COL has been based in Vancouver, Canada, since being established in 1987 when the Canadian government offered to host the organisation in British Columbia. Canada is a major contributor to COL’s budget and a strong supporter of COL’s activities. As a major donor, Canada has a seat on COL’s Board of Governors. Canada is rich in resources for COL, and Canadian institutions often cooperate with COL to host visitors from the developing world and share experiences and expertise.