Otter Co-op distributed $4.45 million in patronage refunds to thousands of their members during the annual Equity Days event, Sept. 17-19. Those who did not collect their cheques in person will receive the rebates in their mail.
Otter Co-op has been serving the Fraser Valley since 1922, with locations in Ladner, Surrey, Langley, Aldergrove, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Pitt Meadows, Armstrong and Penticton. It is a multi-million dollar retail business involved in feed, food, petroleum, hardware, pharmacy and clothing, and is owned by its members.
Otter Co-op also benefits from the purchasing power of Federated Co-operatives Ltd. in Saskatoon. FCL is owned by 212 retail co-ops located throughout western Canada and provides central wholesaling, manufacturing, marketing and administrative services to its member-owners. FCL achieved record sales in 2014 of $10.8 billion and net earnings from operations were $655 million.
Customer-members were also treated to a chicken barbecue on Friday evening in the co-op’s parking lot, with the dinners served to 1,200 diners who each contributed $5, and the proceeds going to the “Ride to Live” Prostate Cancer Foundation of B.C.
Otter Co-op presented the Prostate Cancer Foundation of B.C. with a $2,500 donation on Friday.
Otter Co-op presented the North Delta Lions Club with a $60,000 grant for the new public playground installed in Delta’s Annieville Lions Park. It was part of the national Co-op Community Spaces program which funded $1 million in community projects across western Canada.
Spearheaded by the North Delta Lions Club, the Annieville Lions Park playground upgrade will provide the community a playground that is both safe and reflects the current standards of play while providing more opportunities for unstructured play. Plans are to improve the playground equipment and add water park features as well.
The program provides between $25,000 and $100,000 in funding for eligible projects. Applications were received between April 1 and May 15 and reviewed for various criteria, including environmental impacts, community need and accessibility.
To learn more about Co-op Community Spaces or to view the list of the 16 community projects receiving funding this year, visit www.communityspaces.ca.
Otter Co-op president Jack Nicholson was presented with the “Leading Performance” Health and Safety Leadership Charter on Friday, recognizing Otter Co-op’s commitment to safety for its employees and customers.
Otter Co-op is a proud community supporter and builder, donating and giving back roughly $150,000 a year to groups and charities in the communities in which we live, work and play.
