PEI Co-op Council presents Co-operative Trade Show

Event to feature over 25 booths and exhibits

CHARLOTTETOWN — The Prince Edward Island Cooperative Council (PEICC) will present a first of its kind Co- operative Trade Show April 20 at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown.

The event will showcase the diversity of Island Co-operatives during the International Year of Cooperatives.

“The International Year of Co-operatives is providing a great opportunity for co- ops not only in the province but around the world to show the impact that the co-operative sector has, particularly on the community and local levels,” said Todd Macewen, communications director with the PEICC.

“We want to present a picture of exactly how many different types of coops are in operation just in PEI. “There are well over 100 co-ops in the province ranging from the credit unions and retail stores to agriculture and fishery processors and producers to arts, crafts, media and much more.

The Co-operative Trade Show will feature more than 25 booths and exhibits from Island cooperatives, including the Credit Unions of PEI, Royal Star Fisheries, the West Prince Bluegrass and Music Co- op as well as representatives from housing, funeral, retail and artisan co-ops.

There will also be facilitated sessions scheduled throughout the day presented by participating co-ops, a number of door prizes and filmmaker Susan Rodgers will be on hand doing interviews as she is producing a documentary film about the history of Island co-ops to be released later this year.

“The co- operative movement has been the backbone of many Island communities dating back to the formation of the Rustico Farmer’s Bank in the 1860s and we hope that we can begin to redefine the word ‘co- operative’ so everyone can look at it as a tried and true method to develop and strengthen communities large and small,” said Mcewan.

“The economic situation across the world is precarious at best, but for years people have been coming together and perhaps now more than ever, it might be the time to reinvigorate that same spirit.”