The Common Share

2026 is a special year for Co-operatives First – we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary. For this 10th anniversary podcast series, we spoke to four “champions” who we’ve worked closely with over the years – who have started co-ops, provided business support for local people, and who are just great leaders themselves.In this episode, we spoke with Lana Cowling-Mason, a true economic development expert and leader in Manitoba. Lana is the General Manager at Community Futures West Interlake, and has been instrumental in moving forward an investment co-operative that will help meet the housing needs of the region. Lana has incredible insights about what traits are important in a leader, and what drives change in rural communities.

2026 is a special year for Co-operatives First – we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary. For this 10th anniversary podcast series, we spoke to four “champions” who we’ve worked closely with over the years – who have started co-ops, provided business support for local people, and who are just great leaders themselves.In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Judith Harris, a retired Associate Professor from the University of Winnipeg. Judith's background is in planning and economics, with a particular interest in social learning and social mobilization approaches to planning. Judith and I spoke about her involvement in helping to start The Village Co-op, her work with the Walls to Bridges program at Stony Mountain Penitentiary, and her thoughts on leadership and the importance of building community. 

2026 is a special year for Co-operatives First – we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary. For this 10th anniversary podcast series, we spoke to four “champions” who we’ve worked closely with over the years – who have started co-ops, provided business support for local people, and who are just great leaders themselves.  In this episode, we spoke to George Casimir from Community Futures of Central Interior First Nations. George has become a key partner, providing information about co-ops to people in his region and collaborating with us to support Indigenous entrepreneurs.Learn more about the key services his organization offers and the role he thinks co-ops play in local economic development. 

2026 is a special year for Co-operatives First – we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary. For this 10th anniversary podcast series, we spoke to four “champions” who we’ve worked closely with over the years – who have started co-ops, provided business support for local people, and who are just great leaders themselves.  In this episode we spoke with Lindsay Alliban, an economic development officer, educator, speaker, and rural enthusiast in Southwest Saskatchewan. Lindsay believes if there is anywhere you can build something from nothing, small-town Saskatchewan is that place. She has been involved in creating not one, not two, but three co-operatives in her region and has a lot of great insights. Learn more about Lindsay and her projects:Gull Lake Property Development CooperativeSouthwest Sask Tourism and Investment Hub Lindsay's website

While The Common Share is on hiatus, we'd like to share an episode from the Director Decisions podcast featuring our friend Dr. Dionne Pohler talking about co-op governance!In this episode, Dr. Pohler, the David and Alexandra Lipsky Professor of Dispute Resolution at Cornell University ILR School in the Department of Global Labor and Work and Associate Director of the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution, discusses how REI should select who to nominate for the board of directors. The Director Decisions podcast reviews a board decision in each episode, placing the decision in context, dissecting the directors’ options, and discussing what insights academics can provide before sharing what happened. https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/67f467b509867804630a87ce

For this special podcast episode we spoke to the out-going board president of Federated Co-operatives Limited, Sharon Alford. With International Women’s Day coming up we want to get her perspective as the first woman to lead this iconic institution. Sharon shares useful insights for women who are heading their own co-ops and anyone who serves on a co-op board. This conversation highlights the depth of her integrity and why she’s been a trusted and effective leader for the past five years.

Dr. Clark Banack is the Director of the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities and an Adjunct Professor of Political Studies at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta.  Clark is the co-editor of Building Inclusive Communities in Rural Canada, and has authored several academic articles and book chapters related to Alberta politics, rural issues, religion and politics, education policy, and populism in Canada.In this episode we spoke to Dr. Banack about a recent report by the Centre called “Innovative Uses of the Co-op Model and Rural Economic Development Opportunities in Alberta and Beyond”. In it, he breaks down the three types of co-ops his research indicates can have a big impact on rural communities, and some of the best practices related to their success. 

Canada needs to build a lot of housing units to meet current demand and make housing affordable again - 3.5 million homes by 2030, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. It should come as no surprise that we think an important part of the solution is housing co-operatives. In this episode, we spoke to two guests who can talk about co-op housing from different perspectives – someone with a long history of living in a housing co-op, and someone who is in the process of helping to get one started. James Gilliard has lived in a housing co-op in Saskatoon for over 20 years and has been heavily involved in its governance and the housing co-op world in that time. Jillian Ames is a member of the Rooted Community Housing Co-operative in Edmonton, which is just getting started. Check out this episode to learn more about housing co-ops as an effective alternative to renting and traditional home ownership, and the possibilities for starting new ones.

In this episode, our Director of Indigenous Relations, Trista Pewapisconias, spoke to Richard Tuck, the CEO of the Wakopa Financial Workers’ co-operative. Richard talks about the work of Wakopa Financial to provide support and mentorship for atypical entrepreneurs. This is a great conversation about how this co-operative is involved in the world of social finance, and how it helps people overcome barriers to entrepreneurship.

In this episode, our Director of Indigenous Relations, Trista Pewapisconias, and I spoke with Tyler Morin, CEO of Sakitawak Development Corporation and the Île-à-la-Crosse Fish Company. Tyler was born and raised in Île-à-la-Crosse, he earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Saskatchewan and worked as a business development specialist with the Clarence Campeau Development Fund before returning home. In this great conversation, Tyler talks about his work in economic development in his community, and the role the co-op model has played in its success. 

This year at Co-operatives First we’re focused on helping groups start childcare co-operatives to help meet the need for childcare across the western provinces. To help us guide this initiative, we are privileged to have an advisory committee that consists of today’s guests: Sue Delanoy and Dr. Susan Prentice. These two brilliant experts have studied and advocated for the childcare field for many years, and we had an engaging conversation about what the childcare landscape looks like in Canada, the most recent government policies that intend to address the childcare shortage, the vision they have for what the childcare system should look like in Canada, and how co-operatives can help. This is a fascinating and engaging conversation about childcare in Canada that helps us understand how things stand, and what can be done to make it better for everyone. 

In this episode, Trista speaks to Lea Zeise and Jen Falck of Ohe·láku, a nonprofit co-op in Wisconsin. The co-op's members are Oneida families relearning how to grow traditional White Corn together and sharing the lessons they learn. This is a lovely conversation about using a co-operative to grow food for the community while embracing tradition and ceremony.

In this episode, Kyle spoke to Courtney Berner, Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. They talked about the co-op landscape in Wisconsin and how it compares to Canada, why Wisconsin is such an incubator for innovative co-operative development, and what we can learn from each other by looking across the border. 

Matt Enright is the general manager of the Battle River Railway Cooperative based in Forestburg, Alberta. A local grain farmer, Matt has served as GM since 2015. This new generation co-operative was formed in 2010 when area producers and residents bought the 52-mile stretch of rail from CN.  In this episode, Kyle and Aasa talk to Matt about the impact the co-op has had on the region, and some of the lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

This summer, Aasa attended the "Scaling up the impact of renewable energy co-operatives in Canada" conference in Ottawa, where  Renewable Energy Co-op (REC) leaders met to discuss how they could collaborate to grow their impacts. While there, she spoke to Johan Hamels of the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative about what RECs are and why they're important for communities.   Since the conference, the leaders who attended have been working towards a co-operative of RECs called Community Energy Co-operative Canada that creates a way for these co-ops to work together. With this entity quickly coming to fruition, please enjoy this conversation about the exciting impacts of renewable energy co-ops!

In this episode, Kyle speaks to James Grieve, Certified Management Consultant, about his approach to creating a business plan, including how to know when you need one, understanding the why of your business, and recognizing the value of experts and resources in this process.

In this episode, our Director of Indigenous Relations, Trista Pewapisconias, spoke to Michael Rice – a founder and past manager of the Caisse Populaire Kahnawake, a hugely successful Indigenous credit union which has been around since 1987. He tells the story of how the credit union was started, the impact it’s had on its community, and benefits of Indigenous people having control over their own financial institutions. 

In this episode, Director of Education Kyle White had a great conversation with Federated Co-operatives Limited's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary (and Co-operatives First board chair) Sheldon Stener. Sheldon is an expert in governance with important insights for members of co-op boards, and gives an excellent primer for things for co-op directors to consider in their role. 

After six years of leading the Good Governance Matters course, our Director of Education Kyle White has heard a lot from co-op leaders. In this episode, we talked about the themes and lessons that have emerged from the conversations had during the course — the result is insights that can help any co-op board and a glimpse into the debates being had around board tables of co-ops of all kinds.

Co-operatives are a way for people to work together to better their community and reach their common economic, social, and cultural goals.  Indigenous people have practiced this community approach to economic development from time immemorial.  But colonialization has impacted every aspect of Indigenous society, including historic economic development practices. Although the value of working co-operatively has not been lost, supports to create co-operative businesses aren’t readily available.  To remedy this, a team came together in 2022 to start the Native Communities Cooperative Development training project (NCCD). The project supports the growth of co-operatives and their ability to add value, create markets, facilitate food security, and build prosperity in Indigenous communities. Our Director of Indigenous Relations, Trista Pewapisconias, was a member of this team, and travelled to Minnesota earlier this year to meet with the project's participants and organizers. In this episode, she has a roundtable discussion with project leaders Pamela Standing of the Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance, Bijiibah Begaye of The Cooperative Catalyst of New Mexico, and Karri-lynn Paul of the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University. 

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Dionne Pohler back to the show. Dr. Pohler, Associate Professor at the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan, and CRS Research Chair at the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, talks about her research on rural-urban divides, and how co-operatives can help.

In this episode, we speak to Dr. Simon Pek of the University of Victoria about a new idea for co-op governance: deliberative mini-publics. These versatile groups can be a great way for co-operatives to engage and gather information from their memberships in deliberate and effective ways.

Project Equity is an organization that promotes and supports the employee ownership of businesses. In this episode, Kyle spoke to David Gray, Project Equity's Client Services Manager, about worker co-operatives and why transitioning to worker ownership can be a great option for a business. 

Rural communities that wish they had better access to the internet often don't realize they could create that service for themselves. In this episode Jesse Hirsh, a futurist, speaker, and consultant, talks about how he brought broadband to his own rural area, and others can too.

In this episode, two co-op researchers tell us about their work looking at people’s loyalty to co-operatives. Danika Dinko is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association who wrote a thesis exploring the opinions of consumers in regards to shopping at co-ops versus Investor-owned firms. Stan Yu is the Research and Communications Coordinator for the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, who looked at whether the employees of co-operatives tend to be loyal co-op customers. 

In this episode, we talk to our new Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Cathy Edwards. As a founding member of Heartlinked Community Service Co-op, entrepreneur, and business plan writer, Cathy has great insights about getting a co-op running, hiring staff, getting your message out, and more!

Co-operatives are businesses that bring people together — but how do you make sure everyone involved in your co-op is working towards the same goal? In this episode, our Director of Education Kyle White talks about what a co-op's leaders can do to make sure its members, staff, and board are all on the same page about the co-op's purpose and goals, which is key to its success. To learn more about this topic, take our FREE Co-op Professional certificate course: https://cooperativesfirst.com/become-a-certified-co-op-professional/

Co-ops can be a great way for people to tackle local issues and embrace opportunities. But not everyone has access to resources that can help them learn about the model in a way that speaks to them. The non-profit organization In My Own Voice (iMOVe) recently created a guidebook to starting conversations about co-operatives, written specifically for Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Colour (BIPOC). In this episode, Laurie Cook talks about why and how they created this guide, and why it's important to create resources with the audience in mind. 

In this episode, we talk to  Dr. Anna Lund about what fiduciary duties are, what they mean for co-ops, and take a deep dive into the decisions made by the board of Mountain Equipment Co-op. Dr. Lund is a law professor at the University of Alberta who studies insolvency and bankruptcy law, and gives an insightful look at some key concepts for co-op boards.

Federated Co-operatives Limited is committed to sustainability. In this episode, FCL's Director of Sustainability, Vern Albush, joined us to talk about what sustainability means, and why co-ops are well-placed to be leaders in sustainable practices. 

In this episode, Karri-Lynn Paul tells our Indigenous Relations Lead Trista Pewapisconias about the "abundance" approach to economic and community development. In this approach communities ask, "what gifts and talents do we already have?" and build on those advantages. 

Across Canada, housing costs are rising. Housing co-operatives have often been used to provide stable, affordable housing, and more people are interested in how co-ops can work in the current environment. Union Co-operative is a new housing co-op in Waterloo, Ontario that aims to provide permanent affordable housing by having members collectively purchase properties. Its Executive Director, Sean Campbell, spoke to us about this co-op, how it works, and what it hopes to provide in the context of an ever-increasing cost of living. 

In this helpful discussion, entrepreneur and consultant Cathy Edwards gives insights into the process of starting a co-operative and how to plan for sustainability and success. 

Living in small towns shouldn't be seen as just a cheap alternative to cities. People should choose to live in rural areas because they love their communities and the lifestyle they provide. Rural futurist Mary Doyle, founder of ruralonpurpose.com, spoke to us about intentional rural living and envisioning the future of small communities. 

Co-ops tend to choose their boards of directors through elections at their annual meetings. But are there other methods? In this episode, Dr. Simon Pek from the University of Victoria discusses the idea of using a lottery instead of an election to select a co-op board. Check out this episode for a breakdown of an interesting and innovative democratic process. 

Not every co-op project works out. Sometimes groups with good intentions decide the business won't pan out the way they'd hoped — but even the "unsuccessful" projects provide valuable progress. In this episode, Co-operatives First board member and cattle producer Eric Moes talks about starting and ultimately letting go of a co-op project, and the lessons learned along the way.

Tanner speaks with Gordon Casey from Brave Co-op — a tech co-operative in  BC that's created overdose-preventing apps and products. This incredible co-op is making a real difference in people's lives, and Casey talks about the company's approach and how its products save lives. 

In this episode, Business Development Lead Heather Hallgrimson spoke to Jessica Mason, Co-director of Start.coop. This organization helps get co-ops started in the United States, and Heather and Jessica speak about their experience with co-op start-ups, whether co-ops need to scale, and much more.

Montreal-based Eva Co-op is a rideshare and delivery service co-operative that puts its members in the driver's seat. Eva was launched in 2019 in part as a response to similar companies that often failed to support their workers. In this episode, Tanner spoke to Eva COO Dardan Isufi about this innovative co-op and how it has adapted to the changing economy.

Canada has work to do when it comes to providing childcare options for families. But by starting a co-op, parents can create a daycare that provides them with the spaces and services they need. In this episode, Dr. Jen Budney from the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives talks about the landscape of Canadian daycare and how co-ops can play a part in making things better. 

People in small towns have great ideas for improving their communities — but getting started can be intimidating.  Becky McCray — small-town entrepreneur and creator of the website Smal Biz Survival — spoke to us about fostering "Idea friendly" communities, and starting small to make big changes. 

Canada's media industry is in a tough spot. In the latest episode of the Common Share, hear how the people behind New Feeling — a co-op of music writers — are using a co-op to make their work more sustainable.

What is a multi-stakeholder co-op? Why would you choose to use this model? This episode explores these questions with two knowledgeable guests: Manitoba lawyer Kristen Wittman, and Stocksy United CEO Mike Cook. Listen to learn more about this interesting co-op structure, and the circumstances when it is a good choice for your business. 

We are so pleased to bring you this conversation with Senator Marty Klyne. Senator Klyne has a wealth of knowledge and experience with economic development in Indigenous communities and is an advocate for the use of co-operative businesses. We're honoured to have him on the podcast to give his insights from a long and impressive career.

Whitecap Dakota First Nation has achieved immense economic growth in the past 30 years. In this fascinating episode, Chief Darcy Bear talks about the success of his Nation's economic development strategy, the history of his community, and the importance of collaboration. 

When the pandemic started, Modo Carshare Co-op's business took a big hit. But by focusing on what was best for their members and staff, the co-op has weathered the crisis. In this episode, we talk to Patrick Nangle, CEO of Modo, about carsharing, the co-op's approach to managing the crisis, and its focus on diversity and anti-racism initiatives. 

What are the secrets to good co-operative governance? Dr. Murray Fulton and his colleagues at the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives have identified the three most important pillars that every co-op board needs to guide the business effectively. In this great discussion, Dr. Fulton breaks down these three pillars, and illustrates them with cases of prominent co-op governance gone wrong. Don't miss this episode!

Have you ever met someone who created a new kind of co-op? Neither had we — until we met Manitoba lawyer Kristen Wittman. Tune in for a great conversation about how this co-op legal expert became fascinated by co-ops, the work she's done shaping co-op laws, and some of the cooler co-op projects she's helped get off the ground. 

Co-ops play a big role in keeping communities vibrant in Canada's North. In the latest podcast episode, we spoke to Mary Nirlungayuk from Arctic Co-operatives Limited about her home in the Arctic, and how the co-op federation benefits towns like hers. 

Community Investment Co-ops are an exciting way to support community development. They allow people to invest their money in local businesses and initiatives. A CIC — also known as an Opportunity Development Co-op in Alberta — pools the investment money of local residents, and lends it to start-ups, uses it for renewable energy projects, and more. Investors get to see their dollars at work in their own backyards, and get a return on their money as well. Investment co-op experts Seth Leon with the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association in Calgary, and Eden Yesh with Kootenay Employment Services in Creston, BC, talk to us about this great model.