Owned and controlled by Inuit, Dene, and Métis people, the co-ops are spread over 3.3 million km2 and are second only to government in employing Aboriginal people. Local co-ops are the heart of their communities, and promoting local culture and heritage is a high priority. To ensure member engagement, ACL’s general meetings are simultaneously available in English, a Dene dialect, and the multiple dialects of Inuktitut. Member engagement has further important outcomes. A 2001 survey indicated that 10 out of 17 members of Nunavut’s legislative assembly identified involvement in their local co-ops as part of their leadership development experience.

But the clinic is engaged in activities that take it well beyond primary health care. Its Seniors Advisory Committee provides outreach services to older residents. Through participation in its Political and Social Action Committee, clinic members identify key issues on which the Health Services Association should take action. Its Advocacy Network engages members in government-targeted letter-writing campaigns on issues such as addressing determinants of health, pedestrian safety, and access to health services.

But the Pool was more than just an elevator company. It played a critical role in the social and economic development of rural Saskatchewan, engaging citizens in co-operative activity that helped them reclaim control of their livelihoods. Pool field staff advocated for farmers at every level of government. They engaged rural citizens in educational campaigns and hundreds of kitchen-table meetings annually. They began the co-operative schools, which evolved into the province’s longest running youth program. Pool field staff helped organize retail co-ops and credit unions, engaging enough people in one memorable five-month period to create 419 farm-supply co-operatives.