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Co-op Membership

NOWBC is a member-owned co-operative. Becoming a member requires a $90 investment. You do NOT need to become a member of the cooperative to buy from us, though membership funds are what allows the co-op to increase the number of foods available in the catalogue. Membership is fully refundable should you in future decide to discontinue your participation and redeem your shares.

What are Membership Funds Used For?
Membership investments are used to expand NOWBC's catalogue of local and ethically sourced groceries and increase our inventory for a continually growing number of participants. This allows NOWBC to cover the costs of the groceries the cooperative must pay for prior to delivery to our participants. The more people who buy from NOWBC, the more we need to invest in food to sell.

A big THANK YOU also goes to all those initial members who's investments built the infrastructure for the cooperative and have allowed NOWBC to exist in the first place.

How to Become a Member
To become a member you may purchase shares through our on-line catalog (Household and Miscellaneous section) and pay for them with your order(s) OR complete the application form and mail with your payment. Membership costs $90 (9 shares), though can be invested in increments of $10 over time taking up to 1yr to complete your $90 membership. For those who wish to further support the growth of NOWBC's local food initiative, we welcome you to purchase more than 9 shares too, if you are able.

Membership Benefits
Once you complete your ninety dollar membership you are eligible for:

Good Food
You have ensured a supply of local and ethically sourced food through NOWBC for you and your family.

Participation
Members have the right to vote on cooperative policy and in elections at general meetings. Every member gets one vote, regardless of how many shares they own.

Patronage Refunds
Members are eligible for patronage refunds based on their dollar volume of groceries purchased. Patronage refunds will be decided upon annually and distributed from a portion of surplus revenues.

Dividends
Members are eligible for dividends based on the value of shares owned. We would like to reward those who have provided the co-op with larger investments for food and infrastructure, offering extra support for the growth of this sustainable foods initiative. Dividends will be decided upon annually and distributed from a portion of surplus revenues.

NOWBC Co-op Rules
NOWBC Co-op conforms to the BC Co-op Act and rules were formed based on the template provided in the act. To view our complete co-op rules, click here.