Dear Friends and Member-Owners of the Victoria Health Co-operative, 

In 2020, the Victoria Health Co-op faced what looked like an impossible challenge: providing wellness and health services without touch.  Fortunately, the members and friends of the VHC are creative and we are making good progress! Read on for the latest updates and ideas about getting involved in our community projects.

Ongoing Work and Partnerships

“No Touch” Wellbeing Sessions (free and open to everyone!) aim to connect our community and introduce new ideas. Participants share 3-minute presentations, followed by group discussion and good conversation via Zoom video conferencing. We will continue offering Zoom “No Touch” Wellbeing Sessions in the new year. Check our website to find dates, times, and Zoom links. Please let us know if YOU have a presentation suggestion! Get in touch with us at vichealthcoop@gmail.com to participate in an upcoming session. 

This month, we will continue to deliver our Choices for a Healthy Lifestyle program in partnership with Our Place Society. Our goal is to provide free health education and social connection through this and the Hans Kai program to older adults who may face barriers to accessing traditional seniors programming. The program will revolve around fundamental health topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, safety, stress management, the benefit of health co-ops, and COVID-19 community support. We are excited to begin this work with Our Place Society! If you are interested in supporting these programs or volunteering, please contact vichealthcoop@gmail.com

In December, we hosted an influenza vaccination clinic in partnership with Fort Royal Pharmacy and Cook Street Village Activity Centre. We are grateful to these local organizations for their support and collaboration.

We are also planning new work focusing on seniors, access to services, nutrition, intergenerational relationships and the ongoing challenge of staying healthy even when we feel isolated.

The purpose of all this work is to continue to adapt to the new reality.  How can we best serve our member-owners and community despite the ongoing restrictions?  How can our members and community of all ages most effectively continue to volunteer, despite ongoing contact and health restrictions? How can we engage other communities who need health and wellness education and support?  If you have a suggestion, please contact us.  

How Can You Contribute to the Health of Your Co-op?

Governance and Volunteering

Our upcoming Annual General Meeting (January 30, 2021) will be held virtually via Zoom video conference. We invite you to join in the discussion to learn about new and on-going programs and to share your ideas about supporting our community and fundraising for programs. Also find out how you can help our organization throughout the year by volunteering, and perhaps from the comfort of your home from a computer, especially important as we work in relative isolation.

Every action taken by Victoria Health Co-op and CCWS is the result of volunteer effort. If you have time, skills, and energy, we encourage you to contribute as an active volunteer by:

  • Donating services and education as a wellness or health practitioner
  • Helping with governance, human resources, or communications and marketing
  • Planning or leading programs
  • Writing grant proposals
  • Advocacy in the co-op and non-profit sector
  • Outreach to vulnerable groups and individuals


Each year, the VHC and CCWS Boards look for new members to join the board or become Members-at-Large to introduce new ideas and initiatives to our project slate. Would you be interested in getting involved on the Board, to help develop our programs and fundraising initiatives? 

All programs of the VHC and CCWS are funded by grants that require extensive time, energy and expertise to prepare, apply for and implement. If you are new to the non-profit or charitable sector, if you have an interest in co-ops, governance, fundraising, or have skills in human resource management, accounting or bookkeeping, your involvement could make a valuable contribution to our organization and the programs we can offer in our community.

Currently, our programs’ funding proposals and administration are shared between the volunteer boards of the Victoria Health Co-op and the Creating Community Wellness Society. We would like to extend our thanks to all our board directors, past and present, for undertaking these tasks on top of their regular jobs, ongoing course and post-secondary education, and family responsibilities. We couldn’t do any of this without you!

Please email vichealthcoop@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining the Board or to learn more about volunteering. 

Giving

Everything helps! We are thankful for our community’s tradition of generosity, and in particular, financial support for our programs. The simplest way to support the activities of VHC and CCWS is through a donation to our Creating Community Wellness Society (CCWS), our charitable partner organization.

A big thank you to all our members who have paid their annual membership dues ($35 or whatever is possible). If you have yet to pay your annual dues to remain an active member, we kindly ask that you send a cheque to Victoria Health Co-op c/o Unit 1, 380 Cook St., V8V 3X7 or e-transfer to vichealthcooptreasurer@gmail.com

Get to Know Your Co-op

Are you curious about co-operatives and want to support the co-op community at large? You can book a 1 hour or half day co-op orientation with a donation to the CCWS. Learn lots and ask questions – and no final exams!

Questions? Ideas about how we can best serve our members and community? Email us at vichealthcoop@gmail.com, phone 250-415-9272 or visit our website:  victoriahealthcooperative.com

We, the Board, member-owners, volunteers, practitioners and all who participate in the work of the Victoria Health Co-op want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who makes our work possible. Our partner organization, Creating Community Wellness Society (CCWS), also sends its thanks.  

Yours Co-operatively,

Victoria Health Co-operative & Creating Community Wellness Society