Russ Rothney – Neechi Commons

Neechi Foods Co-Op Ltd.
325 Dufferin Ave.
 over 22 years in business
 groceries, catering, take-out, Aboriginal
specialty goods
Lord Selkirk Park neighbourhood
 community economic development
principles
 worker cooperative
 15 staff
community
environment
financial
Your investment is needed to help open
Neechi Commons this summer!
www.neechi.ca [email protected]
*local fruits & vegetables
*neighbourhood supermarket
*bannock bakery *fish market
*ethnic foods *farmers market
*cafeteria restaurant *hardware
*Aboriginal arts centre
community
environment
financial
Your investment is
*North-end revitalization
*Aboriginal & neighbourhood pride needed to help open
Neechi Commons this
*over 50 new jobs
summer!
*century-old heritage restoration
Neechi Foods Co-Op Ltd.
*geo-thermal
325 Dufferin Ave.
*Green Globes award
www.neechi.ca
[email protected]
*30 % provincial tax credit
role of the community in determining
goals and success?
• origins: economic development training
sponsored by Aboriginal organizations +
community consultation meetings
• choice of a worker cooperative model
• household shoppers - sales and innovations
• organizations
• Neechi Commons – integrated design
process
addressing the
social aspect of community?
• creation of community identity in the context
of economic “refugees”
•community economic development
• employment
• business ownership / co-op membership
• training and role modeling / Aboriginal pride
• community health – 1st grocery store to not
sell cigarettes, healthy foods promotion,
diabetes prevention work
• creation of “Community United for Change”
•North-end revitalization
addressing the
environmental aspect of community?
• promotion of regionally harvested and
processed foods
• geo-thermal heating and cooling
• building heritage restoration
• Green Globes certification
• physical accessibility
• Neighbourhood safety
• no air miles
addressing the
economic aspect of community?
• restoration of economic balance & opportunity
• application of Neechi CED Principles: local
employment and training – democratic business
ownership – purchases of locally produced goods
– creation of goods & services used by
community residents – local reinvestment of
surpluses (profits) – promotion of other CED
enterprises – promotion of community health –
emphasis on human dignity
addressing the
cultural aspect of community?
• builds on historic traditions of economic
activity based on sharing and collective selfreliance
• understanding that a community-based
economy is needed to sustain community values
• understanding that economic independence
fosters cultural integrity
• promotion of artistic expressions of Aboriginal
culture
• respect for North-end traditions
addressing equity?
• promotion of opportunities for
Aboriginal People
• promotion of opportunities for lowincome households
• respect for people with diverse
abilities and challenges
• gender sensitivity
• age sensitivity
• ethnic sensitivity
impacting public policy?
• The Government of Manitoba, as well as
various community organizations, have adopted
and adapted the eleven Community Economic
Development principles compiled by the
members of Neechi Foods Co-Op in 2003.
• Neechi’s work on Dufferin Ave. has helped to
inspire community and cooperative initiatives
locally and across Canada.
• Neechi Commons will heavily reinforce this
impact.