 | Gay Lea Foods Co-operative is proud of their history as a co-operative business and of their commitment to preserving dairy heritage. On August 27th they will celebrate both with the first Co-opAlooza Picnic, open to all, on the beautiful grounds of the Gay Lea Dairy Heritage Museum near Aylmer. |
Gay Lea Foods is owned by over 1,200 dairy farmers. In 2008 they purchased Andy and Lotty van Kasteren’s private collection of 16,000 or so dairy artifacts and in 2010 the building and property where they were housed.
Over the past year, the museum has become the place for some lively and well received educational experiences. Museum staff, under the leadership of former teacher Kerr Smith, has developed programs which are creative, interactive and mesh perfectly with the school curriculum. Making (and eating) ice-cream is a particularly popular science activity!
Over the past year, the museum has become the place for some lively and well received educational experiences. Museum staff, under the leadership of former teacher Kerr Smith, has developed programs which are creative, interactive and mesh perfectly with the school curriculum. Making (and eating) ice-cream is a particularly popular science activity!
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The museum is the perfect place to introduce high school students to the co-operative business model, and staff thought it might also be a good setting from which to share the inspiring story of co-operatives with an even wider audience.
The over 1,300 unique, democratically owned co-operatives in Ontario range from community-owned credit unions, grocery stores, and theatres, to band-owned record labels, worker-owned retail stores, and the Gay Lea farmer-owned dairy company. They are guided by principles that put community first, and people before profit.
The over 1,300 unique, democratically owned co-operatives in Ontario range from community-owned credit unions, grocery stores, and theatres, to band-owned record labels, worker-owned retail stores, and the Gay Lea farmer-owned dairy company. They are guided by principles that put community first, and people before profit.
Kim Teuscher, museum coordinator, says “We wanted to hold an event which would celebrate our site and Gay Lea’s co-operative history – a chance for co-op enthusiasts to connect and for others to learn more about them. We thought a picnic would be the perfect format, and the museum the perfect site for that sort of community gathering.”
You are invited to join the picnic on Saturday August 27th, to play, learn, eat, drink, dance, create, network, explore and experience true "community" at Gay Lea’s first-ever … Co-opAlooza Picnic! Find out more and purchase tickets at www.dairyheritagemuseum.ca.
You are invited to join the picnic on Saturday August 27th, to play, learn, eat, drink, dance, create, network, explore and experience true "community" at Gay Lea’s first-ever … Co-opAlooza Picnic! Find out more and purchase tickets at www.dairyheritagemuseum.ca.
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