The My Mountain Coop initiative has completed its incorporation under the British Columbia Co-operative Act recently receiving its confirmation of registration.
“This is a small but critical first step in securing the future of the ski area” said Curtis Billey, founding director and spokesperson for the My Mountain Coop.
“The formalization of the coop provides us the necessary governance structure to permit broad-based involvement in the initiative by stakeholders to the ski area in guiding the business affairs as we move forward to ensure the sustainability of the operations for the future.”
The non-profit Co-op governance model was selected after extensive research and analysis by the Friends of Shames in consideration of potential corporate structures that might provide a good foundation to take over the ownership and operations of the ski area after the current owners, the Shames Mountain Ski Corporation, announced intentions not to continue operating the ski area.
“We owe a great deal of gratitude to the current owners for financially supporting the ski area for all of these years”, said Billey.
The Co-op model provides for a collaborative approach across a broader representation of the stakeholders to the ski area, a model that has contributed to the sustainability of other, similar enterprises across Canada and the United States. The not-for-profit Co-op status also presents opportunities for the ski area to gain access to government grant programs, not previously available to the SMSC, that provide funding in support of maintenance and capital investment in recreational assets such as ski areas as seen elsewhere in British Columbia.
“This governance structure and potential access to grant programs establishes a strong foundation for the MMC initiative and sets the stage for a broad range of partnerships in the community already developing,” said Billey
“We are hopeful we can conclude the terms of the transfer of assets of the SMSC to the My Mountain Coop in the near term and have shifted our full attention toward planning and preparations to operate the ski area for the 2011/12 season and continuing fundraising to ensure the financial resources available to the MMC enable the initiative to succeed in securing the future of the ski area for the region”
The election of directors and the first Annual General Meeting of the society are being planned for later this fall.