In Cedar, B.C., Coco Café has combined a successful café model with a social mission that supports people with diverse abilities, fostering community connection and employment opportunities.
Operated by Cedar Opportunities BC Society, the café has grown significantly since it opened in 2011 while maintaining a focus on inclusion and accessibility. Its dual role as both a charity and a social enterprise has helped it stand out in Cedar’s local economy.
Executive Director and General Manager Marc Taschereau said the organization takes a personalized approach to supporting employees. “We’ve developed our own assessment tools and our own training programs in-house,” Taschereau said.
Currently 73% of Coco’s staff have diverse abilities, creating what Taschereau describes as a supportive environment. “Three quarters of our team are people with disabilities,” he said. “When you join our team, you’re working with your peers… and you’re definitely part of a family in here.”
That approach has contributed to measurable growth for both the business and its employees. Taschereau said the café has “tripled our sales in three years” and continues to expand beyond a staff of a few employees in its original location at 1840 Cedar Rd.
Plans for expansion include new service points and partnerships. “We are getting ready to break ground at the Nanaimo Airport,” Taschereau said, adding that the long-term goal is to expand “across the Island… to the mainland, and then work our way across the country.”
For employees, the café offers a more accessible and supportive workplace than traditional food service environments. Dishwasher Maxwell Bellway described the job as “pretty calming” compared to previous work.
Bellway said the café also accommodates workers’ needs in practical ways. “Coco’s has scheduled shifts around the bus schedule,” he said, noting that this kind of flexibility is not common in the food service industry.
The café’s impact also extends beyond its staff to the broader community. Longtime customer Carolyn Dieleman, owner of Carolyn Dieleman’s Cards, described the business as a central gathering place in Cedar. “They’re the heart. They really are.”
Dieleman, who has been visiting the café since 2012, said it has rebuilt and expanded after challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It really took a hit during COVID… and Marc has built it up significantly,” she said.
She also highlighted the café’s support for employees beyond the workplace, including fundraising efforts. “There’s a young fellow in right now who needed some medical treatment… and so Coco’s just took over this whole area for a fundraising dinner,” Dieleman said.
The café operates as a social enterprise, meaning profits are reinvested into its programs rather than distributed privately. Taschereau said this model allows the organization to sustain itself while supporting its mission. “We are one of the few social enterprises that’s profitable,” he said. “When people donate… the money goes directly to the cause. Every time somebody comes to buy coffee or breakfast… that’s contributing.”
As Nanaimo continues to grow, Coco Café illustrates how local businesses can combine economic success with social impact, offering both employment opportunities and a space for meaningful community connection.
