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From July 8 to 11, 2025, the Institut international des…
Researchers and co-operators gathered in Pula, Croatia for the 2014 International Co-operative Alliance Global Research Conference paid tribute to one of their own -- the Canadian scholar, educator and co-operator Ian MacPherson, who passed away last November at the age of 74.
Dr. MacPherson was best known internationally for his role in the 1995 revision of the Co-operative Principles and his work linking co-operatives to peace and social cohesion. In Canada, he was known as his country's foremost co-operative historian, while at the same time serving in various leadership roles in the co-operative movement. He had served as president of both the Canadian Co-operative Association and Credit Union Central of British Columbia (now part of Central 1 Credit Union), as well as on the boards of various consumer, financial and health care co-operatives.
At the Pula conference, taking place June 25-28, Dr. MacPherson's contribution to co-operation was celebrated by the likes of Alliance Director-General Charles Gould; Akira Kurimoto of Japan's Consumer Co-operative Institute and a member of the executive of the Committee on Co-operative Research; University of Saskatchewan professor and Committee on Co-operative Research executive member Lou Hammond Ketilson; and by video, Alliance President Dame Pauline Green; Jean-Louis Bancel, President of Crédit Coopératif and Alliance Board member; Martin Lowry, Executive Vice President of NRECA and Alliance Board member; and Dr. Eudes de Freitas Aquino, President of Unimed Brazil.
"Everybody in the co-operative movement across the world knew the name of Ian MacPherson, even if they didn't know the man," Dame Pauline said, describing him as one of the "grand ole men of the co-operative movement. "I was privileged to know the man."
CLICK HERE to view the tribute video that was presented in Pula.
CLICK HERE to view another tribute video that was prepared by the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC). It was also shown at the Pula conference.
