The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, along with Ken Kavanagh, President of the Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives (NLFC) joined partners at the Public Service Credit Union to sign a proclamation to mark October 14 to October 20 as Co-op Week across Newfoundland and Labrador, and to mark October 18 as International Credit Union Day.
Co-operatives such as the Public Service Credit Union play an instrumental role in driving business and economic development while serving the needs of their members and their communities. These businesses are owned by thousands of individual members in communities throughout all regions of our province.
Today, there are more than 90 vibrant co-operative enterprises and credit unions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, employing over 1,500 people. In the past year, the Provincial Government provided over $750,000 to seven projects to support co-ops in the province including:
- Fogo Island Co-op Society Ltd.
- The Farm and Market at Clarenville Inn Inc.
- Petty Harbour Fishermens’ Producers Co-operative Society Ltd.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives
- Growing Our Future Childcare Co-operative (Port aux Basques)
- City of St. John’s (St. John’s Farmers Market)
- John’s Farmers’ Market Co-operative
To explore co-op and social enterprise development, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, in partnership with the NLFC, is holding free workshops in Port aux Basques on Wednesday, October 17, and Corner Brook on Thursday, October 18. This is an example of both parties delivering on public awareness and engagement commitments made in the joint Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2017. Groups interested in learning more about the co-operative business model should contact their local TCII office: www.tcii.gov.nl.ca/department/contact.html.
Investing in skills and development training sessions for co-ops and social enterprise delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
The recently released Social Enterprise Action Plan aims to increase the number of social enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador and enhance services for existing social enterprises in the province.
Quotes
“Co-ops and credit unions play an instrumental role in driving business and economic development while serving the needs of their members. Supporting co-operative and social enterprise development is vital for advancing development opportunities – they benefit the economy, support sustainability, and tackle social and economic issues. Our most recent MOU aims to advance the engagement of more department staff in co-op development, and places a greater emphasis on targeted research in industry sectors that have high potential for co-op development.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
“We are pleased to celebrate the important role of co-ops and credit unions in our province. Our partnership agreement with the Provincial Government enables us to continue to promote the benefits of co-ops and to assist groups engaged in the development of new co-ops in the province.”
Glen Fitzpatrick
Managing Director, Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives
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Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819, 725-9655
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Glen Fitzpatrick
Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives
709-726-9431
gfitz@nlfc.nf.ca