Why our directors love our Co-op
This month we asked our directors what makes them passionate about volunteering their time for the Kootenay Co-op.
Wendy Wiebe is the current board president. Her love of the Co-op has grown over the years. In her words…
I initially fell in love with the shopping experience of our Co-op, with high-quality, healthy foods and wellness products, friendly staff, and an overall beautiful store. As I have come to know this organization better, I realized the mission, vision and values truly embody the future I wish to see in our food systems, one where healthy products and local food systems are prioritized, where we provide a meaningful work environment for our staff, and where we view environmental stewardship as a personal and organizational responsibility.
While the mission, vision and values all resonate with my personal values, my biggest passion lies with securing our food systems by prioritizing local food. I grew up on a poultry farm, I married a cattle farmer, and I am now developing a farm on 40 acres in Glade alongside my husband and two kids. I believe the most sustainable food systems require the development of local agriculture. I believe our community benefits from being connected to agriculture, living close to our food sources and seeing where and how our food is grown. Our Co-op plays a pivotal role in supporting local agriculture, and I am proud to be a part of this important work.
Maggie Jones has been involved with the Co-op since its early days. She’s a long-time director, has taught cooking classes, and has been involved in more ways than we can count. Here’s what she had to say:
I love how integrated our co-op is into the Nelson Community: Employment, farmer support, education, access to good food, and support of folks at risk.
Our co-op has grown greatly, and sometimes I miss those days when we were a little grassroots co-op. But I love what we have grown into, and all of the opportunities we provide for the community around Nelson and in the outlying communities.
I am passionate about offering our staff fair, interesting and sustainable employment that provides a living for them and their families. I am passionate about our co-op as an alternative to mainstream, profit driven, heartless grocery stores.
Kay Coburn is new to the Co-op board, but not new to the store. Here is her story:
I love that the Co-op has buying guidelines, that it cares so much about its staff, that it supports local organizations and local farmers. I love that the staff and management work so hard to successfully maintain the Co-op’s mission. I admire how this organization works to adapt to changing times and conditions. That is no easy task when the goal is not profit alone.
Why am I passionate about the Kootenay Co-op? Quite simply, the world the Co-op envisions, the world it is working to create, is a world I want to live in.
Cathy-Ann Glockner is another director who, like Maggie, has been around the Co-op for years. She has been a supplier and an employee, and once served as the employee director. When asked what she loves about the Co-op, she says:
I love that, in such a small and isolated community, we provide access to incredible food and wellness products as well as a wealth of education on things that matter to me.
I love how our community has shown up to support this ever growing and expanding amazing example of a Co-operative.
Lastly, I love that we are not afraid to dream and grow to meet the needs of our members and the greater community to promote and support agriculture and food sustainability in our region. I know that’s alot of “love”…but hey, it’s the month for it, right?