By Christine Donnelly

Sometimes, even though I live near Queen and Lansdowne, I’ve got to admit I love Parkdale.

On Monday night, despite the miserable weather, the Gladstone Hotel ballroom was packed with the boisterous residents of Toronto’s diverse West end. Gathered to find out how we could get involved in the launch of a West End Food Co-op, the crowd (which at times stretched in a line out the door) mingled with local farmers, direct traders, politicians and co-op board members. This kickoff event was the start of the West End Food Co-op’s year-long campaign, which ultimately aims to raise enough money to open a grocery store in Parkdale by the end of next year.

Focused on bringing the fresh produce of local farmers into the community, the co-op is a natural extension of the Sorauren Farmer’s Market, which was established by this same group in 2008. Philipp Haderer, director of the co-op, called the store “…an opportunity to be active citizens and not passive consumers.”

Based on a model similar to Mountain Equipment Co-op, the cost of membership is $5. Only members can shop at the store, and all members have the opportunity to vote and participate on committees that impact the store’s management and direction. Members can also purchase 5 and 10 year bonds for a minimum of $100 to a maximum of $1000. In all, the non-profit’s goal is to raise a minimum of $50k in order to open the storefront by late 2010.

To an applauding crowd, speeches made by board members and politicians were as much about the importance of access to healthy, local produce and sustainable food as they were a love letter to the residents of Parkdale. Politicians like Peggy Nash, Cheri DiNovo, and Gord Perks made initial $1000 donations. Perks called it, “… a social investment, (that goes) beyond the rate of return.” Peggy Nash, President of the NDP, spoke last over the din of the crowd. “It’s not every place that can do this,” she said, “Parkdale is very special.” http://www.westendfood.coop/

Photos:
Local farmer Christine Klucha with produce from her Niagara-on-the-Lake Farm
Philipp Harderer from the West End Food Co-op answers some questions