In today's world, local shopping initiatives are in demand.
Community businesses and consumers can take part in this exciting concept through membership participation. As a benefit of membership, OUR Community Dollar™
(OC$) can be spent as partial or full payment for goods and services offered by participating businesses.
In today’s world, local shopping initiatives are very much in demand. The OUR Community Dollar Program™ is being relaunched and is coming back stronger and better than ever! The first time the concept was used was in 2009 and it lasted for 2.5 years. The program was discontinued due to the economic climate of that time.
The current relaunch is based on a team of three experienced business minded Founders. With the software available today, along with effective social media platforms and other means of communication, everything is in place to meet the economic challenges of today!
The program is in pre-launch, and will connect shoppers and local businesses.
The OUR Community Dollar™, printed on paper, is commonly abbreviated as “OC$” and is positioned in front of the posted pricing (ie: OC$ 90).
We believe A Prosperous Community is a Vibrant Community
In today’s times, businesses are struggling, and consumers are looking for creative ways to maintain a quality of living for their families and loved ones.
Connecting family owned and creative home-based businesses with prospective customers is the aim of the program. The program will also assist local restaurants, retail, and service-based businesses. Creative systems of engagement with non-profits and cultural initiatives will be an integral aspect of our mandate.
Simply stated… Positive connections produce positive outcomes!
Meet Our Team
Gary S. Jones BA
Founder of OUR Community Dollar
Originally from Quebec, Gary has had varied career experiences. After graduating from York University with a degree in Psychology, Gary started a career with the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services.
Gary S. Jones BA
Founder of OUR Community Dollar
Originally from Quebec, Gary has had varied career experiences.
After graduating from York University with a degree in Psychology and numerous Education courses Gary started a career with the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. He worked for many years with residential programs for the hard-to-serve adolescent population and eventually secured a position as an Adult Protective Service Worker in an Ontario Ministry of Health Program.
Gary eventually migrated into a career in business consultation and served on various volunteer and not-for-profit organizations.
In 1998, Gary and his wife moved from Brockville, Ontario, to begin a position with a service that advocated and represented Worker Compensation petitioners.
It was in 2004 when Gary attended an economic symposium hosted by the Schumacher Center for Economic Development that he learned about the many community currency programs around the world. He reports that the experience was life changing.
Fast forwarding to today, Gary is bringing his years of community development and business knowledge to launch the OUR Community Dollar Program. People realize that in these times of economic uncertainty, a vibrant local currency system is desperately needed.
Rob Puschelberg
Director of Community Relations
Rob was born in Toronto and lived in rural Ontario where his parents bought a small grocery store in Millbank. This is where his entrepreneurial spirit was born. At age ten, he ran a lemonade stand on the front porch.
Rob Puschelberg
Director of Community Relations
Rob was born in Toronto and lived in rural Ontario until the age of 18 when he moved to Kitchener.
When he was 10 his parents bought a small grocery store in Millbank, and this is where his entrepreneurial spirit was born. On weekends, he would have a lemonade stand on the front porch
and he was hands on with most of the day to day operations. When he was 12, his parents left him in charge for two weeks as they took a much needed break.
After a number of short lived dead end jobs, Rob found himself in the management program for a major pizza franchise and by the time he was 20, he was a store manager. Over the next 8 years,
he honed his skills in marketing and people skills and eventually went on to open a few of his own pizza stores. One of these stores was located on the “Strip” in Grand Bend. It was during this time that he came to sponsor Karaoke at a pub up the street. He would offer a great deal on pizza to participants. On one of these nights, it was suggested that he get up and sing a song, to which he replied, “There’s not enough booze in this place to get me to sing.” He was wrong. There was in fact enough booze in the place. He became a Tuesday night regular for the rest of the summer. Once summer was over and his beach town store closed for the season, he returned to KW where he still had two pizza stores. The first priority upon returning to the city was to find somewhere to sing. He tried some of the local karaoke spots, but found that they were too far from where he lived and decided to approach a local pub. This pub thought that karaoke was a great idea and that he should be the host. Fast forward about 6 months and he decided that he had had enough of the pizza
business and that he wanted to pursue this new passion. He sold his pizza stores became a full time entertainer.
Over the years, he has added DJ work, and game-shows to the entertainment arsenal as well as joining some local cover bands. In 2008 he met the love of his life, Teri. Teri worked for an insurance company and was soon spending all of her evenings at karaoke events. It was soon decided that she would leave the corporate world and they founded Gemstone Entertainment. Gemstone Entertainment has become a vibrant business in the KW/Cambridge and area with many weekly karaoke shows as well as private events. Rob and Teri were wed in 2011 and haven’t looked back.
In March of 2020, Covid 19 decided that the world as we know it was about to change. The world went into lockdown and the entertainment business was put to rest.
Not one to sit idle, Rob then decided to try his hand at something new. He started a company called TOAD Take Out And Delivery. TOAD’s mission is to help local restaurants facilitate take out and delivery without the need to use the very expensive big delivery apps. Rob learned that these companies were charging restaurants up to 30% commission. Rob’s experience in the restaurant world told him that restaurants don’t often make 30% and that the math didn’t add up. Rob created a program that didn’t charge the restaurants anything for using the service. There is just a reasonable delivery fee, in which a small piece is retained by Toad and the rest goes to the delivery driver.
2022 showed us more lockdowns and fiscal challenges, and it was then that in conversation with Gary Jones that it was time to do something to help our local economy. Rob knew Gary for a
number of years and was involved with Gary’s previous Community Dollar Program. Gary was looking for someone to take over the program, citing that now, people need help more than ever. Rob agreed wholeheartedly, but professed that it was too much for one person to manage and that while not interested in taking it on, would be quite happy to be part of a team. Gary then introduce
Rob to Steve Orr who owns a local printing business, and the three began discussions. It didn’t take long to decide that this had to be done. Three people with three different backgrounds
sharing one common goal.
Steve Orr GAPC
Director of Print and Digital Marketing
Steve Orr is a graphic designer and owner of Uptown Printing.
Large volume flyers, addressed mailing campaigns, brochures, business forms, business cards or postcard orders are his regular work.
Steve Orr GAPC
Director of Print and Digital Marketing
Steve is a lifelong member of the Kitchener-Waterloo community. Upon graduation from the local school system, he was accepted into Mohawk College where he earned the certification as a Graphic Arts Reproduction-Production Co-Ordinator (GAPC).
Over the last 30 years as owner / operator of Uptown Printing he has established his business as the go-to business for a diverse line of digital and printing related services. The clients he serves have been impressed with his knowledge and ability to get the job done effectively and at competitive pricing.
When Steve is not actively supporting his clients, he finds himself studying updates in the printing and digital industries. He is passionate about being the best support he can be for his valued clients. He found an environmentally friendly option called Print Releaf and was the first commercial printer in Ontario to be on the program. This program allows for paper usage to be measured. Trees can then be responsibly planted.
His passion to live in an environmentally positive manner extends beyond his commercial options to his daily life. Steve enjoys his gardening activities involving the planting of native species thereby supporting birds and insect life.
Steve’ other interests include spending time with family, hitting the slopes skiing, or enjoying a quiet walk along the beach or a brisk hike around the block. When asked what goals he may have, he jokingly share that he is a mediocre cook but plans to expand his repertoire beyond his current specialties. He sees the OUR Community Dollar Program™ as an exciting system to connect buyers and sellers in our regions and is excited to be a Founder!