Understanding social economy through a complexity lens: Four case studies in Northwestern Ontario

Abstract

Broadly described, the social economy refers to a series of initiatives with common values representing explicit social objectives. The roots of social economy organizations predate the neoliberal economy and are integral to the human condition of coming together in mutual support to address challenges that benefit from collective efforts. Drawing on a complexity science approach, this paper analyzes four case studies situated in Northwestern Ontario—blueberry foraging, Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op, Willow Springs Creative Centre and Bearskin Lake First Nations—to demonstrate key features of social economy of food systems. Their unifying feature is a strong focus on local food as a means to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits for communities. Their distinct approaches demonstrate the importance of context in the emergence of the social economy of food initiatives. In the discussion section, we explore how these case study initiatives re-spatialize and re-socialize conventional food system approaches.

Exploring the Meaning of Therapeutic Horticulture for Anishinabek Youth in a Brief Residential Treatment Unit: A Community Engagement CSL Case Study

“…Emerging in 2002 through four women's efforts, the WSCC delivered in-house and mobile creative expression and therapeutic gardening programs to organizations, social service groups, schools, and the general public (Willow Springs, 2019). The WSCC approach has become the use of boreal forest resources that abound in the local setting to bring physical and mental health benefits to others by working with gardens, plants, and the unique northern landscape (Nelson et al, 2019). With over two decades of experience in HT, one of the founders was the catalyst for introducing youth to the HT experiences drawing on boreal forest and gardening resources readily accessible at the treatment centre.…”

Understanding Independent Grocer Resilience through Customer Experience Insights

“…Now at a drastic point, where the imbalance could affect the national economy, a code of conduct stabilizing measure has been suggested by the government to impose unilateral policies that would control actions and fees throughout the retail food industry (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2023). This reorganizing may help the small and mid-sized grocers, also known as independent grocers, who, by most accounts, better represent community (Morales, 2009) and who innovate and support local economies (Nelson, et al, 2019); but not much else is known about why they are in decline (Charlebois, 2021). Limitations of knowledge on how independent grocers manage their differentiation and strategies differently in Canada (Charlebois & Music, 2019) has fostered this research with respect to the service that is being provided to customers and the reciprocal effects customers have on the resilience of these Canadian independent grocers.…”