Co-op Community Spaces was launched in 2015 to help protect, beautify and improve local spaces. Since then, it has provided $10.5 million to 147 local projects, including parks, greenhouses and sports fields.
The Co-op Community Spaces Program, beatifying western Canada, have helped communities and groups to create and preserve spaces for everyone to enjoy.
This year in 2022, $1 million is available to support capital projects dedicated to recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture.
Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), based in Saskatoon, is focused on providing more than 160 local Co-ops across Western Canada with strategy and leadership, wholesaling, manufacturing, logistics, operational support, business-enabling services and marketing support. Together, FCL and those local co-operatives form the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS). The CRS serves our members and communities with products and services that help build, feed and fuel individuals and communities from Vancouver Island to northwestern Ontario. Our total workforce of 24,000 employees serve 1.9 million active individual members and many more non-member customers at 1,500 retail locations in more than 620 communities.
They are a different kind of business –locally invested, community-minded and offer lifetime membership benefits including patronage refunds, quality products, quality service and fair prices. FCL administers the Co-op Community Spaces Program on behalf of more than 160 independent local Co-ops across Western Canada that form the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS).
“Co-ops have been supporting their local communities for years because we believe that communities thrive when there are opportunities to connect, grow and learn,” said Pam Skotnitsky, Vice President of Strategy at Federated Co-operatives Limited. “Now more than ever, we’re proud to invest in projects that will preserve nature and create places where we can come together, build relationships and support one another.”
Co-op invites registered non-profit organizations, registered charities or community service co-operatives to apply online until March 1, 2022. Funding between $25,000 and $150,000 is available per project.
Many western Canadian communities have benefited from the Co-op Community Spaces Program in 2021. Within our province last year, three Saskatchewan community groups received funding for their programs, the Heritage Food Education Centre in Regina received a sum of $75,000. Radville Regional High School outdoor space program received $30,000 and Water Ridge Playground in Humboldt received $90,000 for their project.
For more information on funding or to enter the contest, please visit communityspaces.ca.
