UNITY — Co-operatives Week often goes by without a moment’s thought unless, of course, you are able to pop into one of your community co-operatives to enjoy what they are offering to mark the celebration.
Co-operatives Week is a time to reflect on the contributions and celebrate the impact our community co-operatives have made.
Delta Co-op has locations in Luseland, Macklin, Unity and Wilkie. The communities of Luseland, Kerrobert and Unity all have credit unions specific to their community while Wilkie is served by Innovation Credit Union and Macklin is part of the Synergy Credit Union organization.
Co-op week has been proclaimed across Canada every October since 1982 and includes International Credit Union Day the third Thursday of October.
2022 marks the 74th anniversary of International Credit Union Day. It is a day to celebrate and reflect upon the credit union movement’s history, as well as recognize their achievements and commitment to the communities they serve.
Even if you are not a member of either a co-op or credit union, you may still have experienced the benefits of in your community.
Recently, Delta Co-op held a grand opening for a significant investment in the community of Macklin now offering a C-store and DQ franchise. They also earmarked their Fuel Good Day proceeds towards community fire departments in Luseland, Macklin, Unity, and Wilkie.
Delta Co-op Marketing Manager, Julie Spencer says, "Volunteer hours from the past year include 991 hours. Staff volunteer outside of work with more than 20 community groups and organizations."
Spencer adds that the team at Delta Co-op will be enacting a number of different actions throughout Co-op Week celebrations that include free coffee and cookies as well as random acts of kindness.
Delta Co-op has donated more than $42,000 the past year to local organizations and charities as well as providing more than $10,000 in local sponsorships.
Unity Credit Union Marketing Manager Megan Heidt, says, “We estimate that our staff have given around 1,500 hours in volunteer hours, including both CU sponsored events and involvement with community organizations/initiatives on their personal time.”
Heidt says their staff are involved in boards and organizations like KC Rescue, Kin Club, Special Olympics, music festival, Kerrobert Courthouse Restoration Society, Kerrobert Art Gallery, Unity Minor Ball, Unity Community Daycare, Unity Soccer Club, Unity Skating Club, Unity Community Resource Centre, meals on wheels and more.
Recently, Heidt says UCU has donated $5,000 to the Unity Golf Club, three donations as a result of the partnered pancake breakfast with Delta Coop as part of Unity Ag. Society Fall Fair and Trade Show and a donation as part of their dress down days that was given to the Unity Legion.
UCU Staff have volunteered at recent pancake breakfast with Delta Co-op, setting up and taking down outdoor rink boards in Unity and some staff helped with new playground construction at Unity Public School. UCU staff also take part in regular rotation of meals on wheels deliveries.
Staff at Luseland Credit Union recently hosted a fun day in the park to celebrate the new playground equipment. LCU also in 2022 contributed to Denzil Hall renovations, Kerrobert Pioneer Haven upgrade project, amongst others. They also partnered with Delta Co-op on the barbecue held as a fundraiser for the MS Bike Tour event held in September. You can also find LCU staff members on community boards and volunteer organizations, outside of their work activity.
Kerrobert Credit Union staff recently won best business float in the Harvest Festival parade and also moved on to the poolside park to host a family fun zone for the afternoon portion of activities. A fall barbecue hosted by the team at KCU benefitted Kerrobert's Fire Department. This are just some examples of the work KCU and their staff collaborate on for the community.
Innovation Credit Union did have to change their volunteer activity once the pandemic hit but you can see on their social media pages the activity Innovation Credit Union has undertaken in the communities they serve. Wilkie specific activity includes, to date, the team in Wilkie supporting the following organizations through either in-kind or monetary contributions: McLurg High School, Wilkie Curling Club, Wilkie Golf Club and Wilkie Outlaws Hockey Club.
For more general information on Innovation Credit Union’s commitment to the communities they serve and how they give back, please visit Caring Company | Innovation Credit Union (innovationcu.ca)
Synergy Credit Union, which has a location in Macklin, are also committed to investing in the communities they serve. Recently, SCU gifted $150,000 to Lakeland College, reinforcing Synergy’s long-term commitment to the college and region, ensuring students the collaborative spaces they need to learn, lead and manage. An Oct. Facebook post by SCU outlines the presentation, stating, “We were honoured to donate $150,000 towards the rejuvenation of the WHT Mead Building at Lakeland College Canada's Vermilion Campus. In recognition of the gift, Lakeland had named a lecture hall the Synergy Credit Union Lecture Theatre. The social media pages of SCU outline all the latest news and updates on their team’s work in the communities they serve.
Co-op and credit union staff in our communities also serve on community boards, serve as coaches for community sports organizations and are part of our volunteer fire departments and service clubs, all outside of what they volunteer with through their employer.
FCL Donated $8.4 Million
Did you know Federated Co-op was recently honoured for its charitable giving by Imagine Canada, a national charity advocacy organization?
A statement released by FCL, states, “Co-op is truly a different kind of business, and we invest in our communities because we are part of those communities,” said Pam Skotnitsky, vice-president of Strategy. “We are honoured to maintain our Caring Company status, as it demonstrates our commitment to our stated goals of being locally invested and community minded.”
FCL donated more than $8.4 million to charities and communities in the 2021 fiscal year through consumer-facing programs and partnerships. These included donations through Co-op Community Spaces and Fuel Good Day and supporting the Canadian Red Cross to aid those affected by the pandemic. It also includes initiatives led by FCL team members, such as FCL’s Community Investment Fund, and food donations made in-kind to nearby food banks by FCL Distribution Centers.
This total does not include any standalone donations from local co-ops within their communities.
Sask. Government Stated
In a media release, the Saskatchewan Government states, “The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed Oct. 16-22 as Co-operatives Week in Saskatchewan, recognizing the contributions made by local co-ops to Saskatchewan’s economy.”
“Co-operative businesses create 15,000 jobs in Saskatchewan and provide critical products and services throughout the province,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Co-operatives bring employment and investment opportunities to people in our communities and exemplify the Saskatchewan values of building growth that works for everyone.”
Approximately 800 co-operatives are currently operating in Saskatchewan in 24 different economic and social sectors including manufacturing, financial services, retail, childcare and health care.
The profits generated by co-operative businesses remain mostly in the province, creating economic value and opportunity for Saskatchewan communities.
