Canadian
Association for Co-operative Studies
About sixty members of the Canadian Association
for Study of Co-operation (CASC) participated at the association’s
annual meeting, held this year at the end of May at the University
of Toronto. The CASC meeting, which took place over three days,
was one of hundreds held as part of the Congress of the Social
Sciences and Humanities. CASC participants are from both academia
and from the co-operative sectors. Presentations this year included
research and discussions about the conversion of government operated
social housing to co-operative housing owned by co-op members;
co-operative housing possibilities; the social accountability
of co-operatives; democratic issues within co-operative organisations;
relations with other social economy organisations; and reflections
on the field of Co-operative Studies.
Four people directly associated with BCICS
attended the meetings. Professor Pamela Moss, a member of the
University of Victoria’s Faculty of Human and Social Development
delivered a paper entitled “Social Co-ops, Housing, and
Support: Exploring Models of Co-operation,” which was based
on her research undertaken as a BCICS Research Fellow (see article
on page 6). Ryan George, a BCICS researcher who holds degrees
in History and in Economics, presented a paper “Understanding
Community in Housing Co-operatives” derived from his honours
thesis in History. Former BCICS researcher and UVic graduate,
Ian Henderson who is presently pursuing his Master’s degree
at the University of Toronto, gave his paper “Work, Labour
and the Co-operative Experience.” BCICS Director Dr. Ian
MacPherson, who received the first CASC Merit Award which recognises
“exemplary contributions” to the association, offered
his ideas on co-operative studies in his presentation “Co-operative
Studies: Thoughts About Defining the Field.”
Meeting
of the Association of
Co-operative Educators
The Association of Co-operative Educators (ACE),
which brings together Canadian and American human resource professionals
from co-operatives and researchers in Co-operative Studies, held
its annual meeting in Guelph, Ontario in May 2002. The sessions,
which attracted over 100 participants, were devoted to discussions
of member education, board development, research needs within
co-operative organisations, state relations, youths in co-operatives,
new co-operatives in rural communities, and links between co-operatives
and universities. Ian MacPherson presented a paper on “Developing
Co-operative Studies within Universities.” He also was presented
with the 2002 ACE Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative
Education and Training.
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