Co-op week is the opportunity for Canadian co-operative and credit union members to celebrate the fact that they have collectively helped to build this country.  Co-op Week is recognition of their continuing contributions at home and abroad.

Co-op Week is always celebrated during the same week as International Credit Union Day, which is the third Thursday in October of each year.

Co-op Week 2015 will take place from October 11-17.

This year the theme is Our Co-op Advantage. Share your views on the co-operative advantage with others across the country by contacting Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada. Don't forget to share your event dates and event photos and show your co-op pride this October.

For more information visit Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada

The History of Co-op Week in Canada

Co-op Week has been celebrated by francophones throughout Canada since 1958. In 1981 celebrations were held among anglophone co-ops in the Maritimes and Saskatchewan. The event went national in 1982 with the encouragement of the Co-operative Union of Canada, a predecessor of the Canadian Co-operative Association.

Co-op Week appears to be a uniquely Canadian phenomenon. In the US, October is Co-op Month, and the International Co-operative Alliance and United Nations have an International Day of Co-operatives on the first Saturday in July.

International Credit Union Day, co-ordinated by the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), has been celebrated on the third Thursday of October since 1948.

Noon to 1pm Mountain Time

This year Albertans will put billions of dollars into RRSPs. The majority of this money will be invested outside of the province.  However, several Albertan community are bucking this trend. They are investing directly in their local economy. This has led to the revitalization of businesses districts, created jobs, and increased vibrancy. By investing locally, community members receive both a financial and social return. One only has to look to the communities of Sangudo and Crowsnest Pass to see the impact.

This webinar will teach participants about raising local capital, to finance local business development. Unleashing Local Capital is a new and innovative local financing program that supports communities in establishing Opportunity Development Co-operatives (ODCs) that pool capital within a designated community using RRSP eligible shares.

This lunchtime webinar will teach you everything you need to get started, as well as provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss your local business development project. It will include: The webinar will include

• An overview of the project, drawing from successful examples in Alberta
• The process of raising capital in your community
• Rules and regulations related to local financing, and how to raise capital in accordance to the current rules

At the end of this session you will be prepared to get started on a local financing project in your community! If you are involved in local business, community economic development, or are an entrepreneur this webinar will provide you with some excellent new information and insight into how local financing can be used to build strong and vibrant communities. Opportunity Development Co-operatives can be used to finance:

• Expansion, renovation, and upgrading of existing businesses
• Revitalization projects of a once-bustling main-street
• Succession planning that will keep an important business in the community
• New businesses

Opportunity Development Co-operatives also:

• Keep wealth in communities
• Let you invest in your community
• Connects you to a local business and the local economy in a meaningful way

Register for Introduction to Unleashing Local Capital

For more information please contact Paul Cabaj, Director of Co-operative Development at pcabaj at acca.coop

12pm to 1pm Pacific Time
Pique Venture Management Inc.
Suite 105 - 211 East Georgia Street

What's hot and happening in the impact investing space

If you are an investor or thinking about getting started in impact investing, join me for a market update on intriguing entrepreneurs and local early-stage ventures. We’ll highlight some of the people and companies we’re seeing, across a number of sectors, including women led and co-led ventures, ventures in the creative economy, and social technologies (people-focused, technology-enabled ventures).

This Lunch & Learn is brought to you by Pique Ventures, an impact investment company and a developer and manager of impact venture capital. We launched the impact venture fund, Pique Venture Investments (VCC) Inc., which invests in leadership diversity, the creative economy, and social technologies.

Register for Impact Investing Summer Lunch & Learn

Pique Ventures helps impact investors make more effective,  efficient and integrated investment decisions. We manage Pique Venture Investments (VCC), an impact investment fund where you can make a difference with your investment dollars, in the company of other like-minded people. We also provide products and services such as venture evaluation, due diligence, and fund initiation and development services to impact investors.

#VanIMPACT15 is the premiere social venture event taking place during Vancouver Startup Week 2015.

The theme for this year's IMPACT is Good Growth: acknowledging, celebrating and showing you how you can achieve exponential business growth while remaining purpose-driven (the good part!)

More details to come!

Receive IMPACT 2015 updates, including ticket releases and speaker updates.

Interested in getting involved as a speaker, sponsor, or partner? Email nikki at spring.is

For updates visit vanimpact.com

12pm to 1pm Pacific Time
Pique Venture Management Inc.
Suite 105 - 211 East Georgia Street

What's hot and happening in the impact investing space

If you are an investor or thinking about getting started in impact investing, join me for a market update on intriguing entrepreneurs and local early-stage ventures. We’ll highlight some of the people and companies we’re seeing, across a number of sectors, including women led and co-led ventures, ventures in the creative economy, and social technologies (people-focused, technology-enabled ventures).

This Lunch & Learn is brought to you by Pique Ventures, an impact investment company and a developer and manager of impact venture capital. We launched the impact venture fund, Pique Venture Investments (VCC) Inc., which invests in leadership diversity, the creative economy, and social technologies.

Register for Impact Investing Summer Lunch & Learn

Pique Ventures helps impact investors make more effective,  efficient and integrated investment decisions. We manage Pique Venture Investments (VCC), an impact investment fund where you can make a difference with your investment dollars, in the company of other like-minded people. We also provide products and services such as venture evaluation, due diligence, and fund initiation and development services to impact investors.