GOVERNMENT PROCLAIMS CO-OP WEEK IN SASKATCHEWAN

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed the week of October 16th-22nd as Co-operatives Week in the province.

The event coincides with National Co-operatives Week. This year's theme is The Power of Co-operation – Innovation, Community, Commitment, Success.

"Co-operatives of many different types have contributed to the social and economic development of Saskatchewan for more than 100 years," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "Saskatchewan people voluntarily organized and operated various types of co-ops to ensure that they had a dependable supply of goods and services. We have, for example, the early grain marketing co-operatives, the retail grocery stores, and the Co-op Refinery in Regina. "

Calvert said the co-op movement in Saskatchewan provides a wide range of services, including value-added agriculture, retail, finance, insurance, housing and daycare services in communities across the province.

Calvert, along with Deputy Premier and Rural Development Minister Clay Serby and several co-operatives' members, will officially launch Co-op week by raising the international co-operative flag at the Legislative Building on October 17th.

"Co-operatives have a huge impact on our province," Serby said. "More than half of Saskatchewan people belong to at least one co-op or credit union and, of those firms, at least 28 consistently rank within the province's 100 top businesses.

Serby said Saskatchewan's 1,200 co-operatives and credit unions have combined assets of over $10 billion and employ about 15,000 people.

Other highlights of the week's celebrations include the annual Saskatchewan Co-operative Order of Merit Awards to be held in Regina on the evening of Monday, October 17th. Awards will be presented to Dennis Banda, Saskatoon; Louis Bertoia, Cut Knife; Keith Casewell, Saskatoon, Wayne Pearson, Prince Albert; Vern Buck, Estevan; Joe Dierker, Saskatoon; the Kindersley Co-operative Women's Guild; Concentra Financial Services Association and SaskCentral.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Rural Development Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031