News & Events

We are moving to the next stage of the Co-op Cred program, an innovative community-based system of alternative exchange (i.e. a community currency model) that facilitates supportive work placement opportunities for Parkdale community members while also enabling them to receive and use “co-op credits” to purchase healthy food available at the West End Food Co-op.

As we briefly reported back last year, the second year of the Co-op Cred program – the expansion phase – has explored the effectiveness of the program at the neighbourhood scale. The expansion phase has achieved considerable successes and outcomes. For example, the total number of the participants has grown from 7 participants in the pilot phase in 2013 to 51 participants in the expansion phase in 2014. 26 work placement opportunities (19 new) at 5 different locations – the WEFC grocery store/kitchen, the Sorauren Farmers’ Market, the PARC kitchen, the Greenest City learning garden, and a boarding home backyard garden – have been created.

We are currently finishing up a detailed program evaluation, and are planning to release a summary of evaluation and outcomes soon!

Building on the successes and lessons of the expansion phase, we are moving to the next “integration” phase. And we are very excited to announce that we received a continued support from Metcalf Foundation through its Inclusive Local Economies program’s Opportunity Fund.

From the expansion phase, we learned the potential of the Co-op Cred program that can address the intersection of food security, supportive work, and personal growth – toward a decent working lives. In this next Integration phase, we aim to integrate the Co-op Cred program into wider community economic development and workforce development efforts underway in Parkdale. The key goal is to develop long-term strategies that harness the full potential of the Co-op Cred program as a catalyst for creating a Parkdale workforce development strategy.

To achieve this goal, we are planning to undertake various strategies. For example, we will continue to explore ways to expand work placement opportunities. Furthermore, a key partner, Greenest City, will start its own Co-op Cred program that engages newcomer communities in Parkdale. In addition, we are working to develop local partnerships to establish direct and accommodating transition paths to next steps (such as working at social enterprises and/or local community agencies).

Developing a Parkdale workforce development strategy will be pursued in close coordination with the ongoing community-based economic planning initiative underway in Parkdale, which aims to develop a strategic neighbourhood plan with a focus on community wealth building and decent work.

In 2013, we launched the successful pilot project of the Co-op Cred program with PARC Ambassadors Team. This year, we have been working toward the expansion and scale-up of the Co-op Cred program. In so doing, we aim to assess the viability of the Co-op Cred Program as a neighbourhood-based economic development tool. This expansion phase has continued to be supported by Metcalf Foundation and Echo Foundation with an additional support from the Cooperators.

The Co-op Cred program is an innovative partnership program incubated by West End Food Co-op and PARC. Greenest City has been a crucial partner since its inception. From this year, Parkdale Community Health Centre joined the program to strengthen their link with the West End Food Co-op and access to healthy and local food.

In the 2014 expansion year, PARC’s Co-op Cred program has engaged over 20 new participants in a wide range of work placement opportunities at the West End Food Co-op and Greenest City. Seven PARC Ambassadors have continued their participation and leadership. It should be noted that they have played a significant role in supporting new participants as mentors, and peer supporters.

For example, 10 new participants along with 5 Ambassadors have done placements with West End Food Co-op, supporting its kitchen production, floor, and stocking, and their farmers’ market.

Also, 8 new participants along with 2 Ambassadors have worked at the Greenest City site to support urban agriculture activities. Their work has been featured in the Toronto Star article!

In addition, we have developed a relationship with one of the boarding homes in Parkdale via Habitat Services. We have teamed up with Greenest City and one member from the boarding home to repurpose the backyard into a food growing space. Parkdale Community Health Centre has also started its own Co-op Cred Program by redesigning their Diabetes Management program. So far, 18 participants have earned co-op credits. Similarly, three PARC Edmond Place supportive housing tenants have also joined the Co-op Cred program  by redesigning their independent food program to be incorporated into the Co-op Cred program. We have also started Co-op Cred program placements at the PARC drop-in meal program.

These are great examples of how we are building intentional networks and active interdependence with existing community assets in the Parkdale neighbourhood. And this opens up possibilities for further growth and sustainability.

Furthermore, this year’s Ride For Real Food Campaign – a fundraising event dedicated for the Co-op Cred program – has broken the record! The campaign achieved over $37,000, about 30% increase from the last year’s campaign! A number of Ambassadors and participants have supported the campaign and two participants participated in the ride.

In short, our expansion phase has been making remarkable progress! The Co-op Cred program has been featured in the Toronto Vital Sign 2014 report as one of the effective programs addressing the growing wealth gap.

We have started program evaluation processes to document and reflect on lessons and challenges that have emerged from this expansion phase, ones that will inform our next steps.