MONCTON, NB, Sept. 8, 2016 /CNW/ - Today John Harvie, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of The Co-operators presented a cheque for $25,000 to the Elsipogtog Youth Summer Co-operative at the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick. The funding will support the development, organization and operation of the youth worker co-operative, which will create employment opportunities and develop leadership skills among youth while providing needed services in the community.

As a co-operative, The Co-operators is committed to supporting the co-op sector and helping to fulfill unmet needs in communities across the country. The Elsipogtog Youth Summer Co-operative will address local economic and social needs while helping to educate young people about co-operatives and developing young leaders in the community.

"Providing meaningful, skill-building employment for young people in the community will not only help create a better future for them, but will also help the broader community by providing services that are currently lacking," said John Harvie. "It is a real pleasure to support a co-operative such as this, which has so much potential to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people in Elsipogtog."

Elsipogtog First Nation is approximately 100 km north of Moncton. Local residents recently established a multi-stakeholder co-operative that will provide oversight of the Youth Summer Co-operative, with the Elsipogtog Band Office also providing support. Under the guidance of eight youth workers and two youth facilitators, the co-op will provide a wide variety of services, depending on the particular needs of the local community.

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Ltd. is a Canadian co-operative with more than $44 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt; Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada; and the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada by Sustainalytics and Maclean's magazine. For more information, visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE The Co-operators