Hey everyone!
So I’m finally moving to Canada very soon (yayy). I’m moving to Calgary specifically. I asked this question in the Calgary community too, but I’ll ask it here too for a Canada wide answer.
Are there any good cooperatives that I can support and purchase from? Sayyy large home furniture coops or phone co-operatives and so on… Are there any good news cooperatives? Maybe some nice clothing cooperatives? I know that credit unions are more province specific, but still… Any good credit unions that have a good Canada wide presence? Maybe little artisan shops in say some small town in Ontario that make good stuff n ship it across Canada?
Any name drops would be appreciated!
PS: I’ve heard about Calgary Coop, so yeah… Anything more than this?
That could be a little misleading if you’re talking about becoming a member. They exist all across western Canada but they’re all run by different local co-ops. For example I’m on Vancouver Island in the Duncan area, we have 3 Co-op gas stations and a Co-op liquor store. The gas stations (and every other Co-op south of us) is Peninsula Co-op, the liquor store (which is a 1 minute drive away) is Mid Island Co-op. Mid Island stretches for about an hour and a half drive north, until there’s more Peninsula for a few hours drive then if you go further, all the way to the northern tip it’s Mid Island again. If you go west there are 3 small Co-ops that all serve their own towns. If you go east to the Gulf Islands, some are Mid Island and some are their own. None of this really makes a difference if you’re not a member, but if you are it can get confusing which ones you get a rebate on or not.
Howdy neighbour! You are absolutely correct, there are several different Co-ops all using the same logos and such. There has also been some consolidation. Peninsula Co-op merged with the Comox Valley Co-op and North-Island Co-op. There used to be more co-ops.