International Co-operative Youth Conference May 2005

[Program Officer]

For Immediate Release: November 15, 2004

3rd Annual International
Building Co-operative Futures Conference
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
May 12–15, 2005

The Saskatchewan Co-operative Association and the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives at the University of Saskatchewan are hosting the 3rd Annual Building Co-operative Futures Conference, to be held in Saskatoon, Canada, in May 2005. Intended for young (ages 19–35) people with an interest in or experience with co-operative organizations, this conference builds on the success of two previous similar events held in Victoria in 2003 and in Calgary in 2004. The Saskatoon conference is timed to coincide with the province’s centennial celebrations, but also with Connections 2005—a large co-operative gathering hosted by the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC).

Conference organizers hope to attract about 100 young co-operators from around the world. Three days of sessions, workshops, and discussions will provide participants with a solid understanding of co-operative history and current issues, but most importantly, the opportunity to explore and shape how youth fit into the future of co-operatives and credit unions. The event is designed for young co-operative employees, students of co-operatives, volunteers and elected officials, in fact anyone with an interest or curiosity regarding co-operatives. This year’s event will include an Aboriginal–First Nations focus and involvement.

In addition to the formal program of workshops and sessions, participants will tour local co-operatives as part of a rural hospitality evening, visit a local First Nations cultural interpretive centre for a banquet and evening of entertainment, and take part in various other social activities. Optional post-conference workshops will focus on new co-operative development and on board and committee roles and responsibilities.

This is an excellent opportunity for young people to further develop their understanding of co-operatives, to explore how they might become more involved in existing organizations, and to identify opportunities to use the co-operative model in addressing the unmet needs of today and the future. Conference participants will join the ranks of a growing network of young co-operators around the world who are preparing to accept responsibility for the future of the co-operative movement. The Building Co-operative Futures conference will be held in the United Kingdom in 2006 and in the United States in 2007. The expressed hope of past participants is for this annual event to continually grow, to become increasingly diverse, and to become self-sustaining.

For further information please contact Roger Herman at the Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (roger.herman@usask.ca) or Warren Crossman at the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association (warren.crossman@sask.coop). For updates, check out the conference website at http://bcics.uvic.ca/youthzone/youthcon ... toon05.htm.