New executive co-ordinator for The Koop

Prudence-Elise Breton to replace Andrew Jarrett as executive co-ordinator of Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative (The Koop).

The Kootenay Boundary Community Services Co-operative (The Koop) will soon have a new executive co-ordinator, Prudence-Elise Breton. She will be replacing Andrew Jarrett, who is retiring after serving as executive co-ordinator for the past 10 years. His dedication and leadership has built The Koop into the strong organization it is today.

“Prudence brings to The Koop a strong moral commitment to supporting co-operative activities and initiatives. She is known to be highly collaborative, as well as able to reach out to community members, establish positive relations, and draw individuals and groups into an organization,” said Judy Pollard, chair of The Koop’s board of directors. Prudence is looking forward to learning about the 12 Koop member agencies, the communities they serve, as well as the wide variety of community social services they provide throughout the West Kootenay Boundary region.

Prudence was born and raised in rural Quebec. She moved to Quebec City at the age of 17 where she earned her degree in social work while studying at Laval University. After university, she worked in Quebec City for the rural secretariat of Quebec and in Ontario for a citizenship and sustainability oriented community organization. In 2006, she relocated to Prince George, B.C., to undertake a Master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. Her thesis topic was to examine how sustainability is implemented within the Eco Village at Ithaca, a non-profit educational organization comprised of two cohousing co-operative communities. During her studies, she fell in love with beautiful British Columbia and moved to Nelson to become the executive director of the Association des Francophones des Kootenays Ouest (West Kootenay Association of Francophones), a position she has held since 2009. She has been involved not only with the francophone community but also with the Kootenay Coop Radio and the City of Nelson Path to 2040 Sustainability Strategy (among others).   

Prudence begins her position with The Koop in September 2013.

Visit The Koop for more information or call 250-352-6786.