Please see the email below from Denyse Guy, Executive Director, CCA:
Dear Members,
It is with profound sadness that I am letting you know that Ian MacPherson, Canada’s foremost co-operative historian and former president of CCA, died suddenly on the weekend at age 74. Ian was one of the Canadian co-operative movement’s leading lights, a scholar, a teacher, a friend and a passionate co-operator. He had a close relationship with CCA, having served as its first president following the 1987 merger of the Co-operative Union of Canada and the Co-operative College. He also was the author of A Century of Co-operation, the commemorative book published by CCA in 2009.
Ian touched the lives of many co-operators from across Canada and around the world. He chaired the ICA committee which revised the co-operative principles in 1995, and most recently was promoting an international initiative linking co-operative to peace and social cohesion. On a personal level, he served as an inspiration to many, many individual co-operators; he was a mentor to me for more than 15 years and provided wonderful and insightful guidance that I will always cherish.
I have sent a message of condolence to Ian’s son Andrew on behalf of the CCA board and staff. The family is thinking of having a celebration of Ian’s life in Victoria early in the new year, and I will keep you informed. In my office, we are assembling your thoughts and condolences that will send to the family.
I will also be talking to the Board of Directors and staff about developing a proposal for a scholarship fund in Ian’s name, in recognition of his enormous contribution to co-operative education.
Ian will be truly missed by all of us.
Co-operatively yours,
Denyse Guy
Executive Director /Directrice Générale
Canadian Co-operative Association/
Association des cooperatives du Canada
