Winkler Co-op is going back to its roots as it looks to the future.
Co-op announced last week that it has selected a new name to better reflect all the communities it serves: Gardenland Co-op.
“We got well over 500 different suggestions. It was overwhelming,” said general manager Evan Toews.
Co-op staff and board members whittled the list down to a handful of leading contenders, and Gardenland ultimately came out on top.
“It has some historical meaning with the past and the cooperative movement in southern Manitoba,” Toews explains. Gardenland was a brand tied to the products that came out of the old cooperative creamery that operated in Winkler in the mid-20th century.
The name is also a nod to the region’s deep agricultural roots.
“It ties into the rich, fertile soil and the gardens that are grown here,” Toews said.
While the Winkler Co-op name has been in use for over 80 years, a more inclusive moniker is important as they continue to grow.
“We needed something that’s more fitting for all the communities that we serve,” Toews said. “Winkler Co-op served us well for those years … but it just really doesn’t truly encompass all the communities that we have facilities in today.”
Co-op has retail and service locations in Winkler, Morden, Lowe Farm, Plum Coulee, St. Joseph, Rosenort, and Rosetown.
The name will be voted on by Co-op members at the annual general meeting taking place on Wednesday, April 10 at the Buhler Active Living Centre in Winkler. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
