Business and sustainability combined create a “new way” for a First Nation community
About this story
- Organization
Salish Soils - Region
Sunshine Coast, BC - Area of impact
Energy and environment and Aboriginal communities - Type of investment
Resilient loan - Download a
long version of this story
"Working with Vancity has been a very positive experience for us. They’ve been very supportive in helping us bring this whole plan to fruition. Without their support, we couldn't have done it.” – Salish Soils director Phil Ragan
Salish Soils is a state-of-the-art composting facility located on Sechelt First Nation land on the Sunshine Coast. By diverting organic waste products that might otherwise end up in a local landfill and converting them into a nutrient-rich mulch, Salish Soils reduces carbon dioxide emissions and creates green jobs and premium soils for local gardens, organic farms, greenhouses, landscapers and the local regional district.
Vancity provided a loan of $1.25 million for the facility’s expansion, with an additional $250,000 in loans coming from other community partners. A portion of the Vancity loan was delivered through the Resilient Capital Program, a partnership between Vancity and the Vancouver Foundation.
In the words of Salish Soils president and CEO Aaron Joe, the facility offers a “whole new way” forward for the Sunshine Coast—a sound business in keeping with First Nations principles of sustainability.
Key to boosting local food production is Salish Soils’ state-of-the-art composting technology. The facility uses GORE™ Cover technology to rapidly increase the rate at which organic materials are composted, cutting the usual composting time by two-thirds to 60 days or less. The GORE™ Cover system, made with a material similar to that used in Gore-Tex jackets, accelerates the natural “bioactivity,” effectively sterilizing the finished compost by raising the processing temperature to 70 degrees Celsius and more. The process essentially eliminates all pathogens and weed seeds, creating an extremely high-quality product that is perfect for organic farming, home gardening and landscaping.
Vancity provided a loan for the facility’s expansion, with additional loans coming from other community partners. A portion of the Vancity loan was delivered through the Resilient Capital Program*, a partnership between Vancity and the Vancouver Foundation.
*Financing secured through the Resilient Capital Program. Resilient Capital™ is an investment program dedicated to accelerating the growth of organizations with proven business models that add to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of their communities. The Resilient Capital Program is made possible by a partnership between Vancity and Vancouver Foundation. Learn more at www.resilientcapital.ca.