Propolis is a “resinous cement which bees collect from buds of trees and then it is used to fill crevices in the hives, thereby giving strength to the cells,” according to Random House Dictionary, 1967.
Think of it as ‘bee glue.’
That is the word Propolis Housing Cooperative chose as a description of the work they do. Their work has come to fruition this year with “shovels in the ground” at the Northshore corner of Aspen and 422/424 Tranquille Road, said Lindsay Harris, Executive Director of Propolis.
The building will be a mixed-use building with 53 residential units above commercial space. The units are non-profit cooperative housing priced below market rent for Kamloops but guaranteeing affordability for working households.
Over the last few years Propolis Housing Cooperative has worked to address the housing problem in Kamloops. “Renters earning a median income can’t afford to live in Kamloops without experiencing financial stress. This isn’t just about housing, it’s about our ability to thrive as a community,” said Harris. Target date for occupancy is sometime in 2027.
Harris was working with the Kamloops Food Policy Council when members began to think about what was happening with the income people had and yet were unable to attain housing but could not qualify for assistance. Through discussions they questioned what they could do, she explained.
The framework for a building that would make it possible for people to manage their income, expenditures, and still afford a place to live led to the founding in 2019 of a co-op; namely Propolis Housing Cooperative.
Cooperative means working together for a common purpose, like a bee-hive. A place where people support each other, said Harris. With an eye on care for residents and the environment, plans for the building included a location as close as possible to shopping, restaurants, and businesses so that patrons can easily walk to, or take transit, to various businesses rather than drive. Although, the cooperative would have vehicles available through the Propel Us car share if needed, explained Harris.
Plans for The Propolis Cooperative building look to a net-zero emission rate. The design includes a roof-top garden for growing food and for people to come together. The cooperative hopes to encourage a reciprocal, caring location where people can come together, share food, develop friendships and create an inclusive community. Depending on the combination of people there could even be a workshop space or a space for people to share hobbies, explained Harris.
The housing units have different layouts consisting of bachelor, one-, two-, and three-bedrooms suits. Cost of a unit is kept low because the building will be multi-family, explained Harris.
This April 2025, Propolis Housing Cooperation advanced to the building stage. This was accomplished by raising money through Community Bonds. Financing secured the land purchased which allowed the project to progress.
Bonds invested for the project came from 101 funders that included residents of Kamloops and partners such as First West Credit Union. Additionally, Thrive Impact Fund and Canadian Cooperative Investment Fund helped bridge financing for the project. The community bond campaign was administered by Tapestry Community Capital, a community investment and social finance leader, according to Yulu PR.
BC Interior Community Foundation, Shuswap Community Foundation, Central Okanagan Foundation, Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, and Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen jointly invested $100,000 each.
The structure of the building included Empacta Development Consultants and Nexbuild Construction development managers and Blue Green Architecture as lead architects.
Propolis Cooperative Housing Society is based in Kamloops, BC. It is on the traditional, unceded territory of the Secwepemc people who nourished themselves and this land for millennia. This ancient gathering place, where the North and South Thompson Rivers meet is called T’kemlups in the Secwepemc language, Secwépemctsín. This land is called Secwepemcúl’ecw.