This past September the BCICS received $137,000 in funding from the Co-operative Secretariat to support an18-month project on best practices knowledge and insightsgleaned from a national sample of experienced co-operativedevelopers. The study will focus on the formative period ofco-operative development – from conception to stabilization.The intent is to ensure that valuable insights gained fromyears of practical field experience are documented so vitalknowledge can benefit others in the sector and future leadersin the cooperative community.

During the project, the BCICS will host two nationalgatherings - a “think tank” workshop of ten experienced co-opdevelopers and a national round table discussion. BCICS willalso conduct in-person interviews, undertake a national phonesurvey, and solicit papers from ten experienced developers.The core sample of developers will be peer-identified leadersin their work and reflective of the diversity of the Canadianco-operative experience.

This project will generate on-line resource materials andwill gather materials for a training manual on Best Practicesin co-operative development. The project outcome willinclude a half hour educational video and two publications.One publication will be a solid volume of material on bestpractices in co-operative development appropriate for use inco-operative studies courses and by practitioners in the co-opsector. The second publication will take the form of a manualthat distils the key insights on co-operative developmentprepared for a broader audience.

Joy Emmanuel