Muskoka North Good Food Co-operative

Board of Directors

Annmarie Boehm-TapleyMatt Richter

Dawn HuddlestoneMonica SinclairLaura Gilmour

Caitlin HillCollette Lalonde

Kelly PickenKate Solecki

Jeanette Turvey

We planted a seed out of a need.

Our Common Roots

• Food Security refers to the adequate availability of food and one's access

to it. It is a measure of resilience to future disruption or unavailability of critical

food supply due to various risk factors.

• Building Resilience through intentionally seeking ways to strengthen

our local economy through the relationships forged with farmers, producers and

suppliers. In doing so, we will have a multiplier effect on local economic activity.

• A Community Owned Grocery Store and food-based community

centre that provides the infrastructure needed to create safe & inclusive access

to good food, food-based education & agri-food business development support.

• A Co-operative Approach to business, projects and healthy living.

• Social Benefits include: {Triple bottom line approach to business}

People, environmental and social responsibility, purveying ethical and

sustainable products while addressing everyone’s needs because it is owned by

everyone.

What?

The Muskoka-North Good Food Co-operative (MNGFC) is a not-for-profit co-operative grocery

store and Community Food Centre. Owned by its membership, this inclusive co-op model will be

managed and staffed by both volunteers and paid employees. All generated surplus will be re-

invested back into the enterprise, as well as into food-based programming and initiatives.

It is naturally community-focused.

Who?

Connecting the “eaters” and the producers: The MNGFC is represented by a proactive and

creative Board of Directors. Membership include: consumers, producers, and corporate.

The members ARE the store’s owners.

Why?

The MNGFC will act as a catalyst that connects regional and Northern farmers and value-added

food creators to local and visiting “eaters” and will assist in building capacity in local food

production and value-added markets. We will provide a year round retail venue for producers to

market their good food products and for consumers to access them.

Where?

Situated in Huntsville, the MNGFC will reach a broad demographic as well as act as a gateway to

the agricultural abundance found in the North.

When?

We hope to have our doors open by Fall/Winter 2014.

co·op·er·a·tivekōˈäp(ə)rətiv/nouna co-operative is an enterprise that is jointly owned by the members who use its services. All members of a co-op are equal decision makers in the enterprise, using a democratic system of one-member, one-vote. In turn, all members share the benefits of co-operation.

a multi-stakeholder co-op serves the needs of the different stakeholder groups. The MNGFC’s multi-stakeholder members are: consumers, producers, and corporate. Its members ARE its owners and they all belong equally to this democratic form of enterprise.

One membership = One vote

“Co-operatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility.”

-Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General

Today, there are thousands of co-operatives all over the world with over 600 million members, all of which subscribe to what are now

known as the seven international principles of co-operation:

• Voluntary and Open Membership- All welcome, no pressure

• Democratic Member Control- One member = One vote

• Members’ Economic Participation- Builds with use

• Autonomy and Independence- Owners guide the way

• Education, Training and Information- Share, learn, grow

• Co-operation among Co-operatives-Together everyone achieves more

• Concern for Community- Building strong communities

A Community-Owned Grocery Store

and more...

• One stop shop for all essential groceries including (but not limited to)

produce, meat, dairy, grains, value-added foods, garden and minor agricultural supplies &

household/body care goods;

• Community Cannery & Production Kitchen;

• Café;

• Commercial greenhouse production for plant/vegetable starts, heritage food plants and

trees and school/community education;

• Fitness/ wellness room;

• Warm hospitality of members and staff;

• Information on in-store products and producers;

• A hands-on approach to your shopping experience;

• A venue for educational growth and sharing, around food and sustenance building;

• Member benefits and countless opportunities to be a part of the working democratic model.

…most significant grassroots movement in 50 years”

–Canadian Foodie

Membership is Ownership. If anyone can shop there, then why should I become a member of

The Muskoka North Good Food Co-op?

Because you will be:

investing in your community;

creating a place-based food system that is recreating your community;

accessing a co-op that exists to serve & benefit its members;

part of a democratic process- you get to vote on all major decision making

able to become a board member

welcome to sit on working committees

a “founding member” if you become a member before the doors open!

receiving benefits like: special deals and prices on groceries and workshops, event invitations, newsletters and releases & more…

Move up, move up.

Committees you can join.

This is your chance to ask us the questions you have about co-ops, governance, or specifically The Muskoka North Good Food Co-op.

Please put your hand up, state your name and your question or comment.

Your input is most valuable to us, so please, bring it on!

Thank you to all of

our supporters

Klas Web Design and Graphics

Vanessa’s Kitchen

Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce

SVI Solutions

Port Sydney Chamber of Commerce

ReMax

Dr. Shane Williams

Virginia Hastings/Starshine Video Productions

Barfff Studio Productions

Lake of Bays Township Public Library

The District of Muskoka

The Town of Huntsville/Sustainability Huntsville

Hidden Valley Highlands Ski Area

Evergreen Heights Elementary School

V.K. Greer

Huntsville Public School

Deerhurst Resort

The Algonquin Theatre

Sustain

Shopmuskoka.com

The Ontario Trillium Foundation

Belly Ice Cream Co.Mrs. Wilson’s Kitchen7 Main CafeTable Top FarmSpringhill Fresh WaterSeed To Green FarmFour Season GreensThe Spring FarmerSprucedale MeatsMaple Bluff FarmWindmill BakerySchat BakeryWheat-Free DelightsThornloe CheeseMuskoka RoasteryAlly Bryant Debanna FarmSantosha FarmMuskoka BreweryLake of Bays BreweryMuskoka Honey Bee ProductsSandy Ebbs (maple syrup)

Thank you all of our valued Food

and Beverage Sponsors: