Government of Canada recognizes national historic significance of the Co-operative Union of Canada - the first organization to unite and represent Canadian co-operatives.
On June 6, Parks Canada commemorated the national historic significance of the Co-operative Union of Canada (CUC) by virtually unveiling a plaque to be installed in Hamilton, Ontario. The announcement was made on behalf of the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. Additionally, Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, the national association representing the co-operative and mutual sector, held a special in-person unveiling of the plaque during their annual congress in Regina, Saskatchewan, from June 10 to 11, 2025. This event highlights the enduring influence of the co-operative and mutualist movement-which brings together member-owned organizations that operate for the mutual benefit of their members-that the Co-operative Union of Canada helped to shape.
The Co-operative Union of Canada was a trailblazer in uniting co-operatives across the country and amplifying their interests on the national stage. Founded in Ontario in 1909 by advocates of the co-operative movement, it was primarily a consumer pressure group before the First World War. In 1944 the CUC convinced the federal government to improve tax changes that would have been damaging to co-operatives. In 1970 it successfully lobbied the federal government to pass the first federal co-operative legislation, the Canada Cooperative Associations Act.
By 1984, the CUC had become a national organization focused on promoting government relations with the co-operative community, coordinating shared interests among co-operatives, leading communication and promotion of co-operative activities, and advancing international co-operative development. This historic designation honours not only the organization's legacy, but the enduring power of co-operatives in building stronger communities in Canada and around the world.
The Government of Canada, through Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that shaped this country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding of and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.
The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To nominate a person, place or historic event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: .
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