Series Background

Random Acts of Co-operation is a series of audio documentaries produced by
Kootenay Co-op Radio with the financial assistance of the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

The series explores the vibrant co-op and credit union sector in Southeastern British Columbia, and the international principles of co-operation, through five 30-minute episodes, each featuring interviews with local co-operators.

The series was created in part to celebrate 2012 - The U.N.-declared International Year of Co-operatives.

Special thanks to Tom Atkins of the Nelson and District Credit Union, and his creative flare, for the name of the series.

Housing

This episode of Random Acts of Co-operation explores the world of
co-operative housing.  The Kootenays has a rich history of people living
in close association with each other, sharing work, play and life
including the Sinixt First peoples, the Doukhobor people, and the war
resisters and back-to-the-landers of the sixties.  Currently, there are
seven incorporated housing related co-ops in the West Kootenay. 

Host K.L. Kivi explores the practicalities, joys and challenges of co-operative
housing with Elmer Verigin, Alton Bigsby and Jim Latkin of the Kootenay
Columbia Senior’s Housing Co-op in Castlegar and then with Emily Tidmarsh
of the Maa Land Co-operative Association.

This episode was produced by K.L. Kivi, writer, activist and peasant.  She is a member of too many Co-ops to count, including a land co-op, a car share co-op, a food co-op and three credit unions!

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Forestry

This episode of Random Acts of Co-operation takes us deep into the woods, among the cedars, hemlocks, fir, larch, pine, birch and spruce of the West Kootenays to learn about two community forestry cooperatives: Harrop-Procter Community Cooperative, located on the south shore of Kootenay Lake about 40 km east of Nelson; and Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative, located on the east side of Slocan Lake, between Winlaw and Silverton, in British Columbia.
Producer Jennie Baron speaks with Erik Leslie and Rami Rothkop of HPCC, and Stephan Martineau of SIFCO.

Jennie Baron has lived in Nelson since 2001, and has been engaged variously in college teaching, community development work, environmental activism and a lot of volunteerism while being a wonderful mother to boys Quinn and Felix.

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Service

This episode of Random Acts of Co-operation shines the light on the region's service co-ops. Non-profit by definition, and doing business over a large geographic area, these community service co-ops are commited to the principles of concern for community, co-operation among co-operatives, and democratic member control.

Producer Zoë Creighton speaks with Andrew Jarrett, Executive Coordinator of the Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-op; Colleen Matte, Coordinator of the Kootenay Carshare Co-operative; and Corky Evans, Board member of the Upper Columbia Co-op Council.

Zoë Creighton is an avid radio maker and listener, and is currently the Coordinator of the Upper Columbia Co-op Council.

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Retail

In this episode we look at two retail co-ops in the Kootenays. We will explore why would a retail business choose to go co-op from the start, and what does it take to make a co-op financially successful. 
Chris from the Slocan Valley Co-operative sheds some light on some of the struggles with a rural co-operative and what it takes to keep their various members happy.  Jocelyn, from the Kootenay Co-operative Country Store, one of the most successful retail co-operatives in Canada also talks about how co-operatives making a profit can not only benefit the community but can possibly be the solution to all of our current financial problems.

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Credit Unions

In this episode of RAOC we look at the history, challenges and successes of one of the most successful types of co-operative enterprise - Credit Unions. First up is Doug Stoddart, from the Nelson and District Credit Union and in the second half of the episode we hear from Aron Burke and Dario Cescon from the Kootenay Savings Credit Union.

This episode was produced by Terry Brennan. He is a founding member of Kootenay Co-op Radio and is currently a Board member of the Upper Columbia Co-op Council.

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This radio series is available  to listen / download for personal use, and radio stations are welcome to air it.  We only ask that you let us know by email when and where it will be broadcast.  

Kootenay Coop Radio
250-352-9600
kcr at cjly dot net