On Monday, October 2nd (5:00-7:00pm) GreenHouse and the Ontario Co-operatives Association will be hosting a Founders Forum on Co-operatives.

The goal for this event is to raise awareness amongst students within the entrepreneurship community that they may wish to consider a co-operative model for launching their venture. There will be up to four local co-operatives featured and these co-ops run businesses across a range of sectors including: renewable energy, sustainable products, car sharing and a microbrewery.

Did you know?

- They have a successful track record in Canada, with over 9,000 co-operatives and 18 million members and over $330 billion in assets. Canadian co-operatives employ more than 150,000 employees

-The survival rate of co-ops is twice as high as regular businesses (62% versus 35% in the first five years of operation). More than four out of 10 co-ops survive 10+ years, compared to two businesses out of 10 for the private sector

-Co-ops can be for-profit or not-for-profit organizations

-All co-ops follow the seven international principles of co-operation, putting their co-operative values of democratic equality, sharing, and community focus into practice

-The primary reason for a co-operative to exist is to provide a service or meet the needs of its members

-Co-ops face a much less onerous process for raising capital