Earlier this month, two UWinnipeg students and a professor presented at The International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec City, QC. This summit is the world’s leading event for business development in the cooperative and mutual community. The Summit aims to promote and foster the development of cooperative enterprises in all countries. The event attracts more than 3,000 participants from 93 countries.
“To present at this international conference was a great opportunity to show people from around the world the research talent we have at the University of Winnipeg,” shared Dr. Simon Berge, UWinnipeg Business Chair of Co-operative Enterprises.
Masters of Development Practice (MDP) student Stephen Penner and Berge, presented a research paper on Gathering Circles for Indigenous Ecopreneurship among First Nations communities of Southern Quebec. The Gathering Circle Co-operative is a concept Aboriginal business aimed at strengthening Aboriginal economic activity on reserves through the promotion of the food co-op as the choice of chefs, dinners and consumers who appreciate local food.
In addition, Amy Hay, from the business and administration program was able to present on a research group paper completed by Oluwabusola Oluwatodimu Olaniyan, (MDP) Adesuwa Ero, (MDP), and Berge. This group paper entitled, The co-operative model advances Indigenous development: A case study of the Neeechi Co-operatives Limited presents the community development properties of the co-operative business model.
