Operation Grow 'grateful' to local chamber for innovation award
Operation Grow is proud to announce that the social enterprise has been awarded the Innovation Award at the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, a recognition celebrating businesses that introduce innovative products, services, or processes that positively impact their communities.
The Innovation Award acknowledges Operation Grow’s commitment to transformative community development, forward-thinking programming, and its unique model that integrates social enterprise with social impact. Through initiatives focused on enhancing women’s food access and security, economic participation, and social inclusion, Operation Grow has become a trailblazer in addressing complex social challenges with creativity and compassion.
“We are so grateful to the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce for this Innovation Award, and their commitment to celebrating diverse businesses in the community ” said Haily MacDonald, Executive Director of Huronia Transition Homes. “This award is a testament to the incredible work of our team, the strength of our partnerships, and the resilience of the women we serve. Innovation for us is not just about new ideas—it’s about bold action that drives meaningful change in the movement to end all violence all against women.”
The Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards celebrate excellence across various sectors, and the Innovation Award is reserved for organizations that demonstrate originality, creativity, and measurable impact through innovative practices. As Operation Grow continues to expand its reach and deepen its impact, this award serves as a powerful motivator to keep pushing boundaries and reimagining what’s possible in community care and empowerment. Operation Grow’s innovative model serves as a blueprint for what’s possible when social enterprise is used as a tool for healing, empowerment, and systemic change. With this nomination, Operation Grow is excited to amplify their voice and continue building bridges between economic inclusion and social justice.
Highlights of Operation Grow’s impact
- Social procurement: Collaborating with local businesses and municipalities to prioritize purchasing from social enterprises and women-led organizations
- Responsive program design: Operation Grow's programs are designed with participants in mind, adapting to their needs and centering their voices in every stage of development and delivery
- Sustainable community benefit: The vertical farm and products sold in its retail section directly reinvest into programming that supports long-term economic independence, mental health, and dignity for women in North Simcoe
About Operation Grow
Operation Grow (OG) is a social enterprise for women with lived experience of violence holistically designed to increase connection, decrease poverty, support food security, and help to reduce the impact of trauma. OG combines a state-of-the art hydroponic farm, retail store, yoga studio, training centre and inspected kitchen together to provide a variety of programming to women. Including a community kitchen, trauma-informed yoga and meditation classes, cooking and nutrition workshops, wellness workshops, drop-in space, low-barrier paid employment training at the hydroponic farm and in the kitchen. The overall purpose of the social enterprise is to provide opportunities for women to break free from the negative impact violence has thrust upon their lives. Operation Grow is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm at 436 Bay Street in Midland.