Welcome Shift Delivery and BC Craft Farmers

| Business, Community, We Are Co-ops

We recently welcomed two new members to the BCCA family: Shift Delivery and BC Craft Farmers Co-op. Shift Delivery is a worker-owned co-op located in East Vancouver. They specialized in “last mile” delivery services utilizing trikes, allowing them to utilize bike lanes and park and unload almost anywhere. They can haul up to 500 lbs and deliver … Continued

We are Co-ops: Cooperation at Victory Gardens

| Community, Environment, We Are Co-ops

By Madelyn Read Welcome to our series “We Are Co-ops” in which we profile our diverse membership and demonstrate the innovation the flexible co-op model supports and enables! BCCA had the chance to catch up with Lisa Giroday of Victory Gardens and learn about their resiliency and growth as a co-operative.  Who and what is Victory Gardens?  … Continued

We are Co-ops: How focusing on their members made Modo more resilient during COVID-19

By Samantha Lee In this week’s edition of “We Are Co-ops”, we are excited to share the story of how our member Modo put their membership at the front and centre during COVID-19 and made their co-op more resilient. We spoke with Selena McLachlan, Director of Marketing and Communications, to learn more about Modo’s story and … Continued

We are Co-ops: Filling community needs (and bellies)

| Business, Community, We Are Co-ops

By Madelyn Read Welcome to our newest series “We Are Co-ops” in which we profile our diverse membership and demonstrate the innovation the flexible co-op model supports and enables! This week’s edition features the East End Food Co-op and the initiatives that they have implemented to support their membership and community through the COVID-19 pandemic. … Continued

VALU CO-OP and Coming Together Vancouver announce mutual aid collaboration

VALU CO-OP and Coming Together Vancouver have collaborated on an exciting set of artist-designed and artist-produced specialty items available for purchase online. Made by unionized co-operative workers in VALU Co-op’s Chinatown Studio, each item will be made with care and will contribute directly to mutual aid initiatives in the Vancouver community. This grassroots initiative was … Continued

We are Co-ops: Shift, Adapt, and Overcome

Welcome to our newest series “We Are Co-ops” in which we profile our diverse membership and demonstrate the innovation the flexible co-op model supports and enables! This week, our Co-op Champion Madelyn Read, connected with Marc Baumann, member-owner of Shift Delivery, to learn about how they have been adapting to the COVID-19 crisis.   Marc … Continued

We Are Co-ops: Golden Community Co-op and Being There for Your Community

For this week’s edition of “We Are Co-ops”, we are excited to feature our member Golden Community Social Services Co-op (Golden Community Co-op) and their new hire Lori Baxendale who was brought on to fill their newly created role as Community COVID-19 Response Coordinator. Our Co-op Champion Madelyn Read, connected with Golden Community Co-op to … Continued

Co-op Meetup: Engaging Your Members Through Co-operative Education Summary

The BCCA Co-op Meetups strive to be an opportunity and platform for co-ops to come together and share their knowledge and insight with each other, spark new ideas, and help each other grow and flourish.   This week, we had the opportunity to engage in an international conversation with the Alberta Community & Co-operative Association … Continued

Lobbyists Transparency Act – New Registration and Reporting Requirements

On May 4th, the Lobbyists Transparency Act will come into effect, increasing requiring registration and reporting requirements for all organizations (including co-operatives) that lobby provincial employees or office holders in BC. “Lobbying” is defined broadly. It includes attempting to influence government decisions, such as legislative proposals, bills, resolutions, regulations, programs, policies, directives and guidelines. It … Continued

We are Co-ops: How VHC is Supporting Community Health and Wellness at a Distance

Welcome to our newest series “We Are Co-ops” in which we profile our diverse membership and demonstrate the innovation that the flexible co-op model supports and enables! This week, our Co-op Champion Madelyn Read connected with Vanessa Hammond, the Board Chair of Victoria Health Cooperative (VHC) to understand how they’re maintaining health and wellness support … Continued