What We Learned in 2025
Legacy Builders—co-operatives and system-level partners investing in the future of the sector
In 2025, something important began to take shape across Alberta’s co-operative sector.
Not as a single initiative, but as a more coordinated effort to build awareness, strengthen connections, and create clearer pathways into co-operative development.
This work was made possible through Legacy Builders—co-operatives and system-level partners investing in the future of the sector—organizations that play a critical role in strengthening, connecting, and advancing co-operatives across Alberta.
What That Investment Enabled
This included coordinated awareness efforts, regional engagement, and the launch of a central digital hub to support learning and connection.
These are early indicators of something more important:
There is real demand for the co-operative model when people can see it, understand it, and connect to it.
👉 A full summary of 2025 outcomes and engagement is available in the ACCA Outcomes and Impact Summary 2025.
👉 Detailed results from the Business Not As Usual initiative are outlined in the BNAU Impact Report 2025_2026.
What Became Clear
Through this work, one thing stood out.
The challenge is not whether people are interested.
The challenge is what happens next.
Awareness on its own does not move the sector forward unless it connects to:
opportunities to learn
places to engage
pathways into development, leadership, and ownership
Without that connection, momentum fades.
With it, momentum builds.
Looking Ahead
What 2025 confirmed is simple:
There is interest.
There is momentum.
There is a foundation to build from.
The opportunity now is to ensure that this momentum continues to grow into stronger participation, new development, and a more connected co-operative sector across Alberta.
The next phase of this work focuses on strengthening the link between awareness and action.
👉 Explore what comes next in the Legacy Builders 2026–2029 overview.
