Meet the women transforming food and farming in Canada
In towns and cities across the country, grassroots initiatives and community-based businesses are creating new ways for people to access food and farm products. We want to share their stories.
This documentary video series introduces some of the diverse local distribution networks that are thriving across Canada, led by women entrepreneurs with a vision for change. Get to know the women behind five unique projects, tour the farms that take part, and see up close how short supply chains and regenerative agriculture offer solutions for the future.
The Local Flower Collective | Toronto, ON
Jaimie is connecting ecological flower growers with local designers and florists to foster a more sustainable cut flower industry.
Coop CAUS | Montreal, QC
Tracey is building community via a non-profit coop that connects local growers and eaters, ensuring that everyone finds a way to participate in the food system.
Huron County Network | Huron County, ON
Joan is bringing local online through digital farmers’ markets that keep farmers and customers connected year round.
St. James Town Community Co-op | Toronto
Josephine is organizing for food sovereignty, building a community coop that provides the members of her community with affordable access to culturally appropriate foods.
The Local Food Box | Metchosin, BC
Virginie is leading a marketing and co-selling partnership that helps small-scale ecological farms reach more customers online.
About the project
Open Food Network Canada is a national nonprofit working with local food and farming enterprises to scale fair, local, and sustainable agrifood initiatives in communities across Canada. We launched Women Leading Change to celebrate the contribution of women entrepreneurs, and to introduce more Canadians to the diverse regional distribution hubs and ecological growers that are thriving across the country. From rural farmers’ markets to downtown community coops, and online co-selling partnerships, the series explores how women are using innovative open source technologies to help farmers and consumers connect in new ways.
hubs
Producers
consumers
Behind the camera
The stories in this series were captured by award-winning videographer, Craig Conoley. Craig is a digital content producer, writer and director with 15 years of experience in advertising and documentary media. His projects include work with community groups, schools, artists, and a documentary series for Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture & Development. His new company, CELLEBRATE, showcases the kind of dynamic and intimate work that can be achieved using cellphone-based production.
Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the AgriCommunication Program.
