Coop Tours

We are pleased to offer several cooperative visits as part of the conference program. We hope you'll take advantage of this unique opportunity to explore the vibrant cooperative sector in our region.

• The conference organizers will cover the costs of the cooperative tour guides.

• Some of these visits are fully guided walking tours, which will depart from the conference building. These will be completely free of charge.

• For visits that involve transportation (bus or metro fares), we kindly ask participants for a symbolic 10 CAD booking fee. This contribution will help us anticipate attendance, manage participant numbers, and reduce no-shows that might prevent others from joining.

• Registration for tours will be open via Eventbrite from June 13 to June 25.

• If you need to cancel your participation, simply advise us at info@icaccr2025.org

• Please be suitably dressed for the tour: comfortable walking shoes, hat and water bottle in case of heat, etc.

Monday, July 7

Tour 1

La Centrale Agricole: Explore the World’s Largest Urban Agriculture Cooperative

Discover the innovative world of urban agriculture at La Centrale Agricole, the largest urban agriculture cooperative in the world. Located in the heart of Montreal’s District Central, this unique cooperative brings together over 20 forward-thinking companies and organizations committed to building a sustainable, circular, and socially responsible food system.

At La Centrale Agricole, you'll find a diverse array of urban agriculture initiatives under one roof:

• Hydroponic leafy greens and edible flowers grown on the rooftop

• Aquaponic fish farming and insect protein production

• Cider and wine production, coffee roasting, and mushroom cultivation

• Food waste valorization into new products like juices, smoothies, and snacks

• Exotic plant distribution and artisan flour production

During your guided tour, you'll have the opportunity to meet passionate entrepreneurs and learn about their innovative practices in urban agriculture and circular economy. Explore shared spaces such as the rooftop farm, composting facilities, cold storage rooms, and kitchens. A kiosk will showcase products made by La Centrale’s members, including freshly roasted coffee, malted flour, cider, and more.

This immersive experience offers a unique glimpse into the future of food production and sustainability in urban environments. Whether you're an industry professional, a student, or simply curious about sustainable food systems, this tour is an inspiring opportunity to see innovation in action.

Fee: 10 CAD

Meeting point: Registration area, 13:30 sharp; public transportation ticket will be provided

Tour 2

Cultivaction: A Solidarity Cooperative at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus Farm

Join the CultivAction Solidarity Cooperative at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus farm for a guided tour, hands on activity and discussion about how campus community food cooperatives are advancing food sovereignty. CultivAction is a worker-led cooperative that practices urban agroecology to feed local communities, enhance biodiversity and support more just and sovereign food systems. Through cooperative organizing, CultivAction empowers individuals to gain the knowledge and skills needed to reclaim control over their food systems. CultivAction’s work is rooted in a political commitment to social and ecological justice. We strive to build networks of reciprocity and solidarity with other advancing food sovereignty. This visit offers a chance to see that work in action and connect with others who are reimagining the future of food on campuses, in communities and beyond.

Fee: 10 CAD

Meeting point: Registration area, 13:30 sharp; public transportation ticket will be provided

Tuesday, July 8

Tour 3

Milton Parc Walk: A Historic Neighborhood Shaped by Collective Action

Tucked between downtown Montréal and the Plateau, Milton Parc is a hidden gem with a powerful story. With 22 housing cooperatives and non-profits in 640 units, at the time of its creation, it was the the largest community-owned housing project in North America — a neighbourhood saved from demolition in the 1970s by residents who united to protect their homes and built a model of urban democracy that still thrives today. Since then, community organising in Milton Parc has also pioneered in areas of ecology, citizen democracy, tenant organizing, and unhoused solidarity. In recent years, they have set up many solidarity economy initiatives including: a cooperative bar-restaurant Coop BMP, a community coworking centre and library, collective gardens, a food bank, a youth worker coop, a tenants' union (SLAM), and various peer-led Indigenous initiatives.

Strolling through Milton Parc means discovering charming co-op buildings, local cafés, community gardens, and murals that reflect its radical spirit. It’s not just a place to see — it’s a place to feel how collective action can shape a city. Whether you're passionate about social justice, urban planning, or simply love discovering places with soul, Milton Parc is a must-visit.

Meeting point: Registration area, 16:00 sharp

Fee: Free

Wednesday, July 9

Tour 4

Bâtiment 7: A Unique Commons Shaped by Community Associations and Coops

Bâtiment 7 is a heritage industrial building and a fragment of Pointe-Saint-Charles’ working-class history, now transformed into an alternative gathering space that is accessible and brimming with community-driven projects. Many cooperatives coexist within this commons: a community-run brewpub serves as a social hub, and countless workshops are held to foster participants’ autonomy and hands-on learning—ranging from ceramics, sculpture, welding, object repair, to bicycle mechanics.

After our visit to Bâtiment 7, participants will be invited to relax at Les sans taverne, a worker cooperative brewpub self-managed by its members, offering a welcoming space and carefully crafted beers.

Fee: 10 CAD

Meeting point: Registration area, 15:50 sharp; public transportation ticket will be provided.

Tour 6

Le Comité Coop – Discover How Design Transforms Cities

Join us for a unique opportunity to explore how urban design can drive social change and reclaim public space. This visit will introduce you to Le Comité, a forward-thinking cooperative that specializes in urban planning and the creative transformation of public spaces. Through a dynamic presentation, you'll learn about the cooperative's innovative governance model and the wide range of projects it has led across Montréal.

Le Comité will also present its Laboratoire, an in-house initiative that serves as a space for experimentation and critical reflection on urban design practices. This platform allows members to engage deeply with the challenges of city-making while building bridges between grassroots action and academic research.

The visit will conclude with a guided tour of one of Le Comité’s most compelling projects—an experimental public

Fee: 10 CAD

Meeting point: Registration area, 15:50 sharp; public transportation ticket will be provided.

Tour 7

Coop CAUS: Discover Urban Agriculture and Community Innovation in Verdun

The Verdun area of Montréal has long been a place of cultivation and community—already noted by Jacques Cartier in 1535! CAUS works at the intersection of two vital missions: building a circular local economy and promoting the production and consumption of fresh, local fruits and vegetables. Its members include both local consumers and producers united by the desire to support sustainable, community-based food systems.

Your visit begins at Multi-CAUS, a dynamic community hub focused on local purchasing, homesteading, and wellness. This welcoming space includes a general store and, during your tour, a weekly food bank in full swing—offering a unique opportunity to see community solidarity in action.

From there, we’ll take a short walk to the bustling weekly farmers' market, where you can:

• Participate in a hands-on workshop,

• Relax in the shade of the trees,

• Taste fresh strawberries or grab a snack from one of the 12 local vendors, and

• Experience the unique ambiance of L’Après Soleil, a surf-themed café known for its rich "jungle coffee."

For those interested, a 30-minute documentary screening on (R)évolution – to work is human will also be available as an optional addition to your visit.

Whether you're passionate about food sovereignty, urban farming, or simply curious to see local initiatives in action, this visit is sure to inspire and nourish—both body and mind.

Fee: 10 CAD

Meeting point: Registration area, 15:50 sharp; public transportation ticket will be provided.

Tour 5

Milton Parc Walk: A Historic Neighborhood Shaped by Collective Action

Tucked between downtown Montréal and the Plateau, Milton Parc is a hidden gem with a powerful story. It’s the largest community-owned housing project in North America — a neighbourhood saved from demolition in the 1970s by residents who united to protect their homes and built a model of urban democracy that still thrives today. Strolling through Milton Parc means discovering charming co-op buildings, local cafés, community gardens, and murals that reflect its radical spirit. It’s not just a place to see — it’s a place to feel how collective action can shape a city. Whether you're passionate about social justice, urban planning, or simply love discovering places with soul, Milton Parc is a must-visit.

Meeting point: Registration area, 16:00 sharp

Fee: Free

Tour 8

Cultivaction: A Solidarity Cooperative at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus Farm

Join the CultivAction Solidarity Cooperative at Concordia University’s Loyola Campus farm for a guided tour, hands on activity and discussion about how campus community food cooperatives are advancing food sovereignty. CultivAction is a worker-led cooperative that practices urban agroecology to feed local communities, enhance biodiversity and support more just and sovereign food systems. Through cooperative organizing, CultivAction empowers individuals to gain the knowledge and skills needed to reclaim control over their food systems. CultivAction’s work is rooted in a political commitment to social and ecological justice. We strive to build networks of reciprocity and solidarity with other advancing food sovereignty. This visit offers a chance to see that work in action and connect with others who are reimagining the future of food on campuses, in communities and beyond.

Fee: 10 CAD

Meeting point: Registration area, 13:30 sharp; public transportation ticket will be provided