info@zippitydodog.com

We can all agree that living in the Kootenay's is pretty awesome, there are so many unique aspects within our communities that make us very lucky to reside here. One prominent feature within all of the communities in the West Kootenay's is the presence of co-ops.

Co-ops in our area take the form of businesses that offer products and/or services to their members, public services that offer child or health care, social groups providing services such as housing or employment assistance and financial co-ops such as Credit Unions.

The definition of a co-operative is a community based democratic institution that is owned and controlled by its membership in order to provide a unified voice and structure to a group of individuals who have pooled their resources to achieve common goals.

Co-ops provide an environment where members and the community benefit from working together. By purchasing a share in a specific co-operative one becomes a member and is responsible for assisting in the co-ops decision making process. In this decision making process each member regardless of number of shares, position in community or amount of investment is entitled to one vote.

Organizations operating as co-ops around the world follow this set of common principles.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Member Economic Participation
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Co-operation among Co-ops
7. Concern for the Community

If you would like more information on co-operatives please check out these very informative sites:

BC Co-operative Association - www.bcca.coop
BC Institute for Co-operative Studies - web.uvic.ca/bcics/
Canadian Co-operative Association - www.coopcca.com

Back to Saving Your Bones