In October 2026, Danu Social House transitioned from a traditional owner model to a worker-led, community-owned multi-stakeholder co-op.
Danu’s profits will go to supporting vulnerable neighbours in Parkdale, and resourcing the co-op movement in Canada – aiming to expand the ways that worker and community power can organize effectively under capitalism.
We are a democratically run bar, owned and controlled by our membership, with the majority of power being held by the workers. All members have the right to contribute to key governance decisions, with special representation given to those who volunteer their time, and to those who played a significant role in Danu’s founding.
Our mission
This mission statement governs Danu's day to day operations.
Danu exists to build a safe and welcoming community — a true third space in a time of deepening loneliness. We provide a people-centered environment where fun, engaging conversation, connection, organizing, and collective action can take root.
As a fundamentally anti-capitalist organization, our mission is to give back more than we take. We are committed to fair labour practices, and using our profits and platform to support grassroots work and community projects. Danu is a hub for those who want to build a more just and compassionate world.
Our vision
How Danu uses profits to do good.
Many of today’s economic and social structures reward extraction, division, and short-term gain at the expense of collective well-being. Danu’s role in countering these structures lies in seeding and supporting networks of alternative institutions oriented toward collective good and collective power – in particular, democratically controlled cooperatives that return power and profits to workers and community. We believe that any institution oriented toward these aims must also engage with their local community and contribute toward its survival. In Danu’s neighbourhood of Parkdale, this means a commitment to supporting local work that aims to address problems like housing unaffordability, food insecurity, houselessness, and barriers to safe consumption.
To this end, Danu has two priorities for its external work and its profits:
- Direct Parkdale community support.
- Building and supporting other cooperatives, with an emphasis on projects that share Danu’s vision of using profits to support community and movement work.
Our values
What we think is important as we do our work.
- Danu is an open, welcoming, and compassionate community. We strive to cultivate a safe and stable space with low social and financial barriers to making connections.
- Danu stands firmly against any and all forms of hate, including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and fascism. These commitments shape every part of our work and determine who is welcome in our space.
- Danu cares about people. Those in our community, those in our city and those in the world. We support work towards social justice and work that improves the lives of those in need.
- Danu is anti-capitalist and anti-extractionist and aims to adhere to the adage “from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.”
- Danu is committed to implementing restorative justice and utilizing principles of care, repair, and accountability to navigate conflict.
- Danu is committed to democratic decision making processes where each community member has the opportunity to have their voice heard and play a role in decision making.
- Danu is committed to fair labour practices, including sustainable worker compensation.
