Something About Co-ops

"A co-operative is an enterprise that is jointly owned and democratically controlled by its members for their mutual benefit" - B.C. Co-operative Association

Co-ops take different forms. They can be:

• businesses offering their members products or services
• social enterprises providing necessities such as housing or employment
• public services offering members health care or child care.

Co-ops traditionally possess traits such as democracy, equality and social responsibility. Co-ops are unique in that they are operated for the benefit of their members; each member has a say in decisions that affect the co-op.

United Community Services Co-op serves the non-profit sector. It is a business offering its members services and products connected to operating a small or large non-profit organization. United Community Services Co-op adheres to the "Rules of the Co-operative Association Act".

• Voluntary and Open Membership
• Democratic Member Control
• Member Economic Participation
• Autonomy and Independence
• Education, Training and Information
• Co-operation Among Co-operatives
• Concern for Community

"Co-operatives have a long and successful tradition both in Canada and around the world and have proven amazingly flexible in meeting a wide variety of human needs. They have done so driven not by profit but by a desire to bring fairness, equity, and justice to the marketplace" (B.C. Co-operative Association).

Through the pooling of purchasing power, co-ops allow members to purchase services and products that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

Members have an equal vote, not matter how much they have invested in the co-op. This makes co-op more accountable than other enterprises.

To learn more about co-operatives, visit the British Columbia Co-operative Association.