International Centre for Co-operative Management

09/25/2026

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! SHORT COURSE - October 6, Arlington / DC area

Join us for a day-long exploration of Circularity as Co-operative Strategy, featuring practical examples and insights from experienced co-operative leaders.

Discover how circular economy approaches can strengthen co-operative business models while generating financial, environmental, and community benefits. Through case studies from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America, and beyond, we’ll explore the why, what, and how of putting circularity into practice.

📅 Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

📍 NCB Head Office, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 800, Arlington, VA

A pre-2026 Cooperative IMPACT Conference short course. Build your knowledge and add practical tools to your toolbox!

https://www.smu.ca/iccm/programsandcourses/shortcourses/circularityasco-operativestrategy/

National Credit Union Foundation National Cooperative Bank National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International Neighboring Food Co-op Association Sobey School of Business - SMU Saint Mary's University Halifax Coop Americas Executive and Professional Development, Saint Mary’s University International Cooperative Alliance

Join us for this engaging short course on circularity as co-operative strategy. This day-long course, animated by leaders with deep sector experience, will explore specific and practical examples of circular economy business models in use by leading co-operatives. Circular economy as a framework is....

09/03/2026

Halifax Area Co-operative and Credit Union Social GOES GLOBAL!

Wednesday, September 16, 6:00-8:00pm Saint Mary's University
Sponsored by iNova Credit Union Limited & hosted by the Centre (ICCM) *Updated location on campus*

What to expect
This Halifax Area Co-operative & Credit Union Social is a relaxed convening of board and staff members of co-ops and credit unions in the HRM/Kjipuktuk. However, this is our fourth time taking the social GLOBAL by hosting the event in conjunction with the International Credit Union Leadership Program CanadaDE (https://www.smu.ca/iccm/programsandcourses/creditunionleadershipprogram/) happening in Halifax the same week. This means there will be staff and board members from financial co-operatives from across Canada and the world (the US, Caribbean and Africa). We will expand this co-operative community even further than before! You can play an essential role in helping make their time in Canada as rich and welcoming as possible. Let's enjoy getting to know the people, projects, products, events, priorities and needs of our co-operative community.

Free to attend, but RSVP is required. https://tinyurl.com/coopsocialsept2026

08/12/2026

WELCOME to the newest students in our Master of Management, Co-operatives and Credit Unions & Graduate Diploma in Co-operative Management programs! 🎓🌎

We loved spending time with this new cohort during orientation. The experience, perspectives, questions, and commitment to co-operative and credit union leadership that you already bring to the virtual classroom make us excited for the learning ahead.

These part-time, online programs bring together professionals from across the co-operative, credit union, and mutual sectors to dig deeply into what it means to manage, govern, and lead within the co-operative enterprise model — while learning with and from one another.

We’re delighted to welcome you to the International Centre for Co-operative Management community and to be part of your professional and co-operative learning journey.

Here’s to the conversations, connections, challenges, and discoveries ahead. Welcome to the Centre! 💙

Sobey School of Business - SMU Saint Mary's University Halifax The Cleaning Co-operative Black Women's Wealth Alliance Twisted Strait Fibers League Data Co-op Co-operative News Nova Scotia Co-operative Council (NSCC) Co-operators

08/07/2026

WELCOME to the part-time, online Certificate in Co-operative Management new cohort. We loved orientation with you. Your insights, commitment to co-operatives and credit unions, and your goals inspire us. We are pleased to have you part of the Centre on your professional career journey.

Orientation is always an exciting reminder of the diversity of experience, commitment, and passion that people bring from across the co-operative sector. Over the coming 10 months, this group will deepen their understanding of co-operative management while learning alongside peers who share a commitment to building stronger, values-driven enterprises.

Welcome to the journey!
-operatives

Sobey School of Business - SMU Saint Mary's University Halifax Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada / Coopératives et mutuelles Canada National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International Co-operatives UK Seward Community Co-op Libro Credit Union Co-op Cincy

08/03/2026

Credit union minds unite! The World Credit Union Conference hosted by World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) in Sydney, Australia was energizing, connecting and affirming. Community-owned banking is not without it's challenges but there are so many smart and committed people across the globe standing for access, community wealth and financial wellbeing for all. Education Manager Erin Hancock (she/her) MPhil, ICUDE and CanadaDE Facilitator Carlene Frimer, CTDP iCUDE represented the Centre (along with Cathy Statz, ICUDE who led the volunteer crew for the event) and connected with so many cherished colleagues and partners across the sector.
Sobey School of Business - SMUSaint Mary's University Halifax Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada / Coopératives et mutuelles Canada Canadian Credit Union Association

07/21/2026

Our Centre is connecting with our global network in Sydney, Australia this week for the hashtag World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) conference and Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions Credit Union Development Education network. Congratulations to all of the alumni of our programs including CanadaDE for your important work in the sector bringing financial wellbeing to all through co-operative finance. It's great to see our partners and friends from across the world this week.

Global Women's Leadership Network (Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions) WYCUP (World’s Young Credit Union Professionals) World Council of Credit Unions Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions Canadian Credit Union Association iNova Credit Union African Confederation Of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations

07/10/2026

Following up on the success of the May 2026 virtual International Centre on Co-operative Identity and Energizing the Co-operative Brand, we would like to publish a special edition of the International Journal of Co-operative Accounting and Management with a focus on “Co-operative Identity, Branding and Marketing”.

Researchers and practitioners that took part in the Symposium are welcome to contribute to this publication, helping build the shared knowledge base on these topics and forwarding the work of co-operative growth, awareness, loyalty-building and impact. *****We would consider additional papers on these topics from those who did not present.

More here:
https://www.smu.ca/iccm/researchandpublications/symposia/co-operative-identity-and-branding.html

DotCoop Northwest Cooperative Development Center National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada / Coopératives et mutuelles Canada Sobey School of Business - SMU Saint Mary's University Halifax

06/25/2026

Join us in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, October 26–30, 2026 for the International Masterclass for Transformative Co-operative Leadership!

Over five days, you'll gain practical tools and fresh perspectives to help your co-operative/credit union/association:
✅ Co-operative governance
✅ Build resilience in times of change - co-op responses to risks and shocks
✅ Leverage inter-cooperation
✅ Explore co-operative circular economy models
✅ Sustainability measurement and reporting
✅ Use performance indicators designed specifically for co-operatives

Through expert-led sessions, case studies, interactive discussions, and visits to leading Canadian co-operatives, you'll learn alongside an international cohort of peers while building lasting professional connections. If you're looking to lead with greater impact and prepare your co-operative for the future, we'd love to welcome you.

Presented by the International Centre for Co-operative Management at the Sobey School of Business - SMU Saint Mary's University Halifax with the Co-operative College of the Philippines, and supported by NaFeCoop and CLIMBS, this immersive professional development program brings together co-operative leaders from around the world.

Learn more and register today! https://www.smu.ca/iccm/programsandcourses/shortcourses/transformative-cooperative-lead-masterclass.html

Saint Mary's University Halifax Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada / Coopératives et mutuelles Canada
Each For All: The Co-operative Connection National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives Canadian Worker Co-op Federation Canadian Credit Union Association Neighboring Food Co-op Association Everything Co-op

06/23/2026

Congratulations to LaDonna Sanders - Redmond (shown on right below), graduate of the Master of Management, Co-operatives and Credit Unions program, for receiving the Cooperative Impact Award during the Consumer Cooperative Management Association's Cooperative Excellence Awards in Tacoma, Washington earlier this month. Well deserved! LaDonna has done tremendous work on leadership development, food co-op business development, inclusion and governance.

University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives

Sobey School of Business - SMU Saint Mary's University Halifax Saint Mary's University Alumni

06/19/2026

Co-operatives coming together is a real joy and has sparked so many connections and collaborations to strengthen the local co-operative economy. This week we hosted another local co-operative and credit union mixer at The Bus Stop Theatre, sponsored by our Centre and iNova Credit Union Limited. We had a diversity of co-operative backgrounds - housing to arts, credit unions to associations, food to insurance. Thanks to all for the great conversations, support to each other and general merriment. See you September 16 for the next one. This initiative is a Credit Union Leadership Program project of our Education Manager Erin Hancock and shout out to Jillian Stagg and and Masuma Khan for co hosting.
The Bus Stop Theatre Co-op Sobey School of Business - SMU Saint Mary's University Halifax Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada / Coopératives et mutuelles Canada Nova Scotia Co-operative Council (NSCC) iNova Credit Union Teachers Plus Credit Union East Coast Credit Union Just Us! Coffee Canadian Credit Union Association