Co+Host

Co+Host worker co-operative was started by three young professionals on Haida Gwaii, off the coast of BC. They provide community engagement, facilitation, planning, and graphic recording services to non-profits, businesses, governments and other groups that want to bring people together to have conversations and make good decisions.

The group has been working together for awhile, but saw advantages to formally incorporating as a co-operative.

“A co-operative best reflects the way that we work together,” said Co+Host founding member and facilitator Lindsay Seegmiller. “Prior to forming a co-operative, we were a small consensus-based collective. All members came together to make decisions, with no one person’s opinion holding more weight than another… We wanted to be legally registered as a co-operative to show our unwavering commitment to these values.”

Co+Host has worked with organizations like the Queen Charlotte Heritage Housing Society, Bird Studies Canada, Community Futures, and the Laskeek Bay Conservation Society on initiatives like strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, market surveys, and more.

Seegmiller said that, over time, they hope to expand their membership to create a bigger community of professionals working to complete projects that create positive changes on Haida Gwaii.

Co-operatives First is proud to have assisted Co+Host to incorporate their co-operative!

Back

“Heather and the team at Co-operatives First are top-notch. Not only their knowledge but their understanding of the project. They have truly helped us along every step of the way. Their timely response and knowledge of the steps are extraordinary. They are forthcoming with information. This is one of the most knowledgeable and friendliest teams I have ever had the pleasure of working with.”

Weyburn Theatre

“Co-operatives First made the process of establishing our Artisan Co-operative a very clear and easy process. The expanse of available tools and resources provided by Co-operatives First answers many questions and lightens the workload. Greatly appreciate having the connections made with Trista and Kyle, they keep the co-operative moving forward.”

Nehiyawaskiy Indigenous Peoples Art Co-op

“Our experience working with the Co-operatives First team was absolutely fabulous. The staff was accommodating, knowledgeable and patient. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have such a wealth of skill and resources available to a non-profit. They were invaluable to our successful launch!”

Heart Linked Community Services Cooperative

“Working with Co-operatives First was fantastic! We are still new to the cooperative world, and we relied heavily on their advice and expertise when drafting our rules/bylaws, and our memorandum of association. The team has experience with many different cooperative models, so they provided advice on what has and hasn’t worked for other cooperatives. We wouldn’t have been able to incorporate without their help!”

Ananda Cooperative

“We have had a very positive experience with everyone at Co-operatives First. They have helped us in multiple ways. Right from the first step in knowing how to incorporate, how to set our business and offering ideas for us to help steer us in the right direction plus allowing us to really make our own decisions. If our decisions go off track, they have gently guided us back to where we needed to be. The Co-operatives first guys are always eager to answer questions, and give ideas to us that got us off the ground.”

South East Butcher Block