Co-operative research plays an important role in building equitable and sustainable community-based enterprises, which in turn contribute to vibrant local economies and healthy communities in Canada and throughout the world.  Co-operative research is a foundational component of this movement; it provides insights that enrich our practice and offers us an enhanced understanding of the vital underpinnings of this work. 

The important role of research has been highlighted in Canada through the five-year investment made in the Canadian Social Economy Research Partnerships as well as through grants to support Community-University Research Alliances. It has also been acknowledged with new research funding made available through the Co-operative Secretariat’s Co-op Development Initiative and the recent undertaking by the Co-operative Secretariat, the Canadian Co-operative Association and the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité to foster the development of a national research agenda.  Internationally, we see co-operative research contributing to community building through university-community partnerships focused on topics such as co-operative education, women and co-operatives, and the development of social enterprises, to name a few.

FIVE STUDENTS WIN CASC SCHOLARSHIPS

Five Canadian graduate students are the winners of the 2010 Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CCA) annual scholarships, which are aimed at supporting student research about co-operatives as well as students who are actively involved in the co-operative sector.
 
This year's winners, who were announced at the CASC conference in Montreal on June 2, are:

• Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship ($3,000): Neil Nunn, University of Victoria (staff at CSEHub).
• Alexander Fraser Laidlaw Fellowship ($1,000): Joel Ratcliffe,  University of Ottawa.
• Lemaire Co-operative Studies Award ($1,000 each): Claude-André Guillotte, Université de Sherbrooke; Victoria Morris, Cape Breton University; Lesley Voellmecke, University of Ottawa.

In addition to the monetary awards, the scholarship winners receive a free one-year membership in CASC and free registration at the 2011 CASC conference, which will be held in Fredericton NB next June.
 
The competition for the 2011 scholarships will be launched in January.  For more information about the scholarships, go to www.coopscanada.coop/en/orphan/CASC-Scholarships.