Dear Editor:
On Tuesday, Nov. 20, the Penticton and Area Women’s Centre held an Action Planning Forum in Oliver to work on the seasonal farm labour issue.
About 30 representatives from communities, farmers and farm workers between Summerland and Keremeos gathered to discuss the topic of seasonal farm labour.
It has been a very productive meeting with many good suggestions from participants. We all learned about different experiences and approaches to the issue in each community.
By lunch we were able to create a list of issues grouped under five main subjects:
Cross-cultural education;
Accommodation;
Transportation;
Safety & Security;
Remuneration and Labour.
The afternoon part of the forum was focused on suggesting solutions. We have formed a steering committee which will further work on developing concrete steps based on suggestions received at the forum.
The committee consists of 12 volunteers who met for the first time last Friday in Penticton to select the priorities and delegate tasks among themselves.
I wish to thank all the participants and volunteers for taking time to work with us on this very important issue as well as very generous donors who made this event possible.
Wilfred Barranoik of Westrand in Summerland was an exceptional facilitator.
Special thank you goes to Oliver Elks Lodge for donating the hall, Auntie Ag’s Seafood Café in Oliver for donating seafood chowder for all participants, Country Style BBQ of Oliver for making sandwiches and Gladys Brown, a farmer from Midway, for her financial contributions towards the project.
If anyone wants more information or to join our steering committee, please contact me at 2250-493-6822 or toll-free at1-866-493-6822.
Lilly Zekanovic
Project co-ordinator
From Discord To
Action: Seasonal Farm Labour
Penticton and Area Women’s Centre
