Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) and the British Columbia Co-op Association (BCCA) are disappointed by the developments surrounding Mountain Equipment Co-op, which has long been Canada’s largest consumer co-operative and a valued member of CMC. “Co-operatives and mutuals have been our most resilient business model for over a century because of their values and principles, … Continued
During their September 11, 2020, meeting, the BCCA Board of Directors approved two new member applications: Kootenay Employment Services (KES) has been serving the employment needs of the Creston Valley since 1990 and the East Kootenays since April 2019. As a registered charity and deeply, KES works with many organizations to address both emerging and … Continued
Defined by Wikipedia, renewable energy is “energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation, and rural (off-grid) energy services.” There are groups dedicated to providing access to renewable energy resources and September’s Co-op Café will review the Community Generation Project … Continued
Applications are open for round 2 of the Investment Readiness Program (IRP). Deadline to apply is October 9, 2020. The IRP offers funding between $10,000 – $100,000 to support social purpose organizations (including non-profits, charities, co-ops, and for-profit social enterprises) to take steps towards becoming investment-ready. In the midst of COVID-19, social purpose organizations are especially critical … Continued
This year, BCCA is seeking candidates for four board vacancies (two-year terms). The BCCA has identified a need for a number of skills among Board members, including but not limited to Human Resources and Risk Management. Nominations must be received by noon on September 3, 2020. Please Include a short 50-word bio and a recent … Continued
Join us in celebrating Co-op Week 2020 with a virtual Annual General Meeting and other online activities! We’re still polishing up the final details, but check out the tentative schedule of events. COVID-19 and Co-ops: Strategic Foresight Presentation Wednesday, October 14,9 – 11 a.m., Zoom meeting Does your co-operative have a winning strategy to excel … Continued
In our June 29 newsletter, we reported that BCCA had sent its submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of the Budget 2021 consultation. Following our submission, BCCA was asked to present at the Economic Recovery Roundtable with Premier John Horgan. In his presentation, BCCA Board Chair Ben Hyman … Continued
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
BCCA recently conducted a review of the Co-operate Now! program offered in partnership with Vancity. Our hope was to gather some insights into how we might improve it and better understand the impact of this popular three-day intensive co-op bootcamp. Co-operate Now! is the brainchild of Vancity’s Co-operative Portfolio Manager, Elvy DelBianco, and has resulted … Continued
BCCA is excited to announce we will be hosting a Grocery Co-op Meet-Up on September 21, at 6 pm! This event will be held on Zoom and will allow co-ops in the sector to convene, share ideas, ask questions, and participate in a facilitated discussion surrounding best practices. These sessions will be customized and will … Continued