By Kenzie Love
Daphane Nelson of Kamloops, BC, was elected to serve on the CWCF Board as the BC/Yukon Director at the AGM in November 2024. Currently a member of CoActive Developments Worker Co-op and Secretary of the CoopZone board, Nelson’s interest in co-ops began when she became a credit union director. She was excited to learn about a business model that considered people, the planet, and prosperity. Through the CoopZone training she later took, she gained the skills and experience necessary to incorporate worker co-ops.
Nelson believes that worker co-ops provide more than just a simple exchange of time and labour for money. They offer a sense of belonging and can provide stability for employees, especially amidst business successions. Her involvement with CoopZone highlighted the need for collaboration between organizations like CoopZone and CWCF, something she’ll work to strengthen during her time on the board.
As the BC director, Nelson aims to enhance CWCF’s presence in this region by creating partnerships with service providers and supporting the development of more worker co-ops. She believes that greater awareness and education about worker co-ops are crucial for their growth.