This year’s annual CASC conference was held at York University in Toronto during the 75th Annual Congress of the Social Sciences and Humanities. The theme for this year’s conference was “Cooperating in a Global Economy: Challenges to be faced, lessons to be learned”. BCICS was represented by both Robin Puga and Ian MacPherson.

Dr. MacPherson presented this year’s CASC Merit Award to Jack Quarter for his contributions to Co-operative Studies in Canada. Ian also presented a paper on the topic of Co-operatives and the Social Economy, in which he provided a context for discussing co-operatives and their role within the Social Economy. Robin presented a paper titled: Co-operation in the Global Information Economy: Examining Open Source, Online Communities, and Other Collaborative Efforts. Both papers were well received.

“Attending the conference was a very unique opportunity for me,” said Robin. “While there, I interviewed some members of CASC for the BCICS radio show, Each for All. These discussions were very insightful and impressed upon me how important CASC is to the co-operative movement in Canada and around the world.”

(The recorded interviews can be found on the web at: bcics.uvic.ca/radio)
Cheryl Lans, a BCICS Associate, also attended the conference. Cheryl presented her paper Co-ops as Co-supporters of an Alternative Food Economy in BC. As well, Cheryl’s research paper titled, University Teaching of Co-operative Business Management and Philosophy in Canadian Universities was the focus for a panel discussion Educating for Co-operation. Cheryl’s research marked the first time a survey of Canadian co-operative studies courses was catalogued since 1967. This paper was widely praised at the conference. She will be teaching at the University of Guelph in the Fall of 2006.

Visit www.coopresearch.coop for more information on CASC and next year’s conference.

Adam Harrison, Anthill Contributor