OUR HISTORY

Following the vision of our seven founding members, the Slocan Valley Co-op has grown to more than 5,000 members since 1957. The Slocan Valley Co-op was originally formed by a group of Doukhobors to supply farm and grocery items to their own Doukhobor families and farmers. Throughout the years, with numerous changes and amendments, the original concept of the Slocan Valley Co-op has evolved into a local cornerstone with annual sales of over $38 million dollars.

We strive to meet the needs of our members with our Gas Bar and Convenience Stores in Slocan Park, Nelson, Castlegar, and Glenmerry. Members with the Slocan Valley Co-op can use their number at each of these sites. Our Slocan Park store also provides a large grocery selection and is a liquor agency. Our sites provides high quality Co-op Gasoline and Diesel that meets industry Top-Tier certification.

Our Castlegar Petroleum Department provides commercial fuel, residential home-heating fuel, and lubricants to numerous commercial clients throughout the Kootenay region, as well as fuel through our Castlegar Cardlock location. We are the exclusive fuel supplier for Yellowhead, Road & Bridge (YRB) in the Kootenays, as well as four independently-owned Tempo service stations to serve their communities in Robson (Johnny's Gas & Grocery), Genelle (Genelle General Store), Christina Lake (Lakeside General Store), and Winlaw (Winlaw Mini Mart), and the independently owned and operated Husky site in Creston. The very same, high-quality, Top-Tier certified fuel you receive from Co-op Gas Bars can be found at all Tempo Gas Stations as well.

In February of 2024, the Slocan Valley Co-op purchased The Dam Restaurant & Bar, located in South Slocan. This purchase marks a new chapter of the Co-op to make new, diverse investments in the community for long term sustainability.

In September of 2025, we converted out Glenmerry Tempo site to a Co-op Gas Bar & Convenience Store, providing our members in the Kootenay region and the communities throughout the Trail region the ability to use their Co-op member number and build patronage and equity for their purchases.

In January of 2026, Fruitvale Co-op and Slocan Valley Co-op entered into an agreement to pursue amalgamating both Co-operative Assocations. In May of the same year, the Special Resolution vote on the amalgamation went to a members of each Co-op. 100% of Fruitvale members and over 96% of Slocan Valley members voted to approve the amalgamation. The amalgamation would take effect on November 1, 2026 to form under the name Valley Merchant Co-operative (Valley Co-op).