STOUGHTON RESIDENT TO RECEIVE AWARD

Released on October 13, 2000

A Stoughton man who has served co-operatives at the local, provincial and

national levels will be recognized with a Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Award

on Monday, October 16th.



Harold Crossman has been a delegate for various co-operatives, including

Saskatchewan Co-operative Creameries, the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Federated

Co-operative Limited. He was chairman of the Saskatchewan Commercial Egg

Producers Board for 10 years and the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency for eight

years. In 1985, he became President of the Stoughton Co-operative, a position

he continues to hold.



Crossman's Co-operative Merit Award is just one part of Co-operatives Week in

Saskatchewan, being celebrated October 15th-21st this year. The week, also

observed nationally, highlights the importance of Saskatchewan's co-operatives

and credit unions to all facets of the province's economy and society.



"This is a week in which we celebrate how our co-operatives have shaped

Saskatchewan, and epitomized its economic and social growth," Economic and Co-

operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon said. "Our co-ops embody

traditions such as a dedication to innovation, a commitment to economic

progress, and above all, a belief in people."



Co-operatives Week officially kicks off on Monday, October 16th when the

minister and co-operative members raise the international co-operative

"rainbow" flag at the Legislative Building, where it will fly throughout the

week.



Highlight of the week is Monday's 21st annual Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit

Awards ceremony in Regina, where Harold Crossman and six other co-operators

will receive their awards.



MacKinnon noted the co-operative sector contributes some $7 billion to

Saskatchewan's economy every year and employs 15,000 people across the

province. Co-operatives also represent 25 of the province's top 100 businesses.



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For more information, contact:



Bob Ellis

Economic and Co-operative Development

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-1691