Statement of Purpose

• The e-directory is a project of the Ontario Co-operative Association Inc. ("On Co-op") to maintain a searchable database of all active co-operatives, credit unions and caisses populaires based in, or operating in, Ontario, including contact information and a general description of the organization.
  
  
• The e-directory is designed as a co-op resource and a source of information on the breadth, scope, diversity and location of Ontario co-operatives.
  
  
• The e-directory is presented for the use of the co-operative sector, its partners, supporters, stakeholders and affiliates, government, academics and others who are interested in the Ontario co-operative movement.
  
  
• Information has been gathered through a variety of sources including submissions from co-operatives and co-op federations, and data from publicly available sources.
  
  
• The e-directory is maintained by On Co-op, and is subject to On Co-op privacy policies.

• Organizations listed in the e-directory will include:
  • Co-operatives, credit unions and caisses populaires based in, or operating in, Ontario, and who are incorporated under federal or provincial co-operative or credit union legislation.
  • Fully owned subsidiaries of a co-operative.
  • Co-operatives’ branches, agency offices and satellite offices with an Ontario address.
  • "Co-op - like organizations" (incorporated organizations that operate in a democratic way very similar to a co-op, including closely following the co-op principles) may be included at the discretion of the e-directory review board, upon application by the organization.
  • The membership of the Ontario Co-operative Association.  (This includes all organizations that form the membership, regardless of their status as a co-op).
  • Other organizations or resources which support the Ontario co-op sector (including co-op sector affiliates, partners, partially-owned subsidiaries, strategic alliances or co-op developers) may be included, once a written request for submission has been reviewed by the e-directory review board, and payment of an annual fee has been received.
  • Federations, associations or alliances, which primarily represent co-operatives, credit unions or caisses populaires, but which are not legally co-operatives, may be included, once a written request for submission has been reviewed by the e-directory review board, and payment of an annual fee has been received.