Mission, Vision & Values

The BC Co-op Association’s mission is to support co-operatives, educate the community, and advance the co-operative sector.

Vision

Our vision is to establish the BC Co-op Association (BCCA) as the knowledge and resource centre for co-ops in BC. Through our work, we advance a vision of a caring, creative and humane society, and a fair and innovative social economy.

• We actively convene knowledge exchange and mobilization among our members and stakeholders
• We increase awareness for the co-op sector through market, policy and governance research, to showcase and distribute the co-op value and difference to the marketplace
• We build a culture of mutual support, where members can contribute to the success of other members, and society can support all co-ops by being aware of their economic and community impacts, and actively choose co-op products and services

Values

To achieve our vision, we embrace international co-operative principles and focus our work around three strategic pillars: 

1. Co-op Development & Support Services

• Act as the primary contact for co-ops and prospective co-ops to get the information and resources they need to go from incubating a co-op idea to incorporation and beyond
• Deliver well-defined, customized programs and services to BCCA members
• Use the BCCA website as a tool for self-directed learning, with a robust knowledge centre and exclusive tools, and a member directory to facilitate networking and support

2. Co-op Knowledge Mobilization

• Act as a proactive and professional knowledge convener and mobilizer by turning available research and information into an active asset of developmental value and business opportunity for the BCCA and its members
• Provide co-op education to youth and emerging leaders through the BCCA’s Co-ops in Schools (CIS) program, and increase sector awareness and knowledge among youth and educational institutions
• Become a co-op knowledge centre that actively researches relevant policies, regulations, market developments and co-op needs, and conveys, connects and mobilizes co-op sector stakeholders

3. Co-op Communications, Promotion and Advocacy

• Ensure British Columbians become more aware of the co-operative sector and its benefits to BC communities and economies
• Create strategic marketing, communications and advocacy campaigns that deliver a provincial co-op story and brand, raise the profile of co-ops and credit unions, and celebrate their successes
• Work collectively with co-ops, credit union and co-op sector stakeholders to identify strategic opportunities to liaise with governments and advocate for policy change and legislation to support the sector