HISTORY

The Kootenay Carshare Cooperative (formerly the Nelson Carshare Cooperative) is a not-for-profit association legally incorporated to foster carsharing as an environmentally responsible transportation option. The Kootenay Carshare Co-op began in 2001 when a group of friends decided they no longer all needed their own vehicles and decided to share!  Following the lead of Modo (formerly Cooperative Auto Network in Vancouver) the Kootenay Carshare Co-op was formed.

As a grassroots, volunteer-run organization we grew slowly until 2006 when growing interest resulted in the opening of the Kaslo and Revelstoke branches.  In 2009, Fernie and Kimberley joined as well.  Our first employee came on board in August of 2009.  The following year we updated our logo, adopted our new name (the Kootenay Carshare Cooperative), and got a downtown office! In 2020-21, we went online with a new peer-to-peer program designed to reach every community in the Kootenays.

Kootenay Carshare is an environmental organization first and foremost. The members ‘own’ the co-operative. Members control, through an open and democratic forum, the scope and direction of the co-op. To encourage the reduction of individual greenhouse gas emissions and support the work of becoming Carbon Emission Neutral, a small .002 cent per KM charge is put in a reserve account to purchase alternative fuel vehicles for the Co-op fleet.

Co-ops have a long tradition in Canada. Did you know: four of every ten Canadians are members of at least one co-operative? To learn more about the nature and benefits of co-ops, visit this site on co-ops in Canada.

Kootenay Business awarded us silver in the categories of both rental car and eco-friendly business in its 2019 Best of Business Awards!