The mission of the Nelson & District Credit Union is “Enriching lives locally.”  NDCU has a long history. From cash box to community cornerstone, Nelson, Rossland and the East Shore locations have been the local credit unions for decades. Based on a history as an alternative to the banks, NDCU has grown from a modest beginning to an innovative, community-based financial co-operative. They believe their membership is the key to their success.  In 2010, NDCU financial support to the communities it serves topped $3.5 million in funds dispersed through the NDCU Community Investment Program.  This included a donation of 4.5 acres of land to the East Shore community park, $200,000 to support the Community First Health Co-op’s Wellness Centre, and $50,000 to Rossland’s Golden Bear Day Care, just to name a few.

Kootenay Co-op Radio was started by a small group of volunteers in December 1996 and incorporated as a non-profit service co-operative in June 1998 in Nelson. Intermittent broadcasting in the Nelson region began in February 1999, with a 28-day special event broadcast license, and finally went on the air full-time the following autumn after being granted a permanent CRTC license in August 2000.  On November 6, 2000, the station began broadcasting about 18 hours a day at a power of 75 watts. In November 2004, KCR expanded its range and began broadcasting in the Kootenay Lake region, north of Nelson, on a new FM frequency, 96.5 FM. In fall 2008, KCR began broadcasting in the community of New Denver at 107.5 FM.  Kootenay Co-op Radio aims to entertain and inform listeners through its commitment to innovative broadcast journalism and high-quality programming.  KCR uses its facilities and the initiative and skills of its members to create a medium for the balanced expression of the varied perspectives of their community.

LINKS is a non-profit housing co-operative and collectively, the members pay the mortgage of the Cooperative. Co-op members have security of tenure. This means they can live in their home for as long as they wish if as long as they follow the rules of the co-op and pay their housing charge (rent). All the affairs of the Co-op are democratically controlled on the basis of one member, one vote. Monthly housing charges cover only the cost of operating the Cooperative and will not increase to cover a landlord’s profit.

As members do not own their individual units, there is no down payment required when moving in (or equity paid when moving out). A Co-op provides a community atmosphere where neighbours know each other and work together to make sure their homes are secure, affordable and well maintained.

People of all incomes, occupations and backgrounds live in the Cooperative. These diverse and vibrant communities are the unique strength of the co-op housing movement.