In 1921, there were more co-ops than ever before. At the International Co-operative Congress of World Co-op Leaders in Basel, Switzerland, co-op leaders wanted to identify and define the growing co-operative movement's common values and ideals to help unite co-ops around the world. They decided to develop an international co-op symbol to celebrate the movement's growing diversity.

It was hard to settle on an image that would please everybody. Artists all over the world submitted ideas and designs. Eventually, a famous French co-operator, Professor Charles Gide, suggested using the seven colours of the rainbow for the flag. He pointed out that the rainbow symbolised unity in diversity and the power of light, enlightenment and progress.

All these meanings make the rainbow a perfect emblem for the co-op movement. After some experiments with different designs and kinds of cloth, the first rainbow flag was completed in 1924. Everyone loved it, and it was adopted as an official symbol of the international co-operative movement in 1925. The Rainbow Flag is the international emblem of co-operatives. It was adopted as the official co-operative symbol by leaders in the International Co-operative Alliance in 1925.

Everybody in the world can recognize a rainbow and grasp its many meanings. Rainbow refers to the image in the sky after a rain storm, in every country and continent. In cultures around the world, there are stories and legends about the rainbow as a path or gate to a better world or a reward. And, from a scientific viewpoint, the rainbow is in fact a single, indivisible entity.

The Co-operative Rainbow Flag includes all the colours of the flags of the world. Each colour contributes to the whole and symbolizes harmony and universal unity of all people.

Reference: The above taken from The Waterloo Regional Co-op Council

A familiar symbol of the co-operative is that of the encircled Twin Pines. The symbol was adopted in 1922 by the Co-operative League of the USA, as the National Co-operative Business Association was then known, as a universal co-operative emblem.

The co-operative emblem displays Twin Pines encircled because the pine tree is an ancient symbol of life and the circle has the endless quality of eternity. Two pines are shown to emphasize the mutual nature of co-operation. The trees and the circle are dark green, which is the colour of chlorophyll, the life principle in nature. The colour within the circle is golden yellow, typifying the sun, the giver of light and life.

Over the years, the emblem has been used widely around the world to display a positive identification among co-operators and a sense of common purpose. WCRI carried the twin pine logo until early in the 1990s when we adopted the single pine tree in a circle motif that we carry today.

Reference: The above taken from City Market, Onion River Co-op (ORC)

A familiar symbol of the co-operative is that of the encircled Twin Pines. The symbol was adopted in 1922 by the Co-operative League of the USA, as the National Co-operative Business Association was then known, as a universal co-operative emblem.

The co-operative emblem displays Twin Pines encircled because the pine tree is an ancient symbol of life and the circle has the endless quality of eternity. Two pines are shown to emphasize the mutual nature of co-operation. The trees and the circle are dark green, which is the colour of chlorophyll, the life principle in nature. The colour within the circle is golden yellow, typifying the sun, the giver of light and life.

Over the years, the emblem has been used widely around the world to display a positive identification among co-operators and a sense of common purpose. WCRI carried the twin pine logo until early in the 1990s when we adopted the single pine tree in a circle motif that we carry today.

To commemorate WCRI's 40th anniversary the coop held a logo contest. We received a number of submissions, and the chosen logo was designed by Joanna Kwok. It will be used on all WCRI documentation and website this year, as well as gear and other merchandise.