HISTORY AND GOVERNANCE OF RIVER WOODS CO-OP

In 1983 a group of people got together to form what would eventually become River Woods Housing Co-op. They applied under the Co-operative Association Act to incorporate as a non-profit Housing Co-operative and formed a guiding Board of Directors. Thus they began the process required by the Act to obtain the funding to purchase the land from the district, to obtain a mortgage, to design and build this project and to develop the initial policies and procedures. An agreement was signed with Canada Mortgage and Housing Co-operating which laid out the initial operating budget and how the Co-op would be run. It took over two years to follow through all the procedures with many lengthy meetings, communications with government officials, contractors and bank managers before the Co-op was finally completed and people could move in. The dedication of our first guiding directors should be remembered with gratitude, for their efforts have provided good homes at reasonable cost to many people and provided us with a wonderful place to call home for over 40 years.

We hold General Meetings twice per year. Annually, in September, we appoint a Board of Directors of 9 members who are responsible for overseeing the various committees and office manager who run the Co-op. Under the direction of the Board of Directors, committees have also developed policies and procedures for conducting business. Policies are passed at General Meetings by a minimum 51% majority of the members in attendance at general meetings.

Members are encouraged to actively participate in the decision making of the Co-op whether by being on a committee, running for the Board of Directors, or simply voting at General Meetings.

We have a monthly Newsletter as well as a Facebook page to keep members informed as to events and happenings. We have an active Social Committee who are responsible for various events that bring us together to celebrate. We pride ourselves in caring about each other.

While our Operating Agreement with CMHC has now ended. Present Co-op Members are still operating within the same guidelines under which the Co-op was formed. Under the British Columbia Co-operative Association Act we must live up to certain requirements as to our democratic structure, accountability to the members and the public, and the decision making process as stated in our constitution. This determines that decisions must be made by a majority of members as well as how we handle grievance procedures, procedures for the expulsion of members and procedures for accountability. Our Rules and Occupancy Agreement were created by the Co-operative Housing Federation of British Columbia and have been adopted by many of the Housing Co-operatives in British Columbia. We also have House Rules and Policies that guide us in our day to day operations.