The Kootenay Carshare Cooperative (formerly the Nelson Carshare Cooperative) is a not-for-profit association legally incorporated to foster car sharing as an environmentally responsible transportation option. The Kootenay Carshare Co-op began in 2001 when a group of friends decided they no longer all needed their own vehicles and decided to share!  Following the lead of Modo (formerly Cooperative Auto Network in Vancouver) the Kootenay Carshare Co-op was formed.

As a grassroots, volunteer-run organization we grew slowly until 2006 when growing interest resulted in the opening of the Kaslo and Revelstoke branches.  In 2009, Fernie and Kimberley joined as well.  Our first employee came on board in August of 2009.  The following year we updated our logo, adopted our new name (the Kootenay Carshare Cooperative), and got a downtown office!

Kootenay Carshare is an environmental organization first and foremost. The members ‘own’ the co-operative. Member’s control, through an open and democratic forum, the scope and direction of the co-op. To encourage individual Green House Gas emission reduction and support the idea of working towards becoming Carbon Emission Neutral, a small .002 cent per KM charge is put in a reserve account to purchase alternative fuel vehicles for the Co-op fleet.