I am excited to let my name stand as a candidate for this year’s election of the BCCA board of directors. This October I will celebrate 35 years working in the Co-operative Retailing System in Western Canada. I started my Co-op Career in Dawson Creek as an Accountant Trainee and progressed to the positions of Accountant, Office Manager and Controller. From there I moved into operations holding the positions of Operations Manager, General Manager and now Chief Executive Officer of Four Rivers Co-op, the 9th largest retail co-op in Western Canada.

My 35 years of experience working in the co-operative sector and my passion for being involved in making our communities better places to live are very important to me and provide the motivation to work hard and contribute. This opportunity to be involved in another co-operative and promote the co-operative movement in BC is very exciting. It was a phenomenal honour to be asked to speak at last year’s BC tour in Prince George, it was a very rewarding experience that brought out my passion.

My goal is to work with the directors, executive and staff to continue the great work of promoting the co-operative movement across our beautiful province.

Thank you for considering my candidacy to the BCCA board of directors.

Qualifications:

• 35 years working in Co-operative Retailing System holding numerous accounting and leadership positions
• have worked at 5 retail co-operatives in the past 35 years in Western Canada
• graduated and accepted as a CGA August 31, 1997
• Now a CPA as a result of the mergers of the three accounting organizations in Canada
• President Vanderhoof Curling Club
• Treasurer Vanderhoof Minor Football
• long time coach of soccer and football

Shawn Bryant was appointed to the BCCA Board to serve a one-year term from September 2025 to May 2026

I am a co-op founder, and educator based in Nanaimo, BC. Since 2022, I have served as Co-op Manager and Board Chair of Yeomen Tree Service Co-operative, where I led the transition of the business from a sole proprietorship to an incorporated worker co-operative. In 2025, I was appointed as an interim director of BCCA, where I have contributed to board governance and served on the Government Relations Committee. This experience has deepened my understanding of the co-operative sector at the provincial level and strengthened my commitment to advancing policies and partnerships that support co-ops across British Columbia.

I am seeking election to continue serving BCCA members and to build on the work already underway. I bring a combination of practical, on-the-ground co-op leadership and broader experience in education and policy. My educational background includes a PhD in Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies, which informs my approach to governance, collaboration, and long-term strategic thinking.

I have also been a long-time member of co-operative institutions, including Mid-Island Co-op and Coastal Community Credit Union, and I value the role co-ops play in building resilient, community-based economies. I would be honoured to continue contributing to BCCA’s work in supporting a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking co-operative movement in BC.

Brief Summary of Skills & Experience

Co-operative Leadership & Governance

• Co-op Manager and Board Chair: Yeomen Tree Service Co-operative (2022)
• Director (interim): BCCA (2025)
• Experience with democratic governance, policy development, and board
  operations

Co-op Sector Engagement Member

• BCCA Government Relations Committee
• Familiarity with policy landscapes affecting co-ops in BC

Operations & Financial Management

• Responsible for budgeting, payroll, and compliance duties
• Organizational development within a small co-op business

Education

• Certificate in third-party mediation JIBC
• PhD in Peace, Conflict and Development Studies
• Background in the philosophy of economics

Community Participation

• Lifelong co-op member: Coastal Community Credit Union
• Long time member of Mid-Island Co-op
• Commitment to cooperative values and community economic development

Saheed Shittu is a committed African‐Canadian community advocate, cooperative member, and emerging agricultural leader. He is a member of the African‐Canadian Agricultural Producers Cooperative (ACAPC) and is actively engaged in initiatives that strengthen food security,cooperative enterprise, and equitable economic participation for Black and marginalized communities in British Columbia.

Professionally, Saheed brings strong operational leadership experience, including frontline supervision, team coordination, compliance, and accountability within complex, regulated environments. His work requires collaboration, ethical decision‐making, and the ability to balance organizational goals with people‐centered outcomes—skills that translate well to effective board governance.

Saheed is deeply interested in serving on the BC Cooperative Association (BCCA) Board of Directors because he believes cooperatives play a critical role in building inclusive, sustainable local economies. He is particularly passionate about supporting agricultural cooperatives, strengthening governance capacity, and ensuring that the voices of African‐Canadian and underrepresented producers are reflected in provincial cooperative leadership.

As a Board member, Saheed would bring a grounded, community‐informed perspective, a strong commitment to transparency and accountability, and a willingness to learn and contribute collaboratively. He is motivated to support BCCA’s mission, uphold cooperative values, and help advance policies and programs that foster resilience, innovation, and equity across the cooperative sector in British Columbia.

Governance & Leadership

• Board‐level interest with strong ethical judgment and accountability mindset
• Experience working within structured policies, standards, and compliance environments
• Commitment to cooperative values: democracy, equity, and community benefit

Operations & Supervision

• Leadhand/Supervisor experience coordinating teams and daily operations
• Skilled in problem solving, risk awareness, and continuous improvement
• Experience balancing operational efficiency with people and safety priorities

Community & Cooperative Engagement

• Active member of African‐Canadian Agricultural Producers Cooperative (ACAPC)
• Advocate for inclusive agriculture, food security, and Black producer participation
• Strong understanding of grassroots community needs and cooperative impact

Interpersonal & Strategic Skills

• Clear communicator and collaborative decision‐maker
• Culturally informed perspective and lived experience supporting equity
• Willingness to learn, contribute, and support long‐term organizational sustainability

Jennifer Tan is the Climate Action Manager in the Social Purpose Office at Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union. With over 20 years’ experience in the financial co-operative sector, she holds a Master of Management in Co-operatives and Credit Unions, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and several sustainability-related certifications. Jennifer values cross-sector co-operation and participates as co-chair of the Canadian Credit Union Association’s Climate Action Working Group.

Jennifer has worked across many aspects of the credit union system, including strategy and planning, facilities management, sustainability reporting, and employee engagement. This breadth of experience has given her a strong understanding of co-operative governance, democratic participation, and organizational sustainability. She is also a co-founder of a BC women’s worker co-operative and has facilitated education sessions for co-operative developers on the intersection of co-operative development and climate action. Her perspective has been further shaped through study of internationally recognized co-operative economy regions, including Mondragón (Basque Country) and Bologna (Emilia-Romagna), focused on inter co-operation and regional resilience.

Candidate Statement

I am seeking nomination to the BCCA Board because I am committed to the co-operative model as a driver of democratic participation, economic resilience, and community well-being. I believe BCCA plays a vital role in connecting, supporting, and advocating for co-operatives across BC. I bring a collaborative approach, and a commitment to member accountability, and would be honoured to contribute my experience and values in service of BCCA’s mission to empower co-operatives to thrive and strengthen resilient communities across BC.

Co-operative Governance and Leadership

• Over 20 years of experience in the financial co-operative sector in BC.
• Strong co-operative education background, including a Master of Management in Co-operatives and Credit Unions from Saint Mary’s University (Halifax). As a graduate of the program in 2020, this has provided a solid grounding in co-operative principles, governance, and fiduciary responsibility.
• Experience working across larger credit unions such as Vancity and Coast Capital, with a clear understanding of board-management roles and accountability.
• Served as Treasurer of Co-operative Management Education Alumni & Student Co-operative (2020-2023).

Sector and Ecosystem Experience

• Co-chair, on behalf of Coast Capital since 2025, of the Canadian Credit Union Association’s Climate Action Working Group and other industry committees, providing national-level collaboration and sector leadership.
• On-site study of internationally recognized co-operative economy regions, including Mondragón (Basque Country) and Bologna (Emilia-Romagna), with a focus on inter-co-operation and regional resilience.
• Experience engaging across co-operatives, associations, and cross-sector partners to foster collaboration and shared initiatives.

Operational and Strategic Expertise

• Ability to integrate systems thinking, long-term sustainability, and operational realities into strategic discussions from experience in operationalizing the new strategic refresh Vancity Community Investment Bank (2016 to 2021).
• Experience aligning climate action within social purpose organizational strategy.
• Background across strategy and planning, facility management, sustainability reporting, employee engagement, technology implementation and change management.

Co-operative Development and Education

• Co-founder and current President of a BC women’s worker-owned co-operative (since 2021)
• Strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing small and emerging co-operatives at different stages of their lifecycle.
• Facilitated educational sessions for co-operative developers on the intersection of co-operative development and climate action through a national co-op developer network co-operative.

Values-Based Leadership

• Strong commitment to democratic participation, member engagement, and accountability.
• Dedicated to climate action, equity, collaboration, and community resilience.
• Brings a collaborative, thoughtful, and systems-focused approach to board service.

I am writing to submit my nomination for election to the Board of Directors of the British Columbia Co-operative Association. I am motivated by BCCA’s purpose to unite and empower co-operatives across the province and by the opportunity to contribute governance, advocacy, and sector-bridging experience to the Board.

I bring more than forty years of experience as a senior construction executive across Western North America, with responsibility for complex organizations and large-scale, multi-year initiatives. My career included executive and board-level oversight of governance, fiduciary accountability, risk management, labor relations, procurement, regulatory compliance, and long-term financial planning. This work required disciplined stewardship, systems thinking, and sustained accountability over decades.

At the culmination of my construction career, I made a deliberate transition into community service, nonprofit, and cooperative leadership. For more than ten years, I have focused my work on strengthening social-purpose and member-owned organizations, particularly nonprofit and community-service co-operatives. In senior leadership roles, I support governance design, financial sustainability, and capacity building in mission-intensive, resource-constrained environments.

A core dimension of my community work has been applied and community-based research. I have participated in research initiatives in partnership with the University of Victoria, the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, and Trans PULSE Canada, helping ensure that lived experience and community priorities inform research, policy, and practice affecting marginalized populations.

I am also a long-standing advocate for marginalized communities. I have addressed members of the British Columbia Legislature on multiple occasions, participated as a speaker at public events held at the Legislature, and maintain working relationships across government caucuses, nonprofit leaders, and cooperative networks. In addition, I have been actively involved with women’s organizations on Southern Vancouver Island, including sustained leadership and organizing connected to International Women’s Day.

I am seeking election to the BCCA Board to help strengthen representation from nonprofit and community-service co-operatives at the provincial level. I believe these co-ops play a critical role in building inclusive, resilient communities, and that their perspectives are essential to a strong and future-ready cooperative sector in British Columbia.