About Us

Creating a space for community

The Sackville Commons Co-operative is a member-driven non-profit co-operative serving its members and the greater Tantramar area residents.

We serves as an inclusive community hub to offer arts & culture programming, to encourage collaboration, promote sustainability, and support resource sharing. We’re change makers, so inclusivity is at the heart of all we do. We celebrate differences and value each other for what we each bring.

What We Do

ARTS

Sackville is known for its vibrant arts community. At the Sackville Commons, we strive to bring artists and community together through workshops, performances, and networking.

Sustainability

We believe in community solutions to the climate crisis and helping our community adapt to climate change is at the heart of what we do. The transition to a new future together.

Resource Sharing

We partner with individuals, local groups and organizations to address emerging needs in our community, always through a lens of equity and inclusion.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

We run the Community Food Smart Program for the greater Tantramar Area. This monthly bulk produce buying program brings fresh, affordable food to over a hundred families per month.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

We’re working to collect a list of community resources for the greater Tantramar area. Stay tuned.

COMMUNITY SPACES

The Sackville Commons is available to rent on an hourly, daily, or long-term basis. Many local groups use our space for events, meetings, programs, and business start ups. Get in touch for more info.

Our Board

Eric Tusz-King

Eric is a mostly-retired community developer. He has experience and training in organizational development, management of two co-operatively owned businesses and in improving the energy efficiency of buildings. His work is based upon a strong commitment to create and maintain businesses and non-profit organizations, which are socially, economically, and environmentally just and sustainable. Eric is also involved with Aster Environmental Services Co-operative, Beausejour Renewable Energy Co-operative, Sackville and area (affordable) Housing, Sackville United Church, Climate Change Advisory Committee (Town of Tantramar), Open Sky Co-operative, and several recreational sports.

Steve Lambke

Steve Lambke is a writer and musician. He runs the independent record label, “You’ve Changed Records”, as an ongoing practice of being embedded in, responsible to, and holding space for a community of artists that create against the odds of the music industry. A long involvement with Sappyfest, as performer, volunteer, and board member, culminated in a tenure as Creative Director from 2017-2021. Originally from Ontario, Steven has been based in Sackville, NB, off and on for various stretches of time, since 2009. He is happy to be back.

Shoshanna Wingate

Shoshanna brings over 20 years’ experience in the non-profit sector. She worked in non-profit arts administration, from the largest literary non-profit in the U.S. to executive director of two provincial arts organizations, and founding editor/executive director of the arts & culture journal, Riddle Fence (St. John’s, NL). Shoshanna is a poet and memoirist, the past Poet Laureate of Sackville, and an Artist in Residence with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. She also runs a craft-based business, Shoshi Designs, selling handmade jewelry and textiles dyed with natural dyes and plants. Shoshanna is passionate about socially-engaged projects and community building.

What is a Cooperative?

Definition of a Cooperative

A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Cooperative values

Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Cooperative Principles

The cooperative principles are guidelines by which cooperatives put their values into practice.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner.

3. Member Economic Participation

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4. Autonomy and Independence

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

5. Education, Training, and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation.

6. Cooperation among Cooperatives

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.