English 
Français 
Training Program
Join our Training Program and become an effective co-op Developper
Co-op development is a challenging process that requires a diverse array of skills.
CoopZone offers two levels of training - an Introduction to Co-op Development for those who wish to understand and support others leading the process, and a two year Advanced Online Program, for those coordinating the process.
Becoming an effective co-op developer requires not just knowledge and creativity, but most of all practice working with many different types of co-ops and their legislation.
Programs
BASIC INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM
This introductory course offers an understanding in the types and roles of co-ops and the basic co-operative development process. This one-year program provides basic information on the development and project management services to new, existing and expanding co-operatives. Participants will learn about the network and resources groups available for a successful co-op development process.
Course Length: 1 year (October to April)
Tuition: $1 500
Tuition includes written resource materials worth approximately $150.
Partial bursaries may be available.
Application deadline : October 3
ADVANCED PROGRAM
This two-year program will provide you with advanced skills and information to provide development,facilitation, and project management services to new, existing and expanding co-operatives.
On-line distance education program in a collaborative learning team environment.
Participate in discussions on-line, group conference calls and webinars.
Incorporate the courses into your existing career.
Learn about co-operatives and the development process within your own context. Network with other
practitioners.
Have the benefit of an experienced mentor.
Course Length: 2 years (October to May)
Tuition: $2 900 per year
Tuition includes written resource materials worth approximately $150.
Partial bursaries may be available.
Application deadline: October 3
Instructors
Russ Christianson
I started working with co-operatives as the General Manager for the Ontario Federation of Food Co-ops and Clubs in 1984. We turned the not-for-profit organization around and positioned it as a leader in the distribution of natural and organic foods in the 1980s and onwards (until it was sadly demutualized in 2017). Since leaving the OFFCC in 1988, I have worked with hundreds of start-up and established co-ops as a co-op developer and consultant, and I have helped start a number of sectoral co-op federations, including Alliance of Canadian Natural Food Co-ops, OWCF & CWCF, renewable energy (OSEA), Local and Organic Food Co-ops (LFFC). I have also volunteered for decades with the Ontario Co-operative Association.
Joy Emmanuel
-300x300_c.jpg "unnamed (9)")
From 2004 to 2009 I worked at BC Institute for Co-operative Studies, and also worked as a Project Manager, Researcher and Writer mostly based out of the University of Victoria. Since 2009, I’ve completed a community economic development certificate at Simon Frasier University as well as the 2nd year program of the CoopZone training Program, honing my skills as a co-operative developer. I am currently serving on seven different co-operative Boards.
Denyse Guy
As a co-op developer, I’ve founded, managed, volunteered and governed co-ops in different sectors - housing, child care, renewal energy, local food, and financial, to name a few. I assited in the creation of regional, provincial and federal co-operative networks and associations. I’ve won several awards for my work in co-operation throughout my career.
Eric Tusz-King
In 1988 I started formally working to develop co-operatives as part of my community economic development responsibilities with the United Church of Canada in various parts of the Maritimes. Before them, I belonged to several co-operatives as a member. In 2006 I was a founding member and then manager of EnerGreen Builders Co-operative for 10 years. In 2011, I enrolled in the CoopZone Training Program. After completing that course, I did an assessment of the Training Program and in 2016 I was appointed as Course Director until June 2021.
Jonah Fertig-Burd
I co-founded Local Sprouts Cooperative, a worker-owned cafe and catering business in 2007. I was a worker-owner for 7 years and then left to work with the Cooperative Development Institute. From 2014 to 2020, I was the Director of Cooperative Food Systems supporting the development of co-ops owned by farmers, fishermen, food producers, and cooks. I also supported the development of housing co-ops, community land trusts and worker-ownership conversions. Last year, I left the Cooperative Development Institute and work with the Sewall Foundation supporting organizations in the food system and recently just supported an impact investment of the foundation into a worker co-op (their first). For the past 4 years, I've been on the Board of the Cooperative Fund of New England, which finances many cooperatives in the Northeast of the US. I'm now a worker-owner of Celebration Tree Farm & Wellness Center, a farm we started 6 years ago and just transitioned into a co-op last year.
Zoe Creighton
I cut my teeth on co-ops as one of the founding members of Kootenay Co-op Radio in Nelson, BC. I was their first station manager, and then music director, board advisor, policy and programming committee chairs, and I’m still involved! After, I co-founded the Upper Columbia Co-op Council, in 2007 an apex association of co-ops and credit unions in southeastern BC, for which I continue to be the coordinator. I Joined the board of BC Co-op Association in 2008 - and served for a dozen years; I enrolled in the CoopZone Training Program in 2014 and have been working as a co-op developer ever since. Currently, I sit on the board of Nelson and District Credit Union, I am co-director of Co-operate Now Co-op Business Training Bootcamp, Convener of BC Co-op Developers' Community of Practice and much more!
Melanie Conn
My co-op experience began in 1971 as a founder of the Vancouver Women's Health Collective; although not a formal co-op it led me to founding/membership roles in the East End Food Co-op, CCEC Credit Union, the Yew Street Housing Co-op, and Plane Jane Construction during the 1970s-80s. My work evolved into women-centred CED research and education in WomenFutures during the 1980s-90s, a non-profit that focused on co-op and collective structures for women to participate in their community economies. In 1994 I became a member of Devco, a worker co-op that formally provided co-op development services in BC and eventually in other parts of Canada, including an Advanced Co-op Development Training series in Winnipeg and PEI in 2005. Since then I have continued to actively work as a mentor for emerging co-op developers and with dozens of various types of co-ops through Devco; in the past three years I have worked on my own on referrals from VanCity and the BC Co-op Association. In 2000 I designed and implemented the Certificate for CED Professionals for SFU's Sustainable Community Development Centre: eight courses including one about Co-op Models which I co-instructed with a colleague. I founded and managed Common Thread Co-op, a Community Service (non-profit) Co-op that trained and employed people with social and economic challenges to upcycle retired street banners from 2007-2018.
Testimonials
Instructors are great, and the mentoring system gives me the chance to have hours of one-on-one time with an expert in my desired field.
I had such a good talk with him (Marty Frost) and next week we are discussing governance, I can't wait. It is wonderful that I have been able to connect with the coopzone people. Thanks for your support in all of this.
CoopZone has a good Training Program for it brings people of different backgrounds together to share and learn lessons from each other on cooperative development. The program is indeed training the next generation of co-op developers in Canada and across the world. The current cohort of participants/students are diverse from 7 different countries and this brings a wealth of experience from across the globe. The training program is cost-effective for each student who studies from his or her home country. I like the training because of continuous self-assessment and training, in consultation with my mentor. The mentor is accountable to each student assigned to him or her by ensuring that the training program complies with all the competency gaps that the student may have, and there is no compromise on deliverables. There is transparency in the feedback during the zoom meetings and freedom of expression when discussing with fellow students, facilitators and mentors. The training facilitators give an opportunity to each participant to ask questions relevant to his or her country in regard to cooperative development and this is possible because of the flexibility of the facilitators. The program allows the students to access the best network of cooperative developers in the world at zero cost. The training methodology is awesome because it is participatory and inclusive. The training materials shared are comprehensive and practical enough to address each country's cooperative issues. The cooperative training and delivery of training materials are friendly and cost effective to the students. Finally, the CoopZone is an excellent and enriching training program for it imparts skills and knowledge to the participants across the globe.
Webinar
One hour webinars are offered to introduce the courses at a time convenient for you.
To set an appointment or to learn more about the program, please contact, Meg Ronson at: courses@coopzone.coop