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Youth Alliance Initiative
A new generation of Nova Scotians are breathing life into Moses Coady's co-operative dream.
A dozen high school students from Cape Breton and Northern Nova Scotia recently joined the boards of several local co-ops and credit unions as part of a $30,000 initiative designed to promote co-operative values and practices throughout in Nova Scotia.
"We need to show young people that there are economic opportunities in their home communities," says Dianne Kelderman, CEO of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council, the group spearheading the new Nova Scotia Co-operative Youth Alliance initiative.
"We want to help them see and understand the pivotal role they can have in the economy right here in the Maritimes."
Interested students participate in an intensive week-end long seminar with speakers and workshops that help them to learn about co-operative principles and leadership.
They meet monthly, complete task-oriented assignments and spend 10 hours a week volunteering with a co-op or credit union business in their home community. They also have an opportunity to sit as youth member on the Co-operative's board of directors. "This is an exciting component," says Kelderman. "By giving them involvement and experience at the governance level, we are really engaging in systems change".
Meet Four of the Members:
North Sydney resident Meghan Farrell is the co-coordinator of the initiative. She has been an active member of the
Co-operative movement since 1999, and has been involved with Co-operative youth programs provincially, nationally and internationally level. Meghan has been involved with youth educational programs as a senior staff member, specializing in leadership, public speaking, and communication. She has been involved in such programs as the Kids Help Phone Bullying Program, Laubach Literacy Tutor, Christopher Course, Public Speaking coach and judge, and Young Leaders. Meghan represented Atlantic Canada at the Building Co-operative Futures International Youth Seminar in 2005 in Manchester, UK.
Briana Williams learned about the
Co-operative movement after attending an Atlantic Co-operative Youth Leadership seminar in 2006. Inspired by what she heard, she went on to become a junior leader at two other ACYL seminars. Briana is a co-founder of the youth alliance has served on staff for weekend seminars. She has been invited to become the youth representative on the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council board. Briana is in her first year of Nursing at Dalhousie University. With new Co-operatives like Connecting People with Health Care starting up fill gaps in the existing health care system, Briana looks forward to having a career in a
Co-operative environment.
Chris Farrell became involved with the Co-operative movement when he attended the NS Co-operative Youth Alliance Co-operative development seminar in Cape Breton. Chris has become extensively involved,
and is currently an intern with, Coastal Radio Co-operative in Glace Bay. Chris is an announcer with the station and has had the opportunity to learn about the
Co-operative movement and radio. Chris is also an active member of NSCYA and continues to support the great things
Co-operatives are doing in Nova Scotia.
Candice MacKenzieis an artist and designer. She has loved drawing for as long as she can remember and has married that passion with an interest in technology. As an intern with the Nova Scotia Co-operative Youth Alliance she has worked with Missing Lint Co-operative on their Mentality Magazine, a publication that gives the disabled an opportunity to express themselves through, art, poetry and photography. She said the NSCYA has been a great stepping stone for furthering her career which may include opening a design co-operative in Cape Breton.
For more information on NSCYA and its current projects, please contact
Meghan Farrell.
North Sydney resident Meghan Farrell is the co-coordinator of the initiative. She has been an active member of the
Co-operative movement since 1999, and has been involved with Co-operative youth programs provincially, nationally and internationally level. Meghan has been involved with youth educational programs as a senior staff member, specializing in leadership, public speaking, and communication. She has been involved in such programs as the Kids Help Phone Bullying Program, Laubach Literacy Tutor, Christopher Course, Public Speaking coach and judge, and Young Leaders. Meghan represented Atlantic Canada at the Building Co-operative Futures International Youth Seminar in 2005 in Manchester, UK.
Briana Williams learned about the
Co-operative movement after attending an Atlantic Co-operative Youth Leadership seminar in 2006. Inspired by what she heard, she went on to become a junior leader at two other ACYL seminars. Briana is a co-founder of the youth alliance has served on staff for weekend seminars. She has been invited to become the youth representative on the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council board. Briana is in her first year of Nursing at Dalhousie University. With new Co-operatives like Connecting People with Health Care starting up fill gaps in the existing health care system, Briana looks forward to having a career in a
Co-operative environment. 
Chris Farrell became involved with the Co-operative movement when he attended the NS Co-operative Youth Alliance Co-operative development seminar in Cape Breton. Chris has become extensively involved,
and is currently an intern with, Coastal Radio Co-operative in Glace Bay. Chris is an announcer with the station and has had the opportunity to learn about the
Co-operative movement and radio. Chris is also an active member of NSCYA and continues to support the great things
Co-operatives are doing in Nova Scotia. 
is an artist and designer. She has loved drawing for as long as she can remember and has married that passion with an interest in technology. As an intern with the Nova Scotia Co-operative Youth Alliance she has worked with Missing Lint Co-operative on their Mentality Magazine, a publication that gives the disabled an opportunity to express themselves through, art, poetry and photography. She said the NSCYA has been a great stepping stone for furthering her career which may include opening a design co-operative in Cape Breton.
