Hi everyone -
Court has ended for today, and we still have one more day of this to go. Today, our lawyers spoke in court about the importance of co-ops, how they’re different from other businesses, and why members really should get a chance to pull together the co-op sector and make a bid as to how MEC could continue as a co-op.
Our case will soon be in the judge’s hands, and we will likely hear her decision very soon. I’m hopeful that she recognizes the success we’ve had getting over $100 million in offers from the co-op sector and from social impact investors — and grants us an extra few weeks to keep MEC in the hands of its members.
Our message is resonating around this country. Today, in Ottawa, Senator Lucie Moncion stood up and stated that "the board of directors has deliberately hampered the democratic process and denied its members the possibility of proposing alternative solutions."
The amount of people and organizations who have stepped up to help #SaveMEC is amazing. It’s proof that what we’re fighting for here - Mountain Equipment Co-op - is so much more than an outdoors store with good gear. It’s a co-operative that we’ve built together, something that we treasure and are proud of, and that is truly and essentially Canadian.
I got involved in this movement because I know that members don’t want MEC to do business as usual. And that MEC’s democratic values can be a powerful force in an economy that often isn’t very democratic. Business can be done better, and your response and engagement is proof of that.
International Co-op Week is not far off - and the theme is “The Co-op Effect: Count Me In” this year. When it comes to our efforts to #saveMEC, I feel the co-op effect. I hope that the judge sees how we want to be counted in. And I want everyone to think about how co-ops across Canada help Canadians be counted, be helped, be served, and build community.
What co-ops are near you? How can you be involved with them, like you’ve been involved with #saveMEC? Let’s hear some ideas! In the meantime: keep going to SaveMEC.ca, keep sharing our updates, and invite your friends to our Facebook group.
Until tomorrow!