Local co-ops




	According to ON Co-op there are over 180 co-ops in Waterloo Region, Wellington County and Oxford County. The products and services include agriculture, arts & culture, child care, community development, energy, environment, financial services, food, health, housing, media & communications, retail and many others. Here is a selection of local co-ops. For the complete listing, go to www.coopsontario.com. _______________________________________________________ AG ENERGY CO-OPERATIVE 45 Speedvale Avenue E. Guelph ON N1H 1J2 Phone: 519-763-3026, Fax: 519-763-5231 Toll Free: 1-866-818-8828 Ag Energy Co-operative was formed in 1988 to provide natural gas options and other forms of energy to greenhouses. Since then, the Co-operative has expanded its membership to include all agricultural producers and processors in Ontario. We are Canada’s largest farm energy co-op providing half of all natural gas used by greenhouses and one third of all electricity consumed by Ontario agriculture. Our FireFly Energy division offers natural gas and electricity solutions to those who do not qualify for Membership. Our Ag Energy Services division implements conservation and efficiency strategies in Ontario agriculture. _______________________________________________________ ASGARD GREEN COOPERATIVE HOMES 155 Cherry Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 4V2 Phone and Fax: 519-742-8273 E-mail: asgard@golden.net Asgard Green is a not-for-profit housing co-operative whose primary goal is to provide safe, affordable housing to its members. All co-operative organizations operate with the same co-op principles. _______________________________________________________ BAGGAGE ROOM CO-OPERATIVE 41 Bridge St. W. Tillsonburg ON N4G 5P2 Phone: 519-842-6151, Fax: 519-842-7555 A non-profit organization that promotes local artists in the community. _______________________________________________________ CAMBRIDGE COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OPERATIVE 54 Ainslie Street South Cambridge ON N1R 3K3 Phone: 519-622-6550; Fax: 519-622-9076 The Cambridge Self-Help Food bank is unique in that it operates a Food Co-operative program for low-income individuals and families. As well as providing a stable source of groceries, Co-op membership offers opportunities for skill development and personal growth. Members assist Food Bank staff to carry out many administrative, warehouse, and maintenance tasks. _______________________________________________________ CIVICS RESEARCH CO-OPERATIVE 8 St. Leger St. Kitchener ON N2H 4L7 Phone: 519-570-9521 A research and community animation co-op that carries out collaborative, participatory and interactive research, especially on community-based concerns. The co-op also helps to organize and facilitate groups and events that bring people together to positively influence community capacity to benefit the social and environmental sustainability of life in Kitchener-Waterloo. _______________________________________________________ CO-OPERATIVE STAFF ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL ONTARIO (CSACO) 693 Beechwood Drive c/o Beechwood Co-operative Homes Inc. Waterloo ON N2T 2P6 Phone: 519-886-0359, Fax: 519-886-5593 Co-operative Staff Association of Central Ontario is a non-profit, democratic organization that represents and supports the staff of housing co-operatives. CSACO promotes staff as stakeholders in the co-op housing sector. It values the principles of co-operation and works to strengthen the co-op housing sector. CSACO members include co-ordinators, bookkeepers, and administrative staff employed full or part time by housing co-operatives. Members work primarily in Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Brantford and Cambridge. Some members no longer work in co-ops but have remained members of CSACO. _______________________________________________________ EASTERN ONTARIO FEEDER CATTLE CO-OPERATIVE R.R. #1 Newburg ON K9V 4R1 Phone: 613-378-0024 Provides loans to purchase feeder cattle. _______________________________________________________ ELMIRA PRODUCT AUCTION CO-OPERATIVE 7400 Reid Woods Dr. R.R. 1 St. Jacob ON N0B 2N0 Phone: 519-699-9358 An auction owned by growers where produce is sold to wholesalers, small stores and distributors. _______________________________________________________ FIREFLY ENERGY 45 Speedvale Avenue E Guelph ON N1H 1J2 Phone: 519-780-5230, Toll Free: 888-866-7575 FireFly Energy, a division of Ag Energy Co-operative, offers natural gas and electricity solutions to smaller agricultural operations, businesses of all sizes and residential users. We consistently provide low-cost offers in Ontario and British Columbia. _______________________________________________________ GRAND RIVER CAR SHARE 7 - 29 King St. E. Kitchener, ON N2G 2K4 Office: 519-578-1895 Email: info@grandrivercarshare.ca Grand River CarShare is incorporated (i.e. as The People's Car Co-operative Inc.) as a non-profit car sharing co-operative without share capital. Our mission is to deliver a car sharing service and to promote car sharing as an important component of a transportation system that supports an alternative to the privately-owned automobile within the Region of Waterloo. Through this we seek to reduce overall transportation costs, traffic congestion, and air pollution, thus improving our community. _______________________________________________________ GROWMARK 1 Chandaria Place Unit 5 Kitchener ON N2C 2S3 Phone: 519-895-4200, Fax: 519-895-4241 GROWMARK, Inc. is a regional co-operative that provides agriculture-related products and services to farmers and rural residents in the Midwest and Northeastern United States and Ontario through local FS member co-operatives and by GROWMARK subsidiaries. FS branded and related products and services include crop inputs, crop protection, seed, grain handling, energy products including bio-diesel and ethanol fuels, lubricants, heating and propane, feed and animal health as well as a variety of consumer related products such as lawn and garden care, work wear, pet care supplies and hardware. From its Ontario headquarters in Kitchener, GROWMARK supplies and serves 21 local agricultural co-ops, which in turn represent close to 32,000 members, 1,500 employees, and close to 90,000 customers. _______________________________________________________ KLEMMER FARMHOUSE COOPERATIVE NURSERY INC University of Waterloo, University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Telephone - (519) 885-5181 Fax. (519) 885-3872 Email - klemmer@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca Conveniently located on the north campus of the University of Waterloo, Klemmer has been serving the Waterloo area since 1976. Our facilities are housed in an authentic brick farmhouse, surrounded by mature trees, where nutritious meals and snacks are prepared daily by our staff. We provide a fun and stimulating learning environment for your child in a quiet, comfortable setting. _______________________________________________________ LIBRO FINANCIAL GROUP 1170 Fischer Hallman Rd. Kitchener, ON N2E 3Z3 Phone: 519-570-9955, Fax: 519-570-0292 Libro Financial Group is a full service financial institution advising people throughout southwestern Ontario. We offer savings accounts, loans, mortgages, insurance, RRSPs, mutual funds, investments, financial advice, agricultural services, commercial accounts and more. Work with a Libro Coach and own your life. _______________________________________________________ LOCAL INITIATIVE FOR FUTURE ENERGY CO-OPERATIVE (LIFE) 125 Snyders Road E Baden ON N3A 2V4 Phone: 888-571-7009 x453, Toll Free: 1-888-571-7009 x453 L.I.F.E. Co-op is a progressive local initiative built on environmental and quality of life principles, which was formed to find ways to reduce our dependency on non-renewable energy resources. L.I.F.E. co-op is a for-profit business venture that is an attractive investment vehicle for members of the community. Currently, L.I.F.E. is working on two main projects, a community owned wind park and co-operatively managed biogas installations. Other services include networking and sharing information in the renewable energy sector and other sustainable developments. _______________________________________________________ MORNINGTON COMMUNICATIONS CO-OP LTD 16 Mill Street East, P.O. Box 70 Milverton, Ontario, Canada N0K 1M0 Telephone: 519-595-8331 Toll Free: 1-800-250-8750 Fax: 519-595-4142 E-mail: sales@mornington.ca Mornington Communications Co-operative Limited is an Independent Telephone company serving approximately 1900 customers in the 595 exchange since 1919. Services provided by Mornington include: >Local Telephone Service >Call Management Features ALTO Long Distance >Internet Services through it wholly owned subsidiary Cyg.Net Internet Service >Security Monitoring >Cellular Service – Spring 2008 >Digital TV – Spring/Summer 2008 _______________________________________________________ NATURAL BURIAL CO-OPERATIVE 14 Division St. Guelph ON N1H 1P9 Phone: 519-763-8825 Natural burial is an environmentally sustainable funeral alternative that embraces the natural cycle of life. _______________________________________________________ ONTARIO WORKER CO-OPERATIVE FEDERATION 450 Speedvale Ave. W. Suite 101 Guelph ON N1H 7Y6 Phone: 519-763-8271, Fax: 519-763-7239 Toll Free: 1-888-745-5521 The Ontario Worker Co-op Federation (OWCF) helps in the development of new and existing worker co-ops. It also lobbies governments on behalf of established worker co-ops, and disburses information about the benefits and goals of co-operatively owned businesses. The OWCF has 18 member co-ops through its organization. A member of On Co-op since 2002 (founding member). _______________________________________________________ ORGANIC MEADOW 5653 Hwy 6 Guelph ON N1H 6J2 Phone: 519-767-9694, Fax: 519-767-0978 Toll Free: 1-866-767-9694 Organic Meadow Co-operative Inc. is an organic farmers co-operative and Canada's largest organic producer. Organic Meadow's brand of certified organic dairy products includes organic fluid milk, butter, yogurt, cheese, eggs, and frozen vegetables. Organic Meadow is the only organic brand with national distribution through leading retail outlets. A Member of On Co-op since 2003. _______________________________________________________ OXFORD MILKWAY TRANSPORT CO-OPERATIVE 103 Longworth Lane Woodstock ON N4V 1G6 Phone: 519-539-2302, Fax: 519-539-2855 Milk transportation. _______________________________________________________ PLANET BEAN COFFEE ROASTERY 259 Grange Rd. Unit 2 Guelph ON N1E 6R5 Phone: 519-837-3242, Fax: 519-837-4297 Planet Bean Coffee is owned by a worker co-op located in Guelph. It produces a great-tasting coffee and, through fair trade, it links producers and consumers in a meaningful way. Planet Bean believes its success as a business is measured not only by its financial earnings but also its ability to reduce its environmental footprint, improve the health of the planet and advance organic production. Our coffee is shade grown, bird and butterfly friendly and fresh roasted daily! We supply wholesale throughout Ontario and have two retail cafes. Let us be your co-op coffee provider of choice! Planet Bean is, itself not a co-op, but is a division of Sumac Worker Co-op and founding member of the Guelph Co-op Council. _______________________________________________________ ST JACOBS ABC 929 Arthur Street South R.R. #1 Elmira ON N3B 2Z1 Phone: 519-664-1616, Fax: 519-664-1617 Toll Free: 888-785-7883 St. Jacobs ABC is a subsidiary of ABS Global (Canada) Inc., the world-leading provider of bovine genetics, reproduction services, technologies & udder care products. St. Jacobs ABC is the supplier of some of ABS' most prestigious genetics. _______________________________________________________ SIMPLY FINE WINE 620 Davenport Road Waterloo, Ontario N2V 2C2 Phone:(519) 888-6272, FAX: (519) 888-7731, E-MAIL: simplyfinewines@simplyfinewines.com At Simply Fine Wine our staff strives to make your winemaking experience the most enjoyable ever, while providing you with the finest quality wines from around the world. _______________________________________________________ THE EVERPURE BIODIESEL CO-OP PO Box 296 Hillsburgh ON N0B 1Z0 Phone: 519-217-3557 The Everpure Biodiesel Co-op is committed to the use of 2nd generation biofuels - using waste restaurant oils (etc) as its feedstock. Located in Hillsburgh, Everpure has over 50 members from Orangeville, Guelph, and Georgetown, and distributes fuel on a weekly basis. New members welcome! _______________________________________________________ THE GRAND HOUSE STUDENT CO-OPERATIVE 68 Roseview Avenue Cambridge ON N1R 4A7 Phone: 519-623-3584 The Grand House Student Co-operative is an incorporated, non-profit, housing co-op, with the goal of demonstrating sensitive aesthetic and environmental design, promoting innovative living and exploring both traditional and alternative construction methods.




What is a co-op? \| How are they different? \| A brief history \| Types of co-ops \| Why use them? \| Local co-ops