The Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses (OCAB) is committed to providing economic and leadership opportunities to the psychiatric consumer/survivor community. Through the development of small businesses, partnerships and special projects, OCAB seeks to create meaningful employment and training opportunities that meet the varying needs of individuals with mental health issues. Our businesses are very visible in our community. We believe that our work helps to reduce discrimination and educates the public in a positive way, reducing the stigma faced by people who have experienced mental health issues.

Our initiatives include:

The Raging Spoon Catering Company

The Raging Spoon Catering Company, established in 1997, is one of three consumer/survivor businesses operating under the umbrella of the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses. The Spoon, as it is fondly known, is located at 761 Queen Street West, in a former church that now houses a variety of non-profit and social service organizations. Although the Spoon is now focusing exclusively on catering, it will be re-opening it's café area in the fall of 2009. The catering arm of the Spoon delivers throughout the central Toronto area, offering a variety of appetizers, hot and cold entrees and deserts.
For more information visit www.ragingspoon.com

Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises

Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises offers horticultural and plant maintenance services to local Business Improvement Areas (BIA's), non-profits, the City of Toronto and the private sector. This has been an exciting time for PGTE. Green Thumb provides interior plant maintenance for the Direct Energy Centre on the Exhibition Grounds, and for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health as well as exterior landscaping services for some of the properties of Toronto Community Housing. We also provide plant streetscaping/plant maintenance to Liberty Village BIA and Mirvish Village BIA.

For more information e-mail Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises at greenthumb@on.aibn.com

Voices from the Street

Voices from the Street is a speakers bureau made up of individuals who have experienced poverty, homelessness and/or mental health issues and who have been through an intensive 12 week training process to learn skills in public speaking. During the training they are also exposed to a range of social justice and community activists and to people involved in the development of public policy. The goal of the project is to educate the public on issues related to poverty, homelessness and mental health and to try to influence public policy. Voices members speak to a wide range of audiences from high school and university students to Rotary clubs, lawyers, and community groups.

For more information visit www.voicesfromthestreet.ca