three women and two men - holding copies of the 2025 annual report, a document with a dark blue cover and a map of western Canada.
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This Economic Development Week, we’re celebrating the hard work Economic Development Officers do to help their regions grow and thrive. Here are three great examples of how EDOs have supported the co-operatives their communities needed: bit.ly/3OESbCs
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This month, check out our 2025 annual report! It was a year of people creating co-ops to make significant investments in their communities. bit.ly/3PaYu0F
A light blue background with the words "May Newsletter" above the Co-operatives FIrst logo. Includes two photographs: a selfie of the Co-operatives First team holding copies of the annual report, and a photo of two women looking at a book together and smiling.

ALT A light blue background with the words "May Newsletter" above the Co-operatives FIrst logo. Includes two photographs: a selfie of the Co-operatives First team holding copies of the annual report, and a photo of two women looking at a book together and smiling.
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You've welcomed some new members to your co-op's board, and you want to get them up to speed. On our latest webinar, Kyle provided details of what to include in your director orientation plan and where to find the resources you need. Watch here: bit.ly/4mYnu7L
A photo of an empty board table surrounded by chairs. Text on the image says "webinar replay: building your director orientation plan" hosted by Kyle White, Co-operatives First's Director of Education.

ALT A photo of an empty board table surrounded by chairs. Text on the image says "webinar replay: building your director orientation plan" hosted by Kyle White, Co-operatives First's Director of Education.
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Where’s the beef? In Western Canada, it’s probably at a co-op — whether that’s a stockyard, feedlot, abattoir, or Co-op store. Here are three ways cattle producers use the co-op model to improve their industry: bit.ly/4mMMnmF
A photo of black cows and calved, standing in a field of green grass. Text on the image says "New Blog: Where's the Beef? 3 Ways Producers use Cattle Co-ops" with the Co-operatives First logo.

ALT A photo of black cows and calved, standing in a field of green grass. Text on the image says "New Blog: Where's the Beef? 3 Ways Producers use Cattle Co-ops" with the Co-operatives First logo.
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Now that your co-op's AGM is over, it's time to get your new board up to speed. In this webinar, you'll learn what you need to put in a director orientation plan and where to find the resources you need. Join us FREE: bit.ly/41KXWRO
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Kyle's in Kananaskis this week for @edaalberta's Xperience event! He took part in a session called "Fresh Lenses on Rural Housing" - a topic everyone is talking about 🏘️
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Our team headed to Saskatoon Co-op today to Stuff the Bus! If you're in the city, stop by the 8th Street location to stuff the bus with non-perishable goods for the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre 🥫
Five members of the Co-operatives First team - four women and one man - hold bags of donated food inside a city bus for the Stuff the Bus campaign.

ALT Five members of the Co-operatives First team - four women and one man - hold bags of donated food inside a city bus for the Stuff the Bus campaign.
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Candice is at SUMA this week, introducing an engaging panel discussion sponsored by Co-operatives First called "Frameworks for Municipal Wellbeing". We love connecting with municipal leaders who are making great things happen in their communities!
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