What is community ownership?

Community ownership emphasizes the importance of local control and democratic decision-making over the use of assets to create economic opportunities for communities. Community ownership can take several forms, including cooperatives, community land trusts, employee ownership, stewardship trusts, neighbourhood real estate investment trusts, community development corporations, and nonprofit- and First Nations or municipal-owned enterprises and real estate, among others. These ownership models are often designed with explicit goals to address economic inequality, promote sustainable development, and build community wealth.

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forms of community ownership

Co-operatives

A cooperative is an organization or business structure that emphasizes collective ownership, democratic decision-making, and the equitable distribution of benefits among its members. It offers a more inclusive and community-oriented approach to economic and social activities, fostering cooperation and mutual support among its participants.

Community Land Trusts

A community land trust (CLT) is a non-profit organization that plays a vital role in creating and preserving affordable housing and community assets. It operates by acquiring and holding land, which is then made available for various community purposes, primarily affordable housing.

Steward Ownership Trusts

A Steward Ownership Trust is a legal structure used by companies to place their assets and decision-making authority under the stewardship of a trust. This trust exists to serve a specific purpose, often related to social or environmental goals, rather than maximizing profits for shareholders.

Neighbourhood Real Estate Investment Trusts

A Neighborhood Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a specialized type of Real Estate Investment Trust that focuses on acquiring and managing real estate properties within a specific neighborhood or community. Its primary objective is to support and contribute to the economic and social development of that specific area.

Employee Owned Firms

Employee ownership refers to a business model in which the employees of a company have a significant ownership stake in the organization. This ownership can take various forms, but it generally aims to align the interests of employees with those of the company. There are various models of employee ownership, such as ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and direct stock ownership plans.

See Case Study on the MakeHouse

First Nations Owned Corporations

First Nations may operate businesses and enterprises that generate income and employment opportunities for their members. These businesses can span various industries, contributing to the economic self-sufficiency and prosperity of the community.

Municipal Owned Corporations

Municipal corporations or public corporations, are entities owned and operated by local governments or municipalities to provide specific goods or services to their communities. These enterprises function as government-owned businesses with the goal of serving the public interest.

Non-profit Owned Enterprise

Nonprofit or charity-owned enterprises and real estate refer to businesses and properties that are owned and operated by nonprofit organizations or charities for the primary purpose of generating revenue to support their mission-driven activities.

See case study on Coombs Country Candy

See case study on Carleton Road Industries

See case study on Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group