Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives

09/11/2026

The recording of our most recent Co-op Conversation, “AI as Infrastructure, Not Ideology” featuring Andi Argast of Hypha Worker Co-operative is now available on our Youtube channel. Please click on the link below to watch the talk 👇

The Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives' (CCSC) monthly ...

09/09/2026

Join us for a special educational webinar, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗖𝗼-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 with Joshua Lerner, Manager of Policy at Payments Canada.

𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟵, 𝟭𝟭 𝗮𝗺 - 𝟭𝟮 𝗽𝗺 (SK/CST)
𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦: https://lnkd.in/gPWJVvmz

In this educational session, we will:
· explore Payments Canada’s critical payment systems.
· examine connections between Payments Canada and the credit union sector.
· highlight how credit unions interact with and influence Canada's national payment infrastructure.

Participants will gain an understanding of clearing and settlement systems and how credit unions access national payments infrastructure.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿:
As Manager of Policy, Josh leads Payments Canada’s policy direction and supports its government relations efforts. Prior to this role, he regulated Ontario’s credit unions and caisses populaires at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, contributing to the rollout of the new Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act. He’s passionate about payments, the credit union sector, and building strong, effective teams.

𝘗𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢’𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴, 𝘣𝘺-𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴, 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴.

𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://tinyurl.com/cucooppayments

09/02/2026

It was an absolute pleasure having Michael Toye of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada / Coopératives et mutuelles Canada visit Saskatoon and our offices. Thank you, Mike, for all the riveting and productive conversations over these past couple of days! Looking forward to our next visit.

09/02/2026

Final call for registrations to today's Co-op Conversation! This free online event starts at 12 PM (Saskatchewan Time/Central Standard Time) today. You can still register to attend here: https://uregina.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_br5JAb3TPZaj7bU

our new season of Co-op Conversations returns on September 2! Our featured speaker will be Andi Argast of Hypha Worker Co-op. Her talk is titled, "AI as infrastructure, not ideology".

You can register to this free online talk via the following link: https://usaskstudies.coop/news-and-events/talks-and-lectures.php

08/26/2026

our new season of Co-op Conversations returns on September 2! Our featured speaker will be Andi Argast of Hypha Worker Co-op. Her talk is titled, "AI as infrastructure, not ideology".

You can register to this free online talk via the following link: https://usaskstudies.coop/news-and-events/talks-and-lectures.php

08/17/2026

Our new season of Co-op Conversations returns on September 2! Our featured speaker will be Andi Argast of Hypha Worker Co-op. Her talk is titled, "AI as infrastructure, not ideology".

You can register to this free online talk via the following link: https://usaskstudies.coop/news-and-events/talks-and-lectures.php

08/13/2026

We are currently accepting applications for The Hartley and Margaret Fredeen Scholarship in Co-operative Studies.

This scholarship is offered annually to a University of Saskatchewan graduate student conducting research on co-operatives.

The goal is to support students in creating and sharing knowledge about co-operatives. The successful applicant will be chosen based upon the applicant’s research exploring the ways co-operatives can make our lives better, locally or globally.

Eligibility: Open to University of Saskatchewan students who are:
1. entering or continuing studies in a master’s or doctoral program or currently enrolled in Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy Graduate Certificate in the Social Economy, Co-operatives, and Nonprofit Sector (GSECN) and
2. conducting research on co-operatives.

How to Apply: Send an email to [email protected] (subject: Fredeen Application) with following attachments: letter of application, summarizing your research on co-operatives and experience with co-ops and community development; a copy of university transcripts; and one reference letter.

Deadline: September 30, 2026

For more information on the Fredeen Scholarship and other award opportunities, scan the QR code or visit https://usaskstudies.coop/Learning-Opportunities/scholarship-and-awards.php.

08/12/2026

We are delighted to announce John Stevenson has been awarded the 2025-26 Leo and Bruce Thordarson Social Economy and Co-operatives Award!

A genuine lifetime cooperator (familiar in co-op circles across Canada), John grew up in the co-operative retailing system. His father was a general manager in a range of communities in Western Canada for 25 years, which provided John a front row seat to how co-ops were a positive force in those communities. He is committed to life-long learning, especially advancing his knowledge and understanding on governance, a learning path that started with student government and continues with his service on multiple boards.

John was one of the inaugural recipients of the Co-opDirector.D designation, and strongly believes the co-operative movement provides a third way to sustainably address the challenges society faces. He is appreciative of the many learning and education opportunities he has had through his affiliations with Federated Co-operatives Limited, the CCSC, and the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy's Graduate Certificate in the Social Economy, Co-operatives, and Nonprofit Sector certificate program (University of Saskatchewan and University of Regina).

Congratulations, John, and thanks to Leo and Bruce Thordarson's family for their generous, continuing support for co-operative education and research, and developing the next generation of co-operative leaders and scholars.

We are currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 Leo and Bruce Thordarson Social Economy and Co-operatives Award. Click the link in bio to learn more about the Award, eligibility, and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/gzzqzNac

06/18/2026

Very interesting new report from CanTrust Hosting Co-operative and Hypha Co-operative, "Reclaiming the Stack: A Feasibility Study", asks the question whether Canadian co-operatives can build, own, and govern their own AI infrastructure is possible and feasible.

Download the report here: https://cooperativeblueprint.ai/read-the-study/

06/18/2026

Congratulations to Co-operatives First for 10 incredible years. Over those years, they have helped to develop over 160 co-ops (and counting) across western Canada!