UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
New exhibit at USask's Diefenbaker Canada Centre celebrates Canadian Co-operatives

Sherwood Co-op, Regina. August 10, 1946. (Evertt Baker Collection, Saskatchewan History & Folklore Society Collections)

From the Prairies' iconic Wheat Pool to Inuit art production and marketing co-ops to financial institutions that serve the banking and insurance needs of millions of Canadians, this exhibition tells the story of co-operation from before Canada's creation to how co-operators are tackling big problems today, and into the future.

"We hope that Community Powered will help people connect with their shared history, inspire them to engage with their local co-operatives, and perhaps even adopt the principles and values themselves," said Helanna Gessner, DCC's curatorial, collections, and exhibits manager.

Designed in collaboration with the vibrant co-op sector, the exhibition invites visitors to explore co-operative values and principles, co-operatives in action, Indigenous co-operatives and decolonization, and co-operative history through art, research, education, and archives encouraging them to reflect on the impact of co-operatives across Canada and around the world.

"In times of great economic, climate, and geopolitical change, people fall back on community for meaning, security, and a sense of place," said Marc-André Pigeon, CCSC director and Strategic Research Fellow. "Community Powered reflects on this role and how co-operatives and credit unions have satisfied an often-unrequited need for connection, for shared labour, and for shared purpose, and in so doing, helped create the conditions for vibrant communities."

"With economic and political unease on the rise, the spirit of co-ops stands as a crucial reminder that through co-operation we can improve the lives of ourselves and those around us," said Raymond Morstad, DCC's heritage interpreter.

This exhibition is presented by the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, in partnership with the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives and in collaboration with Canadian Arctic Producers, University of Saskatchewan Library and Archives, Kenderdine Art Gallery/College Art Galleries, and Saskatchewan Co-operative Association. Special thanks to the Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives' funders for making this exhibit possible.

Community Powered will be on display until December 19, 2025. The DCC is open to visitors Wednesday through Saturday, from 12 to 4:30 pm, and also offers guided and self-directed tours for all ages, Family Fun Days, and educational programming for Grades 4-8. Admission is by donation.

To see more, or to book tours, please visit: https://diefenbaker.usask.ca/exhibits/visit-our-gallery-exhibits/community-powered-celebrating-canadian-co-operatives.php