As the 2012 International Year of
Co-operatives comes to a close,
co-operatives are considered an integral
part of Canada’s social economy, since
they are democratically controlled
enterprises designed to meet the social
and economic needs of their members.
They are a proven tool for mutual selfhelp,
allowing people to work together
towards common goals. This in turn
helps build social cohesion by promoting
inclusion, trust and equity among citizens.