I would like to give an update to all our community members on activities following the action planning forum regarding seasonal farm labour issues held in Oliver on November 20.
The steering committee has a new name: Farm and Community Team Okanagan Similkameen (FACTOS). Our mission statement is: “Promoting community spirit and economic vitality for a healthy seasonal workforce.”
We are pleased to announce that Arlene Arlow, councillor for the Village of Keremeos, has agreed to chair the committee. Although the funding is in place until the end of March, we hope that continued funding can be secured because the issues are both economic and cultural and will continue beyond March.
Our next meeting is on Friday, Jan. 11 from 10 am to noon in Penticton. We are still looking for volunteers who want to share their experience through either of our sub-committees: accommodation, transportation, cross-cultural education, labour and remuneration and safety, and security.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Lilly Zekanovic, project coordinator
Farm and Community Team Okanagan Similkameen
