FEATURED IN:
ARTICLES:
Innovative new program helps revitalize gardening in remote Indigenous communities (Daily Hive)
Two years in: Local farming project soars in First Nation community (Greenhouse Canada)
MEDIA CONTACT
Stephanie Gordon, editor-in-chief
Toll-free: 1 (833) GROWCER (476-9237)
Mobile: (647) 861-7723
Email: stephanie@thegrowcer.ca
BRAND RESOURCES
HOW WE’VE GROWN
Growcer was founded in 2016 by Corey Ellis and Alida Burke while they were students at the University of Ottawa. They travelled to Iqaluit, Nunavut as part of Enactus uOttawa, a student club focused on social entrepreneurship.
During the trip, they experienced the common sticker shock of groceries up north and collaborated with folks solving the endlessly complex issue of food security. The idea to grow food indoors arose during the discussions and became the catalyst for Growcer today.
Corey and Alida developed a plug-and-play hydroponic “farm” capable of yielding 8,500lbs of fresh produce in temperatures as cold as -40’C. The growing systems are custom built in modular structures that can be shipped on-site via truck, rail, or marine cargo.
Fast forward to today, Growcer expanded beyond the north to partner with schools, nonprofits, and non-remote communities who see value in growing food locally. Growcer now employees more than 30 staff and partners with more than 55+ communities across Canada to grow fresh produce year-round.
To date, communities and institutions have used Growcer farms to grow more than four million servings of local, nutritious greens across Canada. Growcer strives to be the premier tool for aspiring and seasoned growers to feed their communities in a local and economically sustainable way.
Growcer is also being recognized for its ingenuity with several awards, like Fast Company’s 2018 World Changing Idea Awards, United Way Community Builder Awards 2019 NextGen Award, and Clean50’s 2020 Emerging Leaders award, including being featured on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.
Co-founders Corey Ellis and Alida Burke are each recipients of the 2022 Forty Under 40 award, recognized as one of the most distinguished business awards for young business leaders. This award is presented to the “top young business leaders whose innovation, dedication, and community involvement provide hope for the National Capital’s post-pandemic economic recovery” (Ottawa Board of Trade, 2022). In 2020, Alida was also the winner of the SheBoot Pitch Competition $150,000 grand prize.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT GROWCER
Our aim is to decentralize the food system and make local food accessible for everyone.
Growcer’s growing technology was first deployed in food insecure, remote communities, but we’ve expanded to partner with schools, organizations, and non-remote communities who see value in growing food locally. But our technology is only half of what we do: our dedicated team supports customers every step of the way - from implementation to ongoing training - to make growing fresh, healthy food year-round in any climate successful.
Using business as a force for good, we feed more people while increasing fresh produce, jobs, and money, in a community from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
“Creating a sustainable healthy source of produce and increasing food sovereignty has long been a goal for the Squamish Nation, and Growcer is another piece of the puzzle.”
- Kelley McReynolds, director of Ayás Méńmen Child and Family Services in West Vancouver, B.C.
“We chose [Growcer] to diversify the activities of our existing business . . . We are really happy that the farm has finally arrived, because we are ready to take on this new challenge.”
- Audrey Turgeon, Verdures Dorey, Saint-Isidore-de-Clifton, QC
“What you put in, you get out. We put in all this time, we harvested, and we have this wonderful, fresh product to offer our members and all of the citizens of Grande Prairie and the surrounding area.
Food production, just like farming, is a lot of work. But the rewards are amazing.”
- Shelley, lead grower for New Horizon Local Garden in Grande Prairie, AB
“I saw the value of having local greens grown on campus but when we need it, which is December, January, February, so I was very excited about that idea.”
- Maryann Moffitt, food liaison officer, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
Our Founders
At Growcer, we work to support our partners in achieving year-round food production. It's more than just the technology; it's about making an impact.
Corey Ellis, CEO and Co-Founder
Born and raised in Ottawa as a Franco-Ontarian, Corey always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. He pursued a commerce degree at the University of Ottawa and became heavily involved with Enactus, a student organization dedicated to social entrepreneurship. It was during his time with Enactus that led to the conception and launch of Growcer with his co-founder Alida Burke, where they shared a desire to make a social impact through business. When he’s not building Growcer, you can find Corey building virtual worlds online or enjoying nature.
Alida Burke, CFO and Co-Founder
As co-founder and CFO, Alida, who was also born and raised in Ottawa, launched Growcer with her co-founder Corey Ellis when they were both at the University of Ottawa and heavily involved in the student entrepreneurship club Enactus. She fell into her role as an entrepreneur when she saw the impact the company was making, but still enjoys working with numbers, by leading Growcer’s operational strategy to support customers growing year-round across the country, as well as managing the company’s internal operations, human resources, and financial management. Alida is also currently completing her Masters of Accounting at Carleton University. When Alida is not managing the behind-the-scenes at Growcer you can find her giving back to her local entrepreneurship community or curled up with a good book.