Mayor Irwin was an active member of the Dauphin Consumers Co-op.
He was a member for 35 years and for more than 30 years Irwin was the chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Elaine Cottyn speaks a bit of the role Eric played in leading the community organization.
“Well, he was president since 1985 and he has a vision for the co-op, as we all do, and to live by the co-op principles and its values. As all of us board of directors do. But certainly he was the chairman for all those years and he led the board meetings and had vision for where the co-op was to go.”
Mayor Irwin played an important role in reviving the Dauphin Consumers Co-op in the early 1980s when it seemed inevitable that it would have to close its doors. The Co-op says Eric’s initiative, vision, and untiring belief in the co-operative model has led significantly to the success of the co-op.
