The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives through a resolution, passed unanimously in 2009.  In a few days, the International Year will explode across the world, Canada, and Ontario.

• Read the letter of congratulations sent by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to the province's co-operatives.  Download ew the letter from the 'related documents' link at right.
• You're invited to a flag-raising ceremony on January 12, 2012, as part of the Canada-wide IYC launch party held in 12 regions across the country on that day. download your invitation from the 'related documents' section at right.

 

• THEME: Co-operative Enterprises Build A Better World (credit unions may choose to say, "Credit Unions build a better world."
• LOGO: Download the IYC logo and the tagline/theme wordmark from our IYC Logo and Products page
• IDEAS AND INITIATIVES:  Visit our Get Involved page. To get you started right away, download our list of 31 free/inexpensive suggestions from the 'Related Documents' area at right. 

Plans for 2012

JANUARY 12, 2012

IT'S HERE: The Launch of the International Year in Canada.  Join us in Guelph for the Ontario launch of IYC, part of a national celebration being held at twelve regions across the country on the same day.

Please join us in celebrating the official Ontario launch in Guelph by coming to our flag-raising ceremony.

January 12, 2012 · 11:30 am to 12:00 pm
Guelph City Hall · 1 Carden Street · Guelph, Ontario

Karen Farbridge, Mayor of the City of Guelph, will open the ceremony with a few words of welcome.

RSVP not required. Just show up and bring your friends and colleagues too!

TAKE PART IN THE NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS WITHOUT LEAVING HOME
Watch the live broadcast from the nation’s capital!
From your home or office computer, you can watch the live stream of Canada's IYC launch from the CCA headquarters in Ottawa, from 12:30 to 1:00 pm.  Can't make it to Guelph or Ottawa?  Organize a mini-IYC launch party at your co-op or credit union.  Invite a neighbouring co-op to join you, and watch the broadcast together.
Go to www.canada2012.coop for more information.

Speakers will include Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators and board member of the International Co-operative Alliance, Monique Leroux, President and CEO of The Desjardins Group, and a special guest celebrity.

• IYC launched in Ontario on October 19, 2011 as part of the Co-op Conference and Gala.  The United Nations introduced IYC to the world on October 31, 2011 from its headquarters in New York.  ICA launched IYC in November, 2011 in Cancun, Mexico.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN 2012?

IYC 2012 is a fantastic opportunity to let the world know about the great things co-ops do. In some ways, it is a "gift" from the UN to the co-operative movement! If your co-op has plans for 2012 events or celebrations, let On Co-op know and we'll include them in our promotions!  Check out the 'Get Involved' page (link at right) for how to participate.

You Can Support IYC Initiatives

The 'Get Involved' page lists IYC Ontario projects that On Co-op will be managing in 2011 and 2012.  These include a billboard campaign, a mobile sign campaign and an IYC subsidy fund.  You can help support these projects and increase their reach and effectiveness.  See the 'Get Involved' page for more information.

Learn more about IYC

Let's show Canada and the world what our co-operatives can do. Watch the IYC video here, and get inspired:

Links for IYC 2012

• The United Nations has created their own page on IYC 2012. Check it out to learn more about their declaration, or to connect with their IYC online social networks.
• The Canadian Co-operative Association has some great plans for 2012, and some great ways to help co-ops of all sizes get involved. Keep an eye on the CCA's 2012 page for new developments as we approach the International Year of Co-operatives.
• The International Co-operative Alliance is working closely with the UN to plan and promote IYC and the co-operative movement. To find out about their plans, visit the ICA 2012 page or check their calendar of IYC events to discover what other co-ops are doing around the world.
• .coop is having a domain promotion in honour of the International Year of Co-operatives. Visit their site to find out how to get your 2012 domain name! 

HISTORY OF IYC

The proclamation of the International Year (also known as IYC 2012) was included in a resolution entitled "Co-operatives in Social Development," which was adopted by the General Assembly in New York.
 
Since 1959, the UN has designated International Years in order to draw attention to major issues and to encourage international action to address concerns which have global importance. 
 
 
On December 3, 2009, the Canadian federal government announced its support for the UN resolution; this is the first time a Canadian government has officially expressed its support for a UN International Year before it was proclaimed. "Our government fully recognizes the importance of co-operatives and their contribution to Canadian society," said the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture), at a news conference in Ottawa.
 
Carol Hunter, executive director of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA), said Canadian co-operative leaders, together with partner organizations in Canada and around the world, will be working on a program of International Year activities aimed at highlighting the social and economic contributions of co-operatives, including credit unions.
 
"Co-operatives and credit unions in Canada have more than 17 million members, but most Canadians are unaware of their social and economic impact on this country as a whole and on rural and urban communities across Canada," she said. "The International Year will provide us with ample opportunities to generate awareness of that contribution, and to encourage people to organize themselves into co-operatives to address their own economic and social needs."

"At a time when so many people around the world have a heightened interest in doing business with organizations whose values reflect their own, raising awareness of co-operatives and what they stand for is very important," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators, who represents Canada on the board of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). "The International Year of Co-operatives is an opportunity for people everywhere to learn more about this diverse group of organizations that contribute so much to economies and communities in virtually every corner of the world."

Co-ops in Canada... and the World

• There are close to 9,000 co-ops and credit unions across Canada, with more than 17 million members. Ontario alone has more than 1300 co-ops with 1.4 million members.
• Some of Canada's best-known businesses, including Mountain Equipment Co-op, Federated Co-operatives Limited, UFA Co-operative Limited, Co-op Atlantic, Gay Lea Foods, The Co-operators (insurance), Vancity (credit union), Agropur and Desjardins Group. 
• The co-operative sector controls over $275 billion in assets. 
• The world's 300 largest co-operatives, nine of which are Canadian, have an aggregate turnover of $US 1.1 trillion, the size of the 10th largest economy in the world. 
• According to the International Labour Organization, co-operatives provide more than 100 million jobs, more than all the world's multinational corporations combined.

A year to celebrate and cultivate co-operatives around the world.