The Westend Food Co-op Story

• Vision
• Mission Statement
• Values
• Our Story
• What is a Co-op?
• Contact Us

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Vision

A thriving local community food culture that has a positive impact on the economy, environment and society and promotes a connection to a sustainable global food system.

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Mission statement

The West End food Co-op will:

• Promote co-operative values and ownership;
• Act as a catalyst for local food security by coordinating community driven food initiatives; and
• Provide the local community with a full-service grocery store that focuses on selling products that are ecologically sustainable, local and healthy, such as fair trade and organic;

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Values

The West End Food Co-op values:

• Ethical transparent governance that is non-hierarchal, locally controlled and culturally diverse;
• An organization that is agile, resourceful, pragmatic and promotes innovation;
• Food Initiatives that provide quality member service while ensuring a strong quality of work in a living wage model;
• Community leaders and hope to set an example of how multi-stakeholder co-operation can be prosperous for all;
• Quality assured groceries that focus on purchasing local, direct from producer, human, organic and fair trade;
• Direct and personal relationships between producers and consumers; and
• Co-operation, through organizational education and mentoring.

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Our Story

The West End Food Co-operative (WEFC) is an incorporated multi-stakeholder co-operative – with consumer, employee, and producer/supplier members – committed to the development of community food culture in Toronto’s West End. WEFC acts as a catalyst for local food security by coordinating community driven food initiatives, such as the Sorauren Farmers’ Market and the future development of a small format (under 10,000 ft2) full service grocery store that features local, organic and fair trade products. The co-op will focus on creating local food security while providing employment with a liveable wage model.

In 2008, WEFC established a Farmers Market in Sorauren Park that features organic farmers and purveyors from the Greenbelt and the GTA. One of the unique features of the Sorauren Farmers Market is its collaboration with FarmStart, which seeks to act as a catalyzing opportunity for farmers who have recently established their businesses. The Market also seeks to raise public knowledge of food security issues, in part through a Local Food Awareness campaign using popular education and multimedia.

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What is a Co-op?

A co-operative is there to serve its members and the community where they live. Any enterprise can be co-operatively structured—there are co-ops in every sector, including food, agriculture, funerals, film-making, art, ambulance services, banking, insurance, etc. A co-op is run by and for its members. Each member has one vote regardless of how many shares or bonds they have purchased or how much they use the co-op. The members own the co-op, and participate in planning and strategic decision-making about the future of the co-op.

 For a more in-depth overview, please read "What is a Co-operative" by ON Co-op Association.

QUICK CO-OP FACTS

• The co-operative model has proven to be stronger and more resilient than conventional business models.
• Although co-ops are formed to benefit members and the community they are in, they have also created important and powerful businesses in many sectors, including financial services, housing, food, insurance, health care and forestry.
• In fact, Mountain Equipment Co-opand GayLea are both co-ops. Desjardins Credit Union is the sixth largest financial institution in Canada.
• In the Maritimes food co-ops control over 12% of the grocery share in the whole region.
• Globally 800 million people are members of co-operatives.

FURTHER RESOURCES

Ontario Co-operative Association
Canadian Co-operative Association

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Contact Us

WEFC EXECUTIVE TEAM

Sally Miller, WEFC Coordinator: sally(at)westendfood.coop

Ayal Dinner, Soraurauren Farmer's Market Coordinator: ayal(at)westendfood.coop

John Richmond, Director: john(at)westendfood.coop

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