Serena Tonnu

Empowering Residents, Building Community, and Fostering Place: A Food Co-op in West Broadway Winnipeg, Manitoba

In 2022, the rise in housing costs and grocery prices led to an increase in individuals and families seeking support from food banks. While this issue affects users in various parts of the city, it is particularly challenging for West Broadway residents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, who live in a food desert and food mirage with financial barriers and limited grocery store access. It is also important to note that while there is an increase in users utilizing food banks, the social stigma still prevents many from obtaining help. As a response to these issues, this Master of Interior Design practicum draws from the cooperative model to address food insecurity in the West Broadway neighbourhood. Specifically, the project focuses on the adaptive reuse of 164 Langside Street into The Langside Co-op to offer an alternative retail option.

The project centres around the design of a food co-op that provides goods and resources that meet the budgets, needs, and interests of its residents. In doing so, the project utilizes research methodologies, including a literary analysis, precedent studies, site analysis, and a visual essay. Further, it draws from concepts and theories of food sovereignty, placemaking, brandscaping, and adaptive reuse to provide members with greater power and control over their food system, offer opportunities to come together and learn from each other, and create a dignified environment. Ultimately, the design outcome reflects residents  desires for greater resources and emphasizes the importance of community, shifting the focus from asking for help to the act of caring for and supporting one another.