The Saskatchewan government proclaimed October 14-20 as Co-op Week promoting the theme Enterprises Build a Better World, and joined the United Nations in celebrating 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives.
"Co-ops have been a reliable partner in economic development across the province and continue to be the business leader in many communities," Economy Minister Bill Boyd says. "Saskatchewan's economic prosperity has partly been built on the foundation of the co-ops proving successful in urban and rural Saskatchewan."
There are more than 1,200 co-operatives operating in virtually every economic and social sector including agricultural marketing and processing, community development, financial services, retail services, child care, health care and recreation. The Government of Saskatchewan applauds the Saskatchewan Co-operative Association and its member co-ops for being an integral part of the province's economic growth.
Saskatchewan co-operatives provide jobs for more than 15,000 people, and control billions of dollars in assets.