Saskatchewan Co-operative Association is the latest incarnation of a province-wide organization focused on co-operative education, development and training, youth education and championing the value of the co-operative sector to the public and government.

 

The Co-operative Union of Canada and the Co-operative College

Incorporated as SCA in 2003, SCA’s roots can be traced back to the incorporation of the Co-operative Union of Canada in 1909. The focus of the Co-operative Union of Canada was on federal government relations and international co-op development. In the 1920s, co-operative youth education programming was added to the Union’s mandate, and in the late 1950s the Co-operative College of Canada formed. The Co-op College focused on both co-operative education and research.

 

 

Saskatchewan Co-operative Youth Program

By 1970, the Saskatchewan Co-operative Youth Program (SCYP) - now known as Camp Kindling - was formalized as a central organizing body for the ongoing co-operative youth education programming. The Youth Program was managed by the Co-op College and governed by a provincial Youth Advisory Committee during the this era.

 

Canadian Co-operative Association

In the 1980s, the Co-op College became regionalized; forming the Saskatchewan Region and SCYP became part of the Co-op College’s Saskatchewan Region as well. In 1987-1988, the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) was created, through the merger of the Co-op College of Canada and the Co-op Union of Canada. SCA was then known as CCA – Saskatchewan Region and continued to manage SCYP.

CCA – Saskatchewan Region continued with youth education programming, government relations activities, the Co-op Merit Awards program and expanded its staff capacity throughout the rest of the 1980s and well into the new millennium.

 

Saskatchewan Co-operative Association

Today, SCA provides co-operative education to youth, co-ops, and the general public, co-operative development, technical advice and support, government relations and member services on behalf of the co-operative sector. As our members’ needs change, along with the co-operative sector and demographics of the province, SCA adapts to provide a continuing link between the co-operative knowledge learned of the past combined with the exciting possibilities of co-operatives flourishing into the future.

 

SCA and Camp Kindling

In October 2021, the Saskatchewan Co-operative Youth Program rebranded as Camp Kindling: Co-operative Youth Retreat. We look forward to the next phase of this impactful program.