Reflections from the 2026 Alberta Co-op Sector Assembly
The Alberta Co-op Sector Assembly brought together co-operative leaders, members, supporters, and partners from across the province for a day of learning, discussion, and connection. Throughout the Assembly, one message was clear: Alberta's co-operative sector has a strong foundation, and there is tremendous opportunity to build on that momentum through collaboration, leadership development, advocacy, and engagement with the next generation.
The day began with insights from Michaela Frey, who spoke about the importance of relationship-building, communication, and ensuring co-operative voices are heard in conversations that shape Alberta's future. Her message resonated throughout the day as participants explored how the sector can strengthen its visibility and demonstrate the value co-operatives bring to communities across the province.
Discussions also highlighted the opportunities and challenges facing Alberta's co-operative sector. Participants spoke about increasing awareness of the co-operative model, strengthening connections with government, supporting new and emerging co-operatives, and ensuring co-operatives are considered when communities and organizations are looking for solutions to economic and social challenges. The conversations reinforced the importance of telling the co-operative story and showcasing the impact co-operatives have in Alberta every day.
A recurring theme throughout the Assembly was the future of the co-operative movement and the importance of engaging young people. Rebecca McKnight and the Business Not As Usual initiative encouraged participants to think differently about how co-operatives connect with youth. Roundtable discussions echoed this message, with attendees identifying youth engagement, board recruitment, leadership development, and education as key priorities for the future. As one participant observed, young people already believe in many of the values that define co-operatives, but they simply do not always recognize co-operatives as a business model that reflects those values.
Leadership was another important focus of the day. Insights shared by Bob Fink and Vicki Zinyk encouraged participants to think about succession planning, mentorship, governance, and the responsibility of developing future leaders. Across sectors, attendees recognized the importance of creating opportunities for new leaders to become involved while continuing to support and learn from experienced co-operative champions.
What We Heard
Roundtable discussions generated thoughtful feedback and several common themes emerged:
The future of the sector depends on engaging and empowering the next generation of co-operative leaders, members, and advocates.
Storytelling matters. Co-operatives need to continue sharing their impact, community investment, and success stories to increase awareness and understanding of the co-operative model.
Co-operation among co-operatives remains one of the sector's greatest strengths. Participants identified opportunities for greater collaboration, shared resources, collective advocacy, and stronger sector connections.
Education and support are essential for growth. Participants highlighted opportunities to expand governance training, mentorship, startup resources, and Co-ops 101 learning opportunities for members, employees, boards, and the public.
The Assembly also provided an opportunity to celebrate the power of co-operation. We extend our sincere thanks to Federated Co-operatives Limited for announcing its support of the Legacy Builders initiative. Investments such as these help strengthen leadership development, education, and the long-term sustainability of Alberta's co-operative sector. We encourage you to consider becoming a legacy builder to further contribute to building momentum in the co-operative movement.
Thank you to all of our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, facilitators, and attendees for making the Assembly such a meaningful event. Special thanks to Michaela Frey, Charlie Graves, Rebecca McKnight, Bob Fink, and Vicki Zinyk for sharing their perspectives and helping to spark important conversations about the future of co-operation in Alberta. We would also like to thank Erin Foster-Oriordan, Sheldon Stener, Jennifer Wood, Steven Young, and Tom Kee for joining us and contributing to the momentum building across the co-op sector.
The conversations, ideas, and commitments shared throughout the day demonstrated the strength of Alberta's co-operative community. We look forward to continuing this work together and building an even stronger co-operative sector for future generations.
