Celebrate International Year of the Co-operative

We’re celebrating the International Year of Co-operatives in 2025 as proclaimed by the United Nations.
Co-operatives exist around the world and are formed by people united by a need. Co-operatives are a different way of doing business.

Westview Co-op is locally owned and democratically controlled by our members. We are proudly Canadian: creating good jobs, supporting local businesses, giving back to our community and sharing our profits with members.

Thank you for supporting our Co-op.

If you’re not a member of Westview Co-op yet, it’s easy to join! We encourage our members to become involved by attending our Annual Meeting and running for our Board of Directors.

•  Become a Westview Co-op member

Co-op membership makes you part of something bigger. There are more than 6,000 different co-operatives in Canada. Did you know that around the world, 280 million people – or one in 10 – are employed by a co-operative? 

It’s a business model worth celebrating. You can read more about co-operatives and the International Year of Co-operatives at www.2025.coop.

What is a co-operative?

According to the Statement of the Co-operative Identity, a co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.

In short, a co-operative is a group of people working together towards a common purpose. It’s not what these groups do that defines and connects them as co-operatives but how and why they do it. All co-operatives, including ours, are guided by shared values and seven principles.

What types of co-operatives are there?

Co-operatives can be for-profit businesses or non-profit organizations in almost any sector, such as retail, agriculture, finance or health. Consumer co-operatives, such as our Co-op, are owned by their members, who are generally the people who buy its goods or services. There are also producer co-operatives, worker co-operatives, housing co-operatives, community service (or social) co-operatives, multi-stakeholder co-operatives and more. 

Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada is an excellent resource to help you find a co-operative in Canada (www.canada.coop).