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What is a Co-operative?
From "Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders," produced by CCA
(CHF BC Resource Library, Shelf E-4)
A co-operative is an organization, owned and controlled by its members, to provide products or services to the members or to the general public.
Types of Co-operatives
1) Marketing or Producer
These are owned by people like farmers, or people who fish for a living, to help them sell their products, like the grain that they grow or the fish that they catch.
2) Consumer/Retail
These co-ops are stores where the people who own the stores are the people who shop in them.
3) Worker or Employment
Some co-ops are specially made by people to provide themselves with jobs.
4) Housing
These co-ops are where a group of people live together, in the same building or housing development.
5) Service
These kinds of co-ops might be health care or day care co-ops. They provide people with services.
6) Financial: credit unions, insurance, and trust co-ops
These kinds of co-ops involve money, like credit unions, a type of co-op bank.
Seven International Principles of Co-operation
1) Open Membership
2) Democratic Control
3) Economic Participation
4) Independence
5) Co-operative Education
6) Co-operation Among Co-operatives
7) Concern for Community
Housing Co-ops
Housing co-operatives are a different type of consumer co-operative. Their purpose is to provide affordable and high-quality housing for members. Many housing co-ops are organized to meet the needs of specific groups in society, including seniors, students, ethnic, and special language groups. Members participate in the operation of their co-operative through involvement with committees, the Board of Directors, and other aspects of the co-op.
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