October 11–17 is Co-op Week, a time to celebrate what makes the co-operative difference unique: when people come together, communities become stronger.

Across Western Canada, the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS) brings together Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) and local Co-ops like Otter Co-op, creating a network that is deeply connected to the communities we serve.

For us, being a Co-op means more than providing the products and services our communities rely on. It means creating local jobs, supporting professional development and investing in the communities where our members live, work and play.

Celebrating Co-op Week

This Co-op Week, we are celebrating the people, businesses, producers, suppliers, community organizations, employees and members who make the co-operative difference possible.

Because when we work together, we can do more for our communities.

That is what being Proudly Local is all about.

Making a Difference in Our Communities

For Otter Co-op, being locally rooted means showing up for the communities we serve. In 2025, our community support reached more than 140 local groups and organizations, with contributions supporting everything from food security and education to healthcare, sustainability, youth programs and community spaces.

Together with our members, guests and community partners, we helped raise more than $35,000 for B.C. food banks through fundraisers, food drives, till collections and our Hunger Bag Program. We also raised more than $32,600 for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice through Fuel Good Day and our annual Otter Golf Tournament, while another $6,250+ supported the B.C. Cancer Foundation through fundraising initiatives.

Our support also extends to education and opportunities for young people, including more than $13,000 in scholarships for 4-H, Grade 12 and mature students, as well as $4,875 in YES Camp sponsorships for Grade 7–12 students. We contributed $32,000 toward accessibility upgrades at the Vernon Towne Theatre, in partnership with Federated Co-operatives Limited and Armstrong Regional Co-op, and $12,000 to EcoFarm Discovery Centre to support sustainable agriculture and education.

And the impact doesn't stop there. From $5,000 in gift cards supporting local school lunch programs, to $3,000 donated to the B.C. SPCA, to raising funds for local hospital foundations, our community support takes many forms.

We're also working to make a difference beyond donations. In 2025, almost 225,000 pounds of food waste were diverted from landfills to local farmers for its next best use, such as compost or animal feed.

These numbers represent more than dollars, pounds or sponsorships. They represent students given opportunities, families supported, community spaces improved, food redirected to those who can use it, and local organizations able to continue the work they do every day.

That's the co-operative difference in action.

Proudly Supporting Canadian Producers

The Co-op difference also extends to the products on our shelves and the partners behind them.

Through programs such as Proudly Western Canadian, the CRS works to support Canadian producers, suppliers and partners throughout Western Canada. By building relationships with local and regional businesses, Co-ops help strengthen supply chains and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

For Otter Co-op, that connection matters.

We are proud to work with Canadian producers and suppliers and to give our members opportunities to discover products made closer to home. Every purchase is part of a larger network that connects local communities with Canadian businesses, farmers, producers and entrepreneurs.

Happy Co-op Week from all of us at Otter Co-op!