Staff

Zoë has been involved with the BCCA since 2009 – previously as a board member, and now as part of the Co-op Development Crew. Based in Nelson, Zoë cut her teeth in the co-op sector through co-founding Kootenay Co-op Radio in 1997. She is the Executive Director of BCCA’s sister organization, the Upper Columbia Co-op Council, and an active co-op developer who loves to support groups to express their values and contribute to their communities through the co-op model.

Elvezio (aka “Elvy”) has served as the Director for Co-operative & Government Relations with BCCA since January 2022. He works to build partnerships with governments, allied trade unions, post-secondary institutions and other civil society organizations to realize a strong enabling environment for the development and growth of cooperative enterprises. Elvy has almost twenty years’ experience in the cooperative sector as a consultant, co-op developer, and as Vancity Credit Union’s Cooperative Portfolio Manager, where he led numerous study tours exploring the cooperative economy of the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy.

Iva coordinates the Co-operative Education Program, stewarding the fifth co-operative principle of “education, training, and information” through developing educational resources. One of Iva’s favorite ongoing projects is developing online learning tools and supports for newcomers to Canada, inspiring them to learn about and start co-operatives that meet their social, economic and cultural needs. Iva is also completing a Masters of Management specializing in Co-operatives and Credit Unions out of Saint Mary’s University, and is a co-founder of BuddyUp.coop and Free Riders E-Bike Co-operative.

Winnie has been with BCCA since August 2022. She enjoys working with people with diverse cultural backgrounds, respects cultural differences, and values teamwork. Winnie is passionate about learning new things. In her spare time, she likes reading, hiking and traveling around. She is also a concert and art gallery goer.

Madelyn began volunteering with BCCA 2019 and was thrilled to join the BCCA team as Co-op Education Coordinator in March 2022. As someone who has directly benefitted from co-op education programs, Madelyn is passionate about bringing co-op education to the masses so that everyone can appreciate the benefits of co-operatives in their communities. When she’s not working for BCCA, Madelyn can be found performing and organizing arts and culture events across Vancouver.

Marla is the Co-op Development Case Manager at BCCA, providing assistance and resources for groups wanting to start a co-op or existing co-ops looking for further support. Based in Vancouver, Marla is passionate about co-operative development and building strong, resilient, diverse, and sustainable co-operatives across the province to transform local economies and communities. She is passionate about the co-operative model – a model that is value-driven and prioritizes the needs of members while also maintaining profitability.

Michelle is of Norwegian, Swedish, English, French, and Japanese ancestry. She currently lives rurally in Secwepemculecw, close to what is dominantly known as the Village of Chase. After a career in body-centred trauma counselling. MIchelle returned to Syilx territory where her father grew up, fell in love with organic farming and got more deeply involved in community organizing. Michelle is passionately curious about organizational culture, shared leadership, and facilitating processes that support principled practice in service to organizational diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist ways of being.