Other Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below have been asked frequently about the Upper Columbia Co-op Council and its work. As additional questions become popular, we will add them to this list. If your question is not answered here, please contact us.

What is UCCC's relationship with BCCA?

The Upper Columbia Co-op Council is a regionally-based, independently incorporated association. It has been developed though collaboration with, and financial and technical assistance from, the BC Co-op Association. All members of the UCCC automatically become members of BCCA, and are entitled to voting rights and member benefits in both organisations. For more information on the BC Co-op Association, visit www.bcca.coop .

What is the geographical scope of your potential membership? ( or where is “Upper Columbia?”)

The Upper Columbia region of Southeastern British Columbia embraces the East and West Kootenays, and the Boundary region. In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, the Council will accept membership applications from throughout Southeastern BC.

How did UCCC come to be?

Please see here for details.

Who are your members?

Please see here for a list of our members, as well as links to their respective websites.

Are you really regionally-based?I see your mailing address is in Nelson.

Yes we are. The Council's development meetings were held in Nelson, as is its postbox, but future meetings and AGMs are intended to rotate throughout the region. Diverse regional representation is essential to making the Council effective. In our first year of operation, we had members from Castlegar, Salmo, the Eastshore of Kootenay Lake, the Slocan Valley, and Nelson.

Who is on your Board?

The Board of Directors for 2010/2011 is Corky Evans, Andrew Jarrett, Bradley Roulston, Cindy Olivas, Ben Morris and Terry Brennan.

How many members do you have?

At our first AGM in May, 2009, the Council had 12 members.

Where Can I learn more about co-ops?

Please see the resources section of this site for more information.

What is the difference between a co-op and another kind of business?

Please see here for a chart representing the differences between a co-op and other investor-owned businesses, and non-profit societies.

What are our options for financing a co-op?

The Co-op Zone online resource provides some useful resources on financing a co-op. Click here to go to that section of their site.

This Government of Canada 2005 document outlines start-up costs, and discusses ongoing financing of co-ops, including the prospectus, common shares, debt capital, etc.

Does UCCC have grants for emerging co-ops?

UCCC does not currently have funds for grants for emerging co-ops. The Council does, however, work with BCCA to provide limited funding for technical assistance by a regional co-op developer to consult with your group around feasibility of your co-op idea, and to strategise around steps to its implementation. Please contact us for details.

Can I attend your meetings?

UCCC meetings are open to any member, and are open to others at the discretion of the Chair. Please contact us first.