Frontline employees with the government of Canada are being given training about the co-op model, with a course from non-profit organisation Co-operatives First and the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives.
Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the government department in charge of the knowledge-based economy, contracted Co-operatives First, in partnership with the Centre, to create the Co-ops in Canada online course.
ISED will share the course to help frontline staff better understand co-operatives, how they work, how they are different, and their impact on the Canadian economy.
“Research shows there is limited awareness of the co-op model,” said Audra Krueger, executive director of Co-operatives First. “This includes government officials and other professionals whose work may involve assisting people who want to start co-operatives.
“The goal of this training is to introduce those people to the basics of the model and its benefits, so they can help people set up co-ops.”
Though Co-ops in Canada was created for government employees, it is also open to the public. The free course is available in English and French and is suitable for professionals like lawyers, accountants, economic development officers, funders, and consultants.
The course is available through the Cooperatives First website and takes approximately three to four hours to complete. Participants will receive a certificate of completion.
