The Co-op Futures Challenge

Question. Challenge.Change.

The Co-op Futures Challenge invites post-secondary students from across Canada to investigate one of the biggest questions facing the Canadian business sector—and develop practical, evidence-informed solutions for the future.

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What if business looked different?

Most business competitions ask students to solve a company's problem.

This challenge asks something different.

Why, despite over a century of success, are co-operatives still not considered a mainstream business model in Canada?

Rather than rushing to solutions, students will investigate the systems, structures, and assumptions that shape today's business landscape before proposing meaningful, evidence-informed ideas for change.

Inspired by business case competitions, the Co-op Futures Challenge rewards curiosity, critical thinking, and systems thinking— there is no "right" answer.

Package Available at Orientation 
This Year's Challenge Question:

Why aren't co-operatives a mainstream business model in Canada—and how can we change that?

Students will explore the educational, financial, cultural, and structural barriers limiting co-operative adoption before proposing practical interventions that could help strengthen the future of co-operation in Canada.

The challenge question is informed by the 2025 Canadian Centre for the Study of Co-operatives Top Co-op Issues Survey, ensuring participants are exploring an issue identified by the sector itself.

How does the Challenge Work?

Register Your Team

September

Form a team of 3 students and complete your registration before the deadline. Teams are welcome from any Canadian post-secondary institution and any area of study.

Research & Collaborate

October

Investigate this year's challenge question using a systems-thinking approach. Work together to explore the root causes of the issue, connect with your assigned sector mentor, attend our sessions and develop thoughtful, evidence-informed ideas.

Submit Your Paper

October

Prepare and submit your written report by the competition deadline. Your analysis will be evaluated using the official judging rubric, with the highest-scoring teams advancing to the final round.

Present Your Ideas

November

Finalist teams will present their findings virtually or in-person (pending funding) in Edmonton at the 2026 Alberta Co-operative Conference, sharing their ideas with leaders from across Canada's co-op sector.

Who Should Participate?

This challenge is open to students from every discipline.

You do not need prior knowledge of co-operatives.

Whether you study:

  • Business

  • Agriculture

  • Economics

  • Public Policy

  • Communications

  • Environmental Studies

  • Sociology

  • Engineering

  • Or something completely different...

Fresh perspectives are exactly what we're looking for.

Teams of 3 students

Any Canadian post-secondary institution

Why Participate?

  • Investigate a complex national issue using systems-thinking tools.

  • This is a great opportunity to connect with sector leaders who are looking for driven young students like you! If you are looking for an internship or career opportunity, these are rooms you’ll want to be in.

  • Connect with sector mentors to ask questions and get clarification. Attend sessions that are designed to make connect you with real-life successful co-opertives.

  • Finalist teams will present virtually or in-person (pending funding) at the Alberta Co-operative Conference in mid-November.

  • Connect with co-operative leaders, organizations, and fellow students from across Canada.

  • $3,000 cash prize pool.

  • Your ideas could help shape future conversations across Canada's co-operative sector.

Key Dates

  • Registration Opens

    Late August, 2026

    Form your team of 3 and register using the registration link.

  • Registration Closes

    September 20, 2026

    Register before the deadline to secure your spot in the challenge.

  • Orientation

    September 23 - 3pm MT

    Get the student package, ask questions, and meet your sector mentor.

    Join Session

  • Learning Session #1

    October 1 - 12pm MT

    Ask questions and get real-world examples with one of Canada’s biggest co-ops, FCL.

    Join Session

  • Learning Session #2

    October 8 - 1pm MT

    Our second virtual session to get to know two successful smaller scale co-ops.

    Join Session

  • Learning Session #3

    October 15 - 2pm MT

    Connect and hear from academics across Canada as they explore the challenge question.

    Join Session

  • Report Submission

    October 25, 2026

    Submit your final report by 11:59pm MST. A dropbox will be provided.

  • Final Presentation

    November 17 & 18, 2026

    Finalists will present at the ACCA annual conference in Edmonton, AB.

  • What if the next big idea for co-operatives comes from a student?

    The future is yours to create.

  • Every system is designed. That means every system can be redesigned.

    The future is yours to create.

  • Good ideas solve problems. Great ideas change systems.

    The future is yours to create.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Not at all. The Co-op Futures Challenge is designed for students from all academic backgrounds, and no prior knowledge of co-operatives is required. We welcome fresh perspectives and curious thinkers who are interested in tackling complex challenges.

  • Yes! The challenge is open to students enrolled at any Canadian post-secondary institution, including undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines.

  • Absolutely. Teams can include students from different post-secondary institutions, programs, or disciplines. We encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse perspectives.

  • All written reports and finalist presentations will be evaluated using the official judging rubric included in the Competition Package. The rubric outlines the evaluation criteria, expectations, and scoring process to ensure a fair and consistent assessment.

  • No. Participation in the Co-op Futures Challenge is completely free. Pending funding, finalist teams will also attend the Alberta Co-operative Conference as guests of ACCA.

  • If you have questions before or during registration, please contact Rebecca McKnight at abcoopassoc@gmail.com.

    Once the challenge begins, each team will be paired with a sector mentor who can answer questions, provide guidance, and help connect teams with relevant resources throughout the competition.

  • Teams must consist of three students. Students can be from any school and studying any discipline.

  • The amount of time your team invests is entirely up to you. Most teams will spend several weeks researching, collaborating, and preparing their submission between registration and the report deadline. It will likely be similar to how you work on a school paper.

    The Competition Package includes key milestones and recommended timelines to help teams plan their work.

  • Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to participate. Whether your background is in business, agriculture, communications, engineering, public policy, environmental studies, economics, social sciences—or something entirely different—your perspective is valuable.

Big ideas start with big questions.

Whether you're a student, educator, or co-operative leader, we'd love to have you involved.

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Package Available at Orientation