The Refuge Cove Land and Housing Co-op (Rclahc) was formed in 1972. With 18 member families, six of whom are original members, it is the longest running land and housing co-op in the province. The Refuge Cove Harbour Authority (Rcha) was formed about ten years ago to administer the former government docks located in the Cove at the commercial centre. The membership and board of the Rcha is identical to that of the Co-op; a member of the Rclahc is automatically a member of the Rcha. The Coop is the registered owner of a number of parcels of land all located within Refuge Cove BC and totaling about 186 acres with approximately 7,000 feet of waterfront. Membership in the Co-op entitles the member to a designated site of 2 acres and the improvements on the site. The remaining land is considered common to all members and for the benefit of all. The present annual membership levy is $500, which makes a membership inexpensive to hold as the Co-op is responsible or paying all the land taxes and lease fees connected with owning the property. Some sites have private docks including the subject site and all members have access to that part of the Harbour Authority dock system dedicated for exclusive Co-op use. Both the Co-op and the Harbour Authority are solvent with reserves as the Co-op derives substantial revenue from lease agreements with the commercial enterprises which operate on Co-op land and the Harbour Authority receives a moorage revenue from mainly transient vessel traffic.