Almost everyone working at BCICS right now seems to be writing something, be it a book, paper for publication or presentation. Following is an account from one of our researchers, Kevin Wilson, a Masters student in the Department of History at the University of Victoria. He has written, in collaboration with other BCICS researchers, on the communitarian and especially the co-operative experiences, of the people of Malcolm Island. Support for Kevin’s research came from several sources, including the Co-op and Credit Union sector, the Community University Research Alliance (CURA) programme in the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Sointula Museum, the University of Victoria’s Co-operative Education programme, and the Center for International Mobility in Finland.

Sointula, Malcolm Island: A co-operative community

From January 2003 up until June of this year, I have worked with the BCICS on a popular history of the community of Sointula, Malcolm Island. The reason for BCICS’ interest in this community is obvious: Sointula has the longest consecutive running co-operative store in Western Canada, the Sointula Co-op (1909 to the present); Malcolm Islanders created BC’s first fishing co-op, the British Columbia Fishermen’s Co-operative Association (BCFCA: 1929-1932); and the community has developed a number of other co-operatives in the past several decades, including tree planting, shellfish, and multi-stakeholder co-operatives. Though all of these co-operatives have played a role in the community, the history of the Sointula co-operative store has been a primary focus for me. Beyond being a successful consumer co-op, the store has acted as the uniting force in the community over most of its existence, from its all-day community meetings, to its role as a bank, property owner, and fishing gear supplier. Truly, the co-op has been the heart of the community.

Though the store and other co-operative institutions have played a huge role on the island, there is a great deal more to this island’s history than its co-operatives. Settled by Finnish immigrants under the leadership of the charismatic Matti Kurikka, the community began as a socialist utopia in 1901. Throughout the twentieth century, Malcolm Islanders have devoted much of their time to larger issues and organisations, leaving a record of strong union support, socialist politics, and a connection to Finnish communities throughout Canada. This popular history, to be entitled Practical Dreamers, will include many photographs of the island (past and present) and will attempt to capture the unique nature of its residents, including their deep co-operative values.