About the Co-operative
Why was the Co-op Created?
The Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative was born out of discussions among leaders of community service agencies in 2001 as they addressed the challenges of imminent funding reductions and the tendering of government contracts in larger regional pieces through the BCBid mechanism. These leaders were looking for a strategy that would facilitate co-operation among the organizations of the region, yet maintain community-based decision-making regarding services to communities of all sizes in the region. The group decided to pursue the formation of a co-operative as a cornerstone of this collaborative strategy. With funding support from the Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program (CEDTAP) of the Centre for the Study of Training, Investment and Economic Restructuring at Carleton University and the Kootenay Regional Office of the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development, the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative was incorporated in 2003. The purpose of the Co-op is to pursue, deliver, and co-ordinate resources and services provided by and for its members.
At the time of incorporation, the Co-op adopted a plan to develop four streams of activity:
- Services to Members: mutual support; alliance and partnership development; cost sharing of common activities; proposal coordination and support.
- Co-op Projects: short-term, time-limited activities operated for members and on behalf of members; pilot projects.
- Service Programs: the operation of services in the region that members agree are best operated by the KBCS Co-operative rather than a member agency.
- Business and Service Enterprises: activities in which the primary benefit to the members is revenue generation for the Co-operative.
Later, with funding from Agriculture Canada’s “Co-operative Development Initiative,” the Co-op developed a management and policy infrastructure and hired a part-time Executive Coordinator.
Based on consultation with Columbia Basin residents, in the fall of 2008 The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) developed a three-year strategic plan to guide its activities in the social sector. In early 2009, CBT partnered with the Co-op to strengthen community service agencies in the West Kootenay and throughout the Basin. Through its three-year partnership with CBT, the Co-op will work to enhance the ability of the region’s social sector to strengthen individuals, groups and communities. This partnership represents a pro-active approach to strengthening community services throughout the Basin.
The partnership strategies include:
- Professional development of sector staff;
- Developing rural models of service delivery; and
- Promoting the value of the community social sector in the Basin
Who We Are
The members of the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative are organizations that are non-profit social service-providing agencies in the southeastern portion of the province of British Columbia, in an area generally known as the Kootenays and including the adjacent Boundary Region. Incorporated under the Co-operatives Act of BC in April, 2003, its current members are:
- Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services (in Nakusp)
- Boundary Family & Individual Services (in Grand Forks)
- Castlegar & District Community Services
- Kootenay Family Place (in Castlegar)
- Kootenay Kids (in Nelson)
- Kutenai Art Therapy Institute (in Nelson)
- Nelson CARES society
- Nelson Community Services Centre
- North Kootenay Lake Community Services (in Kaslo)
- Salmo Community Services
- Smum Iem (in Castlegar)
- The Skills Centre (in Trail)
- Trail Family and Individual Resources
Vision
Thriving community social service agencies improving the quality of life in the Kootenay Boundary region through an active, effective, credible network.
Mission
We are the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative. We work to strengthen our members and improve social well-being in the Kootenay Boundary region.
Values
The following value statements guide the operation of the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative and its members:
- We believe that people who live and work in a community are best positioned to make decisions about services provided and resources available to their community.
- We believe in sharing information, expertise, resources for the good of the community and for the good of the community of communities; that is, our region.
- We believe that decisions about regional matters are best achieved through information sharing and co-operative decision-making.
- We believe that consensus is the best way to make decisions.
- We strive for the best possible quality of service based on high standards, including:
- professional ethics, competence, and integrity
- respect for rights and differences
- safety and confidentiality
- empowerment of individuals and respect for their choices
- integration and holism
- social responsibility
- promotion of social change and enhancement of community capacity.
- We are committed to fair and equitable treatment of workers in our organizations and to demonstrating value and respect by ensuring that they are adequately trained, supported, supervised and compensated.
- Our organizational culture is one of respect, mutual trust, and proactive consultation.
- We will strive to have core services distributed equitably among communities.
- We will be responsible to our members and the individuals and families they serve, to the people in communities and to our partners
