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This is an information webinar for those who are thinking about taking one of the courses through the CoopZone On-line Training Program. This webinar is open to anyone. 

Please RSVP to Hazel Corcoran (hazel@canadianworker.coop) by the end of the day on August 14th. You will receive the dial-in information by the start of the day of the call. (If you do not receive it by then, please write again at that time.) 

CoopZone offers various levels of training:

• The Introduction to Co-op Development course runs from late October through March (but half the number of weeks as the Foundations Program) and is appropriate for people interested in understanding the types and roles of co-ops and the basic co-op development process but who will not be active developers; 
• The Foundations Program course runs for one year (mid-September - April) for those who may become developers or who are in the position of advising groups interested in exploring the creation of a co-operative enterprise;
• The Advanced Program (Years 1 and 2) lasts for two years.  This level is designed for people who seek to provide full development services to co-operatives.

All of these on-line courses are designed to fit around a full-time job, taking a few hours per week. The Course Director is Peter Hough, and experienced co-op developers provide mentoring to students.

Click here to find brochures for download

Here's what some of the students have had to say:

"The course is concise, informative and interactive. Mentors and course director are very knowledgeable, skilled, experienced, approachable and helpful. The readings and tools were very useful."  --Billy Granger, SEED Winnipeg. 

"I would absolutely recommend the CoopZone program to anybody interested.  The course is pretty amazing in the way that it creates a common community amongst us aspiring co-op developers and several fully established and tremendously experienced ones. The instructors are great, and the mentoring system gives me the chance to have hours of one-on-one time with an expert in my desired field."  --Joel Ratcliffe, Ontario. 

"The Advanced Co-op Developer training has enabled me to connect with other Co-op Developers and a Mentor which allowed me to apply what I am learning directly to the groups and projects I am working on, in real time.  I would recommend this program for anyone interested in Co-op Development as we are often working alone or in small teams in communities; the course allows you to feel part of a co-op team!"  --Amanda Hachey, CEC-NB

"What I like about the program:
• The webinars and online presentations, and the opportunity to connect with others across the country involved in the same work.
• The mentor element is great it's been wonderful to have access to (my mentor's) wealth of knowledge and perspectives.
• Access to the CoopZone listserv & tele-learning sessions has been good, too.
• The wonderfully curated and assembled reading materials.
• Learning together with great people--the director, cohort and mentors."
               --Zoë Creighton, Upper Columbia Co-op Council.

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

Co-op Week 2014 will take place from October 13-19, 2014. 

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.

For more information check out the Ontario Co-operative Association's Co-op Week webpage: www.ontario.coop/all_about_cooperatives/coop_week

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On November 6 and 7, the 2014 Social Finance Forum: Building markets that matter will welcome over 300 attendees and 65 speakers from across Canada and the world to Toronto for an extensive, specialized program designed and presented by leading practitioners from across North America.

The 7th annual Social Finance Forum is the place to engage leaders and practitioners in the diverse social finance scene. But what would you get out of attending the Forum? The following quick primers will help get you excited about the Forum where participants will explore key social finance advancements from across Canada and around the world!

Click the description(s) below that best represent you and you will get a quick primer on the Forum from your vantage point, including a few suggested sessions and some faces to look out for!

• Entrepreneurs
• Investors (including Foundations, Asset Managers & Funds)
• Financial Service Providers
• Non-Profits & Charities
• Public Servants

Check out the program here

Register now

The Social Finance Forum boasts 40+ sessions, 80+ speakers, 50+ investors from Canada and abroad, and 50+ world-changing social ventures (including 20 RBC-sponsored impact entrepreneurs)! And this is just the tip of the iceberg!

Content themes include:

• Building your social finance strategy
• Global impact investing
• Impact investing in the financial services industry
• Community Finance Solutions: Building financial products & funds
• Investment readiness for social enterprises & impact ventures
• Lessons from Quebec’s social economy

Social Finance Forum 2014 Keynotes

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Interested in pitching?

The Social Finance Forum will feature ventures achieving positive social/environmental impact across a variety of industries including health, sustainable food, clean technology, affordable housing, education and enterprises employing or supporting persons facing barriers to success.

For more information and to register, please visit us at: socialfinanceforum.marsdd.com

Social Finance is changing the way we work together in Canada to address critical problems facing people and the planet. More than any other time Canadians are joining forces, using the best of business and community approaches to invest and grow impactful ventures and initiatives that provide a financial return to investors.

The 2014 Social Finance Forum will take place at MaRS Discovery District, one of the world's largest urban innovation centres. MaRS works with partners to catalyze, accelerate and amplify innovation.
 
Event details
Date:  November 6 & 7, 2014
Location: MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street, Toronto, ON