I had a chance to sit down with the executive director of the Manitoba Cooperative Association Vera Goussaert. In the following interview Vera talks about some of her work and how cooperatives fit into the realm of sustainability.
The MCA’s mission is that it was created by their members to enhance and support the development of a strong, united, and influential cooperative community in Manitoba.
They work in three different areas with people in the province of Manitoba:
Commontable – Bringing different cooperatives together from around the province to share resources and ideas.
Youth Programs – educating youth about the cooperative movement and what their roles could be through a leadership program as well as a high school program.
Coop Development – Aiding those who are looking to begin or expand a cooperative, some exciting examples she will talk about are:
Some of the partners the MCA works with are:
Cooperative Community of Manitoba (various coops)
Non-profits (SEED Winnipeg)
Indigenous Organizations (Manitoba Metis Federation, Aboriginal Business Council)
We also talk about some opportunites for the future including the indigenous community using the cooperative model and a new way that coops are being recognized in higher education at the University of Winnipeg.
I hope you have as much fun listening as I did interviewing Vera.
For those of you in Manitoba that listen to this, be sure to stop in at the abORIGINAL art show on Dec.4th at the Assiniboine Park Conservatory.
http://www.assiniboineparkzoo.ca/park-landing/home/plan-your-visit/calendar
I included a few links to other organizations that Vera mentioned during our interview here:
Manitoba Cooperative Association
SEED Winnipeg
CDEM
Manitoba Metis Federation
Peg City Car Co-op
Lastly, if you are or know a person in Manitoba between the ages 15-18 that is an aspiring leader in their community and would like to learn more about leadership through co-ops, follow this link to look at the Co-op Youth Leadership Camp. It takes place every May in beautiful Clearlake, MB and is hosted by the MCA. I am the coordinator of this camp and I am always looking for new young people to come share their experiences and learn about co-ops!
The MCA’s mission is that it was created by their members to enhance and support the development of a strong, united, and influential cooperative community in Manitoba.
They work in three different areas with people in the province of Manitoba:
Commontable – Bringing different cooperatives together from around the province to share resources and ideas.
Youth Programs – educating youth about the cooperative movement and what their roles could be through a leadership program as well as a high school program.
Coop Development – Aiding those who are looking to begin or expand a cooperative, some exciting examples she will talk about are:
- The partnership between MCA, the provincial government, and CDEM for the development of an urban aboriginal cooperative strategy, cooperative
- Housing Cooperatives in Manitoba
- Peg City Car Coop
Some of the partners the MCA works with are:
Cooperative Community of Manitoba (various coops)
Non-profits (SEED Winnipeg)
Indigenous Organizations (Manitoba Metis Federation, Aboriginal Business Council)
We also talk about some opportunites for the future including the indigenous community using the cooperative model and a new way that coops are being recognized in higher education at the University of Winnipeg.
I hope you have as much fun listening as I did interviewing Vera.
For those of you in Manitoba that listen to this, be sure to stop in at the abORIGINAL art show on Dec.4th at the Assiniboine Park Conservatory.
http://www.assiniboineparkzoo.ca/park-landing/home/plan-your-visit/calendar
I included a few links to other organizations that Vera mentioned during our interview here:
Manitoba Cooperative Association
SEED Winnipeg
CDEM
Manitoba Metis Federation
Peg City Car Co-op
Lastly, if you are or know a person in Manitoba between the ages 15-18 that is an aspiring leader in their community and would like to learn more about leadership through co-ops, follow this link to look at the Co-op Youth Leadership Camp. It takes place every May in beautiful Clearlake, MB and is hosted by the MCA. I am the coordinator of this camp and I am always looking for new young people to come share their experiences and learn about co-ops!