While in Toronto for Impact ON’s event, Daniel P. Brunette, Senior Director of External Affairs, took the time to meet with various stakeholders and visit local co-operatives.
His first was a stop at the St. James Town Community Co-op, where Co-founder, Josephine Grey, shared the story, challenges, and aspirations for the co-operative, all centring around innovative food security initiative. The Organic Agro-Ecological Sustainable Integrated Systems, also known as OASIS Food Hub, is a full-food cycle model which provides community-based solutions for the supply of healthy, affordable, and cultural food to residents. The St. James Town Community Co-op and Oasis Food Hub are dedicated to serving St. James Town, the largest high-rise community and most densely populated neighbourhoods in Canada. The importance of co-operation and solidarity are crucial in this neighbourhood as there are roughly 25,000 residents within its borders.
Following this visit, Daniel had the pleasure of meeting Dr. John Simouldinis, an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Science at York University in Toronto. Dr. Simouldinis teaches food systems related courses and runs a social economy practicum in the Business and Society Program at York. He is involved in several sustainability initiatives, including the Green Campus Co-operative which sells fair trade clothing, all while promoting sustainability and social justice.
In addition to these endeavours, Dr. Simouldinis is also the new president of a CMC Member, the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC). CASC is a multidisciplinary network of researchers and practitioners whose work involves co-operatives and co-operation. During the meeting, Daniel and Dr. Simouldinis discussed the various projects that involve a collaboration between CASC and CMC, such as the three Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC) scholarships: Alexander Fraser Laidlaw Fellowship (graduate students only), Amy and Tim Dauphinee Scholarship (graduate students only) and the Lemaire Co-operative Studies Award (undergraduate or graduate students). In addition, the duo also discussed past, current and future research opportunities, as well as the upcoming ICA Committee in Co-operative Research (CCR) Global Research Conference. This will be an interesting event for anyone who is involved or interested by co-operative research. The event will take place between 8 and 11 July 2025 in Montreal be hosted by fellow CMC-Member, theInstitut international des coopératives Alphonse-et-Dorimène-Desjardins (IICADD).
Daniel’s last stop in the GTA was at Karma Food Co-op. Established in 1972, Karma remains an advocate for ethical, locally sourcing, fairly priced, and waste reducing products, all while promoting the co-operative difference. With more than 500 members, and more than 400 items, Karma continues to be an alternative for conscious-based consumers. This meeting focused on the evolving operational structure and needs of Karma, brought on by the lessons learned from the pandemic, changing social norms and the challenges of being located in a building built in the early 1900s.