In honour of the UN International Year of Cooperatives, we are highlighting some Québec cooperatives throughout the year. Our second installment in this mini-interview series features Edgar Co-op, a translation cooperative with offices in Québec City and Montreal. We interviewed Cassandra Moschella, the co-op’s director of human resources and communications, about how this translation firm became a coop.
Why did you choose the cooperative model (and the specific type of cooperative you chose, e.g., solidarity, worker, producer, user, etc.)?
The founder of Edgar Inc.—planning to sell the company to pursue his next business venture—introduced the idea of transitioning to a co-op model. After learning more about the concept, the employees agreed it would be an excellent way to preserve Edgar’s legacy in the translation industry. Keeping the company in Québec and ensuring it remained in the hands of those who helped build its success was a priority for everyone involved. Following a year-long transition, Edgar officially became a workers’ co-op in December 2021.
What is the best advice you received or the advice you would give someone else who is considering starting a cooperative?
Our advice for anyone considering starting a co-op is to engage with the co-op community and connect with other members, regardless of their industry. We’ve experienced firsthand how supportive and collaborative the co-op network can be, with members openly sharing their successes and challenges to help one another grow. In Québec, the co-op community is especially active, offering numerous inter-cooperative activities and initiatives that foster learning and collaboration.
What are you most proud of about your cooperative?
We take the most pride in fostering an open and inclusive environment. Our leadership prioritizes transparency with members, and open dialogue is actively encouraged. Feedback is exchanged respectfully, whether it’s between peers or directed upward. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are core values that ensure everyone feels valued and empowered to share their opinions and perspectives.
The theme of this year is Cooperatives Build a Better World, and we believe this change starts in our communities. How does your cooperative make your community a better place to be?
Through the translation work we do, we help break down language barriers, enabling better communication and understanding across diverse communities and fostering collaboration between individuals and organizations. Our work ensures that vital information—be it in public health, education, or other critical fields—is accessible to everyone, regardless of the language they speak.
Curious to learn more?
To learn more about Edgar Co-op, please check out their website, their LinkedIn page, and their Facebook page.
