Tracey shares her experiences about growing and succeeding in business. View videos here>

Read more about the experiences, lessons and successes of Women's Enterprise Centre clients and guest speakers. Go back to Women's Stories main page>

Tracey Axelsson,
Executive Director Co-operative Auto Network (CAN)

Tracey Axelsson was only 28 when she and fellow students did research on car sharing for a project at SFU. Intrigued by models they found in Europe and elsewhere, and committed to environmental and community development issues here, they began their own co-operative under Tracey’s leadership, with a Pontiac Firefly donated by two of the group’s founders. CAN opened its doors (literally) in January 1997, the first car-sharing organization in the English-speaking world.

An English major, Tracey had no business experience and the group had no financial backing. But with a growing demand for its services outstripping supply, Tracey was able to sell CAN’s potential to financial institutions that embrace the co-operative model. Today, with over 2000 members and 112 cars, you can pick up a vehicle at spots all over the lower mainland, at Whistler and on Vancouver and Cortes Islands.

Tracey’s role includes sharing her expertise and ideas with car-sharing organizations all over North America. The market is expanding into community partnerships; Wall Centre’s Electric Avenue is the first residential development in North America where car sharing is provided as an option for residents. Corp CAN, car sharing for business, is another recent addition. With credits like these, it should come as no surprise that Tracey was named a 2004 Woman of Distinction for her leading role in community entrepreneurship.

Go back to Women's Stories main page