What a Co-op Placement Taught Me About Co-operative Businesses

Ifeoluwa David-Adeyemi

Co-operatives don’t get the same recognition as traditional businesses, despite doing serious work in communities across Canada and around the world. A lot of students and young professionals are in the same spot, and not long ago, I was too. I’m a third-year Computer Programming and Analysis student at Seneca Polytechnic, and before joining the Ontario Co-operative Association as an intern, I had only a vague sense of what a co-operative even was, let alone why it mattered.

A business owned and governed by the people it serves isn't something most of us hear about growing up. Working with OCA showed me what that looked like in practice. One of my favorite aspects of the placement was interacting with the staff. From the very beginning, they were warm and approachable, there was a genuine sense of openness, like no question was too small or out of place. That atmosphere made it easy to engage, contribute, and grow. The staff at OCA reflects what co-operative values look like in how they work, how they communicate, and the environment they create.

That experience changed how I see business models altogether. It surprised me how little attention it gets in mainstream discussions and education. This is a model that works, has a long track record, and supports millions of people worldwide. Co-operatives serve a purpose beyond profit, which attracts people who care about the work they’re doing. When the right conditions are in place, the model thrives, and there are examples of that across technology, finance, housing, retail, and more.

Interning with OCA was something I didn’t know I needed. The experience, the people, and the environment they created gave me a different way of thinking about business. Co-operatives don’t get enough attention, and I think that’s worth changing. Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or someone thinking about starting something, the model is worth knowing about. Knowing what I know now, I understand why the people who work in this space care about it as much as they do.

Submitted by: Ifeoluwa David-Adeyemi