"The Co-operative Union of Canada (CUC), established in March 1909, signalled the beginning of an organized movement in Canada. Canada's co-operatives now had a national voice to represent and promote their interests; a national body to educate and develop co-operatives; and a common table to bring together co-operative leaders from different regions and sectors. The first century of CUC/CCA [Canadian Co-operative Association] was an "age of extremes", as it and its members lived through two world wars and a global depression, as well as years of post-war prosperity, record profits, and the establishment and growth of some of the world's largest and most successful co-operatives. One hundred years later, in 2009, Canada has one of the strongest co-operatives economies in the world and boasts 17 million membership. A Century of Co-operation celebrates the achievements of Canadian co-operatives, the commitment to co-operation and the legacies developed by co-operative leaders over the past 100 years.

The book has been divided into three main sections: Themes from the Beginning, Building the Movement and Innovations and Wider Directions, with chapters on a wide range of issues, including the importance of co-operatives to rural life, co-operative security, financial, housing and consumer co-ops, and the CUC/CCA's role in international development"--Pub. desc.