Youth Co-op Education Program Leaves a Lasting Impact, New National Research Finds
A new national report from the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (CCSC) is helping validate something many co-operative leaders across Canada have witnessed firsthand for decades: youth co-operative education programs create lasting impact.
The report, Exploring the Impact of Co-operative Youth Education Programs in Canada: The Perspectives of Alumni, surveyed 312 alumni from co-operative youth leadership programs across the country, including Alberta’s long-running Co-operative Youth Leadership Program.
The findings were significant.
According to the report:
84% of respondents said their camp experience inspired them to pursue leadership roles
61% said it influenced their career path
50% said it influenced their educational path
40% said it influenced their decision to work with or at a co-operative
The research also found that many former participants remain actively connected to the co-operative sector well into adulthood.
41% reported previously working for a co-operative or credit union
Nearly 25% had served on a co-op or credit union board or committee
60% were members of two or more co-operatives or credit unions
Beyond statistics, the report reinforces the broader importance of investing in awareness, leadership development, and pathways into the co-operative model, especially for younger generations.
Participants consistently described these programs as valuable spaces for leadership growth, teamwork, communication skills, and understanding how co-operatives contribute to communities and local economies.
Importantly, many alumni also called for renewed investment and support for co-operative youth education programs across Canada, recognizing the role these experiences can play in developing future leaders and strengthening the co-operative sector over the long term.
For ACCA, the findings also reinforce the importance of next-step initiatives focused on younger generations. Through Business Not As Usual (BNAU), ACCA is working to engage people aged 18–34 and create stronger pathways through awareness, engagement, and action across Alberta — helping more young people discover the co-operative model and see themselves within it.
As conversations continue about the future of co-operative leadership and sector development, this research provides timely evidence that investing in youth engagement is not simply about programs - it is about building long-term capacity, participation, and leadership for the future of the co-operative movement.
Read the full report here: https://usaskstudies.coop/documents/research-reports/cyep-alumni-survey-report.pdf
