Arctic co-ops “have a great deal to teach globe”

A new book of co-op success stories, called “Building a Better Future,” includes the history of Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.

The success of the Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. shows “the power of the co-operative business model to turn around threatened communities and local economies,” says the International Co-operative Alliance.

“Your co-operatives have a great deal to teach a globe which is suffering from an economic downturn because so many of your member co-operatives have grown out of exceptionally difficult circumstances,” said Pauline Green, the president of the co-operative alliance, in a recent news release..

Last year, the ACL, which has 31 member co-operatives, employed 900 people and returned $13.3 million in dividends to its members.

The ACL is featured as one of the co-op success stories in Building a Better World: 100 Stories of Co-operation, a book published by the alliance during the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives.

“We are thrilled to be part of this project, which celebrates the enduring co-operative movement in the Canadian Arctic and around the world,” said ACL’s chief executive officer, Andy Morrison. “This is a great way to share co-op success stories and advance awareness of the unique benefits and structure of the co-op model.”

Last week representatives from ACL and Nunavik’s co-operative network, the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Quebec, attended the International Summit of Co-operatives in Quebec City.

The FCNQ also marked its 45th anniversary and the International Year of Cooperatives by visiting Lévis, where the FCNQ was founded May 21, 1967.

Arctic co-ops are also celebrating co-op week from Oct. 14 to Oct. 20.