Tariff uncertainty and an opportunity
B.C. cooperatives are navigating a rapidly changing landscape filled with both challenges and opportunities. Economic pressures, including Donald Trump’s looming tariffs on Canadian exports, are creating fear and uncertainty. At the same time, demand for locally produced goods and services is growing—a strength of the co-op model. As community-owned enterprises, co-ops keep wealth local, strengthen regional economies, and provide sustainable solutions in challenging times.
With 2025 declared the International Year of Cooperatives, this is a pivotal moment to showcase the impact of co-ops. It’s an opportunity for all of us to strengthen connections, raise awareness, and build momentum for the sector—something we’ve already seen in action through two exciting events this month.
Our Education Manager, Madelyn Read, traveled to Gabriola Island to deliver a full day of co-op workshops in partnership with the Gabriola Agricultural Co-op. Participants explored the co-op model, co-op governance, and membership engagement. We were incredibly grateful to have the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Sheila Malcolmson, join us to share some words about co-ops’ vital role in building resilient local economies.
We also hosted Co-op Connect, our first virtual tradeshow, where 57 attendees heard from 14 presenters showcasing co-op products and services. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive—89% of survey respondents reported being very or extremely satisfied. Attendees also shared valuable feedback that will help us make next year’s tradeshow even better, and we’re excited to make this an annual event! Thank you to our event sponsors, Haddock & Company Lawyers, and CHF BC, for making the event possible.
BCCA is hitting the road!
To celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives, we’re launching the Co-operatives Build a Better World: BC Tour 2025—a province-wide journey to connect communities through workshops, networking events, film screenings, and discussions. This tour is all about strengthening and growing B.C.’s co-op ecosystem at a time when local economies need the co-op model more than ever. We will be rolling out more details about the tour over the next few weeks. Watch our website and social media for updates.
In addition to these exciting events, we are finalizing our three-year strategic and one-year operating plans. We look forward to sharing these with you soon.
Your support strengthens the co-op movement in B.C., and we can’t wait to share this exciting year with you!