Join us in Saskatoon on May 27^th to learn about Alberta’s booming Opportunity Development Co-operatives program and how this program could apply to Saskatchewan. An Opportunity Development Co-operative (ODC) is a for-profit co-operative that raises capital locally to invest in a local business.

This will be a panel presentation and discussion with:

• Michele Aasgard, Executive Director of the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association (ACCA) will present an overview of the Unleashing Local Capital program,
• Paul Cabaj, Director of Co-operative Development at Alberta Community and Co-operative Association, and
• Verona Thibault, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association.

From the ACCA website:

The “Unleashing Local Capital” program empowers communities to invest locally, direct their own economic development, and reduce dependency on government supports. It educates rural Albertans on investing locally, and facilitates the establishment of their own Opportunity Development Co-operative (ODC). The Opportunity Development Co-operative (ODC) you incorporate collects capital from local investors and invests it in a local business. It is in the community, for the community, and by the community.  It provides you and other community members with an opportunity to invest your savings into business ventures in your community. It has proven to be extremely successful to support succession of an existing business (where owners are planning to retire), new business, and expansion of an existing business. Moreover, investing in shares in your ODC is RRSP eligible. Best of all, it ensures that important local businesses, jobs, and infrastructure remain and thrive in rural communities.

Who Should Attend: Economic Development Officers, Government Agency Representatives, Co-operative Developers, Co-operative and Credit Union Managers, Interested Citizens, SCA Members

Date:               May 27, 2013
Time:              5-6:00 pm
Location:       Basement Training Room at SCA
                       St. Mary’s Branch of Affinity Credit Union, 1515 20^th Street  West, Saskatoon
Cost:              Free / Sponsored by Saskatchewan Co-operative Association

Despite the increasing growth and attention to farmers markets, CSAs, local food box programmes, etc., alternative food initiatives geared towards local production and consumption, many of which emerge from the social economy, remain minor players when contrasted with the conventional food system. A key challenge is how to scale-up alternative food initiatives so that they have a greater transformational impact in the larger agri-food system and also serve as a catalyst for broader societal change towards a sustainable and strong social economy.

The case studies examined in this webinar highlight the opportunities and challenges in scaling-up food relocalization without sacrificing commitment to social, economic and environmental values and goals. We suggest the need to focus attention equally on building physical infrastructure and capacity (production, storage, distribution, retail) whilst also investing in social infrastructure and capacity (coalition-building, partnerships, clustering) required for a robust and resilient local food movement. 

We hope to initiate a discussion about the challenges and tensions between pragmatic and transformational approaches to issues of food security, food sovereignty, food justice and sustainability.

Discussion highlights will include:

• How to scale-up alternative food initiatives so that they have a greater transformational impact in the larger agri-food system
• How can alternative food systems serve as a catalyst for broader societal change towards a sustainable and strong economy?
• Challenges and tensions between pragmatic and transformational approaches to issues of food security, food sovereignty, food justice and sustainability

Register Now and you will receive information about joinind the presentation once you register!

Where: this is an online envent You can check when this webinar is offered in your time-zone here

If you think you can't make it, click here

This year’s ACE Institute will feature speakers discussing innovation in cooperative research, education and development from not just North America, but Latin America as well.  You can find a preliminary agenda listing speakers and topics here. Click on “REGISTER NOW!” to register for the Institute.

The 2013 ACE Institute will be held at the Verdanza Hotel in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. Hotel reservations will need to made separate from Institute registration.  You can make hotel reservations here.  Make sure you enter 'ACE' in the promotion ‘Group Code’ to receive the $115 ACE discounted room rate.

Who innovative cooperative researchers, educators and developers?  Nominate these influential ACE members for an ACE award!  You can find award categories and a nomination form here.

To register, click here.