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TESTIMONIALS & SURVERY RESULTS “Being a part of the program has had a tremendous impact on how employees – as owners- view their day-to-day involvement.” “I feel as though my actions have a direct effect on the success of the company.” Chris Tabler, Vice President; Andy Baessler, Pilot, West Wind Aviation www.westwindaviation.ca “Incorporating as an employee-owned worker co-op has been critical to our company’s growth. In all our big expansions — like doubling our publication frequency in 1999 from monthly to bi-weekly, launching Saskatoon’s Planet S in 2002 and massively expanding our web presence in 2010 — Prairie Dog’s democratic ownership and investment model has helped us leverage the capital we need to grow our business. This has been a huge advantage for us as we, like all news outlets, struggle through a changing media landscape.” Terry Morash, Publisher, Prairie Dog Magazine www.prairiedogmag.com “Human resource development and member education go hand-in-hand as a worker co-op. Members need to mature as business managers as well as members, and as skill sets improve, it will precipitate the co-op’s survival as a business. Worker co-ops are actively involved in the economic and socio-economic fabric of their communities. Yellowknife Glass Recyclers converted to an employee-owned co-op in July 2006 to take advantage of growing popularity of high-quality recycled glassware and the opening of a glass distribution retail store. Careforce Home Care Worker Co-operative Ltd. was formed by the workers of Care Force Home Health Care Services Ltd. (Corporation) to purchase the Corporation (a share purchase) from the owner, Lay Yong Tan. A worker co-operative is a form of employee ownership that is incorporated under the Nova Scotia Co-operative Associations Act and seeks to operate according to the International Co-operative Alliance’s Statement on the Co-operative Identity, and co-operative values and principles.” Canadian Worker Co-op Federation www.canadianworker.coop/worker-co-op/success-stories The ESOP Association Canada (Employee Share Ownership Plan) is a non-profit organization founded in November 1990 for the purpose of promoting the concept of employee ownership for business in Canada. Employee ownership is an important tool for economic growth and restructuring business enterprises. ESOP Association of Canada www.esop-canada.com “At a time when the wage gap is becoming a chasm, ESOPs are a powerful lever to share wealth and ownership, giving a greater cross-section of individuals the opportunity to supplement their basic wage.” Perry Phillips, ESOP Builders Inc. www.esopbuilders.com “The financial crisis and subsequent global recession have stimulated a far-reaching debate about the future of capitalism and how companies are owned and run. This has led to renewed interest in employee ownership – and about the role employee-owned companies could play in future economic growth.” John Lewis Partnership and the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) www.employeeownership.co.uk “Among predictors of corporate success, employee engagement is the most powerful but is one of the least seriously attended to by leaders in conventional companies. Fortunately, the employee ownership community takes these issues much more seriously.” Corey Rosen, Executive Director, National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) www.nceo.org “The European Federation of Employee Share Ownership’s objective is to act as the European umbrella organization of employee owners and all persons, companies, trade unions, experts, researchers, institutions, all those people who are looking to promote employee ownership and participation in Europe. The European Federation is developing, with the contribution of experts, legal specialists and economists. It is setting up a European centre for information, meeting, training, advice, representation and lobbying to serve its members. It also organises many events and meetings in Europe to promote and develop the participation of employee owners.” European Federation of Employee Share Ownership www.efesonline.org “We believe that employee ownership improves American competitiveness… That it strengthens our free enterprise economy and creates a broader distribution of wealth…That it increases productivity through greater employee participation in the workplace…And that it maximizes human potential by enhancing the self-worth, dignity, and well-being of our people.” The ESOP Association www.esopassociation.org “The AEOA was founded in 1986 to promote employee ownership (or co-ownership) of the businesses where the employees work. It was formed by 20 companies as a member-focused, non-profit, private sector association to assist members with their employee ownership and participation efforts. Its mandate was to help Australian companies, trade unions and governments attain greater productivity and flexibility in the business sector, and to provide new jobs for Australians through shared ownership and workplace participation. Our members include companies which have Employee Share Ownership Plans and range from some of Australia's largest corporations to small family businesses. We also have academic institutions, trade unions, specialist consultants and interested individuals amongst our ranks.” Australian Employee Ownership Association www.aeoa.org.au |

