Queen's Park Reception
Every year, On Co-op organizes the Queen's Park Reception to bring legislators together with co-op leaders to discuss the future of the co-op sector in Ontario.
Annual Queen's Park Reception date is set for March 20, 2012!
It's that time of year again, when co-operators across the province can gather to meet and greet with MPPs and public policy decision makers, sample some great food and network with other leaders and representatives from the co-op sector. Please see the invitation on the right for specific information, as well as for a direct link to register for this event.
This year, being the International Year of Co-operatives, is an especially important one. What better opportunity to truly highlight the strength and diversity that is the Ontario co-op sector? This is our year to really shine, and educate Government on how our 1,300 co-ops and credit unions are building better communities...and who knows better than the very people who run them and use them?
In declaring 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives, the UN General Assembly recognized the impact and contribution of the co-operative movement around the world, and in doing so, is urging governments to take measures aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of co-operatives. We must seize this incredible opportunity and together, be the VOICE of the Ontario co-op sector to our members of provincial parliament and public policy makers.
Please register now...and see you at Queen's Park on March 20th!
April 20, 2011 Queen's Park Reception Summary
On April 20, 2011, the Ontario Co-operative Association hosted its annual Queen’s Park Reception in the Main Legislative Building at Queen’s Park. The event, which brought together 173 attendees including; 43 MPPs, 51 government staff and 85 co-operative sector members (2010 = 30 MPPs, 20+ government staff and and 100 co-op leaders) showcased just how important the co-operative sector is to the Province of Ontario.
This is largest attendance ever at an On Co-op Queen's Park event - and the first time the total number of government attendees surpassed those of the co-op sector!
The annual event offered co-operative sector members the opportunity to bring issues of concern to Members of Provincial Parliament in an informal networking setting, and showcased the strength and diversity of the sector while creating awareness of the much-needed provincial Co‑operatives Secretariat and the co-op sector's "wish-list" of action items.
On Co-op would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who came. We truly appreciate the time you spent speaking with elected members of parliament and their staff, and we are very interested in getting some feedback on those you spoke with, as well as on the reception in general.
Such an event would not have been possible without the strong support of co-op member donors, many of whom featured their products in the sought-after attendee gift bags. The Ontario Co-operative Association wishes to extend many sincere thanks to the donors, attendees and staff who made this successful event possible. We’ll see you there again next year!
ABOUT THE QUEEN'S PARK RECEPTION
The annual reception continues to raise the profile of the sector through communicating key messages to government about the need for and benefits of developing a mutually beneficial partnership, by facilitating informal chats between co-op representatives and public policy makers.
One of the main goals of the reception is to put a face to the sector—to show the strength and diversity of Ontario’s 1300 co-operatives, and to promote the sector as advocating for GR issues in one loud, strong and clear voice. Our advocacy efforts have faced the challenge of building awareness of who we are, what we do and what we can do if a public/co-operative collaboration existed.
The Reception also is a strong networking event where co-operators from across the province mix and mingle with each other - creating valuable connections to others in the sector.
