Community Grocery Store Model Feasibility Study: Towards Equitable and Culturally Appropriate Food Security in Rexdale

In partnership with the Rexdale Community Hub (RCH), this project involves undertaking a locally-informed feasibility study to assess the viability of a ‘Community Grocery Store’ model that provides affordable, accessible, culturally appropriate food in Rexdale (a Neighbourhood Improvement Area in Toronto). The intern will help train community-members to co-create and implement focus groups and interviews to inform the feasibility study that will consider community needs, ‘prototype’ requirements (e.g. space, staffing, costs, etc.) and desirability, viability and feasibility factors. The intern will coordinate community-based design charrettes to further assess the chosen prototype model and logistical planning, and then assess stakeholders’ reactions during the piloting of the selected prototype. This project will support the RCH’s efforts to help residents and small food retail businesses navigate post-pandemic recovery. The RCH strives to develop local capacity in order to shift from emergency food dependency models towards more community-determined food access alternatives.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sara Edge

Student:

Partner:

Rexdale Community Hub

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

Toronto Metropolitan University; University of Guelph

Program: