Co-op Week, ICU Day 2009 to focus on advantages of co-operatives and credit unions in uncertain economic environment

Ottawa, May 19, 2009 - The enormous contribution co-operatives and credit unions make to the lives of Canadians and their communities, especially in uncertain economic times, will be the focus of this year's Co-op Week and International Credit Union Day celebrations, October 11-17, 2009.

Canada's two national co-operative associations, the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité (CCCM), together with Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC) and the Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité (CQCM), will call on Canadians during Co-op Week to reflect on the various ways co-ops improve their lives and strengthen their communities. In developing this year's Co-op Week and ICU Day campaign, the Canadian organizations worked closely with their international partners, the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) in the United States.

Instead of a single theme as in past years, Co-op Week 2009 will celebrate the advantages of co-operatives in the current economic environment. Three Co-op Week posters, available in English and French and illustrated with silhouettes of people rooted in their communities, will reflect three of these advantages:

* Co-operatives are...putting people first
* Co-operatives are...creating sustainable jobs
* Co-operatives are...investing in communities

In addition, International Credit Union Day, Thursday, October 15, will have its own distinctive theme, "Your Money, Your Choice, Your Credit Union", which will also be promoted and distributed by Canadian co-operative and credit union associations, as well as credit union associations around the world. The ICU Day poster will also feature silhouettes of people and use the same orange, blue and green colours as the Co-op Week posters.

"While today's economic times pose serious challenges, they also provide an opportunity for the co-operative sector to demonstrate the differences between co-ops and traditional business models," said CCA Executive Director Carol Hunter. "We know that Canadians are increasingly interested in supporting organizations that are open, democratic and put people before profits, and that's what co-operatives and credit unions are all about."

"We are pleased to work with other national and international groups on the campaign to promote International Credit Union Day and Co-op Week," said David Phillips, president and CEO of Credit Union Central of Canada. "We work with these groups year round on projects that support important initiatives that help members around the world cope with trying economic times."

International Credit Union Day has been celebrated annually on the third Thursday of October since 1948. The celebration of Co-op Week in Canada became a national event in 1982 with the encouragement of the Co-operative Union of Canada, CCA's predecessor.

In the coming months, promotional materials for Co-op Week and ICU Day will be available for order online at www.coopscanada.coop and www.cucentral.ca.
-30-
The Canadian Co-operative Association is a national association for co-operatives in Canada, representing more than nine million co-operative and credit union members from over 2,000 organizations. CCA members come from many sectors of the economy, including finance, insurance, agri-food and supply, wholesale and retail, housing, health and the service sector. CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world. CCA is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2009.

Visit our web site at www.coopscanada.coop

Contact:
Donna Balkan, Communications Manager
Canadian Co-operative Association
613-238-6711, ext. 206
Cell: 613-314-1032
communications@coopscanada.coop