Sudbury-area Co-op Champion Celebrated for Improving Food Security

GUELPH, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 26, 2015) - Described as a force for positive change, Peggy Baillie of Eat Local Sudbury Co-operative Inc. will be honoured at the Co-op Conference and Celebration at the Teatro Conference and Event Centre on Oct. 28 in Milton. She receives the Co-operative Spirit Award recognizing co-op development for her transformative support of local food co-operatives.

Baillie is the founding chair of the Ontario-wide Local Organic Food Co-ops (LOFC) Network. "(It's) a role that has tremendously supported the growth and strengthening of Ontario's (more than) 100 sustainable local food and farm co-operatives," attests Hannah Renglich who nominated Baillie. Baillie is also executive director of Eat Local Sudbury, a food hub that has a role in a sustainable food system in northeastern Ontario. Additionally, she recently became a farmer in the Sudbury area.

It is Baillie's energy, passion, determination and, "ability to co-ordinate discussions and maintain focus amongst diverse stakeholders and complex agendas in a rapidly changing and leading-edge organization," that make her an especially effective developer, notes Ontario Natural Food Co-op Director of Purchasing Glenn Valliere. "After a visit earlier this year to Eat Local Sudbury, I was awed by what Peggy and her team created in terms of maintaining an engaging member experience (for both consumers and producers) and developing critical capital infrastructure for a novel food supply-chain for a relatively young retail co-op in Ontario's north," he adds.

Three other trophies will be presented at the Co-op Conference and Celebration. London's Ian Shewan is recognized for advocacy and government relations; social co-operative pioneer TeamWerks Co-operative of northwestern Ontario earns the Co-operative Spirit Award in the category of co-operative engagement, and Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. is acknowledged for its commitment to continuous co-operative education.

Principle Six, or "Co-operation among Co-operatives" is the key theme of this year's conference. The event, organized and hosted by the Ontario Co-operative Association, brings together leaders, stakeholders, staff and members from new, emerging and established co-ops for a full day of learning, networking and celebration. Students, interns, and others new to the co-op sector and/or considering starting a co-op also find value in this conference. For more information, visit: www.ontario.coop

The Ontario Co-operative Association believes that co-operatives build a better world. We are the trade association and capacity-building organization that develops, engages, educates and advocates for Ontario's 1,300 co-operative businesses. On Co-op is an information and resources network with a mission to lead, cultivate and connect co-operatives.