CO-OP-ERATIVE FLAG RAISING
A flag raising ceremony in recognition of Co-op Week took place at City Hall in Swift Current, Oct. 8. This followed the official proclamation of Oct. 11-17 as Co-op Week during a regular City of Swift Current council meeting, Oct. 5. Representatives from Pioneer Co-op and Innovation Credit Union attended both events. Co-op Week is celebrated annually in the same week as International Credit Union Day, which is on the third Thursday in October. Co-op Week is an opportunity to highlight the contributions of the co-operative sector and its impact on communities across Canada. Pioneer Co-op was formed in Swift Current in 1936. It currently operates 30 locations in 19 communities throughout southwest Saskatchewan and employs 600 people. It has 21,234 active members, and during the past 10 years the Pioneer Co-op members received over $108 million in equity returns. Innovation Credit Union employs over 400 staff. It provides a full range of financial services to over 55,000 members. It has been recognized as a caring company by Imagine Canada for spending one per cent or more of pre-tax profit on community initiatives. Innovation Credit Union has given back over $5.8 million during the past 12 years to the communities it serves.