The Mark Goldblatt Co-operative Ideas Foundation is a registered charity that seeks to inspire innovative thinking about co-operatives. The Foundation sponsors annual speakers in honour of Mark’s contribution as a passionate and visionary leader in building the Canadian co-operative movement. Topics span the development, history, economics, operation, governance and financing of co-operatives. When possible, the sponsored sessions are held in conjunction with conferences and meetings of co-operative organizations, or academic gatherings at universities or other institutions of higher learning in Canada. Funds from the Foundation are used to contribute to travel costs and honoraria for the speakers.
Sponsorships To Date
- Sponsor for “The Big Idea: Building a Co-operative Economy through Popular Culture”, presentation by Hazel Corcoran and Greg O’Neill, at the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation conference, Calgary, 2016.
- Sponsor for the plenary session panel presentation on visions for the co-operative movement, 50th Anniversary Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada AGM/Conference, Victoria, 2018.
- Sponsor for the plenary session featuring speakers from the Mondragon Federation of Co-operatives, Spain, at the Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada Congress, Quebec City, 2019.
- Sponsor for the consultation on the ICA Statement on the Cooperative Identity held under the auspices of the Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada Annual Congress, Ottawa, 2023.
The Mark Goldblatt Co-operative Ideas Foundation 