Co operative Inclusion: Yes, We Can Be All Things to All People

Four steps to kickstart a more inclusive co‑operative environment

Co‑operatives are powerful engines for social and economic change — but in Canada, we’re still far from tapping into their full potential. We know the co‑operative model works. We know it’s built on values and principles that centre community, democracy, and sustainability. And yet, when it comes to inclusion, many co‑ops struggle to understand what it looks like, how to measure it, and most importantly, how to act on it.

I’ve worked across several co‑operative sectors — housing, daycare, and financial services — and while each sector serves a different purpose, they all belong to a larger co‑operative ecosystem. If you’re new to co‑ops, or if you’ve only ever experienced one type, here’s the key thing to know: every co‑operative is rooted in the same seven principles, and every one of them exists to meet a community need.

Co‑ops provide access to everything from housing and childcare to food, energy, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. They’re owned by their members — who may be connected by geography, identity, industry, shared interests, or lived experience. And while each co‑op is designed to serve a specific group, the system as a whole is meant to be inclusive.

Think of housing co‑ops: one might be designed for single parents, another for people working in the culinary field, another for low‑income households, and another open to everyone. Individually, they’re exclusive by design. Collectively, they create an inclusive ecosystem.

So no — a single co‑op cannot be “all things to all people.” But the co‑operative system absolutely can be.

Below are four steps you can take — starting today — to help build a more inclusive co‑operative environment. Try them individually first, then bring them to your team, your board, or your membership for deeper reflection.

1. Reflect on your personal role in fostering inclusion

Start by asking yourself: What role do I play — as a member, employee, volunteer, or human being — in creating an inclusive environment?

Write down your answers. Consider:

• What are you learning, and unlearning, to better support your community?

• How do your actions, assumptions, or habits impact others?

• Where do you have room to grow?

If you get stuck, scroll to the end of this post for learning resources to help you expand your list.

2. Identify your power of influence

Every person in a co‑op has influence — but the type and reach of that influence varies. Ask yourself:

• Do you have the authority to write or revise policies?

• Can you help launch an Employee Resource Group (ERG)?

• Do you manage facilities that could be adapted for people with varying abilities?

• Are you a hiring manager who can broaden recruitment pathways?

Inclusion isn’t just about who joins your co‑op — it’s about whether your environment is authentically safe, welcoming, and accessible for people from marginalized communities. And that requires intentional action from people with influence at every level.

3. Examine who you serve — and who you’re leaving out

This step is often the hardest, because it requires honesty.

Write down:

• Who your co‑op currently serves

• How you serve them

• Who is being unintentionally excluded

Depending on your region, the answers will look different. For example, according to the 2016 StatsCan census, visible minorities make up 52% of Toronto’s population but only 2.6% in Sault Ste. Marie. It would be unrealistic to expect identical board representation in both regions.

But every co‑op — regardless of location — can examine:

• Whether its language is inclusive of 2SLGBTQ+ communities

• How Indigenous communities are being served

• Whether policies support people with diverse physical and mental abilities

• Whether marginalized groups are consulted and compensated for their expertise

Census data is a tool, not a roadmap. Real insight comes from ongoing education, community consultation, and meaningful action.

4. Understand your place in the larger co‑operative system

Zoom out and ask:

• What gap does your co‑op fill in the sector?

• What gaps do your peer co‑ops fill?

• Who is still being excluded across the system?

• How can you collaborate to close those gaps?

• How are you holding government accountable for supporting co‑operative development?

No co‑op operates in isolation. When we understand who our peers serve — and where the system has blind spots — we can work together instead of reinventing the wheel. Organizations like the Ontario Co‑operative Association, Canadian Credit Union Association, local Centrals, and Co‑operatives and Mutuals Canada can help you gather this information.

The bottom line

Each co‑operative is a standalone business — but also part of something much bigger. When individual co‑ops organize, mobilize, and act on what they learn, the entire system becomes stronger, more inclusive, and more capable of serving everyone.

Co‑operatives don’t need to be all things to all people. But together, they can be.

Submitted by: Sarasvati Maharajh-Crossley

About the contributor:

Sarasvati (Sara) Maharajh-Crossley, is a national and international award-winning second-generation co-operative advocate and credit union sector employee. She has held a variety of positions serving members from the front line to board levels in the credit union, co-operative daycare, and co-operative housing sectors respectively. View her full professional bio on LinkedIn.