AITC-C NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2024 | |
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Celebrate CALM:
Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month!
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March marks the 13th Annual Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM)! Every year, Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) and our 10 provincial partners share Canada's rich agriculture and food story with K-12 students in classrooms across the country.
Our new storybook, All The Farmers You Will Know, highlights the wonders of the modern farm and the farmers and families who work and live on them. Written by WS Marketing, this book will be introduced to younger students throughout the month.
Canadian youth are also encouraged to explore careers in agriculture and agri-food using an interactive new video tool at iamthefuture.ca to see themselves in the future.
The goal of CALM is to connect students with farmers and other agriculture industry professionals. AITC organizations in each province offer uniquely different activities aimed at helping students learn about agriculture in interactive and engaging ways.
Thanks to Cargill for being a valued partner of AITC-C and the presenting partner for CALM.
“The education of the next generation of agricultural leaders is vital in maintaining Canada’s strong leadership position in the global food system,” said Jeff Vassart, President, Cargill Canada. “We at Cargill are honoured to continue our support of CALM, and we share its mission of inspiring students to pursue careers that help feed the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.”
Last year, AITC partners from coast to coast created over 184,000 student experiences during CALM. Hundreds of industry volunteers will visit classes across Canada again this March to share presentations, activities and personal stories to help students learn more about agriculture. To learn more about CALM across the country, visit aitc-canada.ca.
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Help Us Promote Careers in Agriculture | |
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Did you know that one in every eight jobs in Canada is in agriculture? Agriculture is a significant part of Canada’s economy, employing over 2.3 million people. From a grain trader to a graphic designer or an agronomist to an accountant, the agriculture and agri-food industry offers a world of opportunity with countless career options.
That’s why educating the next generation about where their food comes from and the importance of agriculture in Canada is so important. Our future workforce is in the classroom today. If we can educate and inspire youth to be part of our industry, they can continue to sustain and grow Canadian agriculture for future generations.
Throughout the month of March, AITC-C is promoting careers in agriculture with a social media campaign targeting Canadian youth. If you know a student embarking on their career journey, encourage them to visit iamthefuture.ca.
At iamthefuture.ca, a cool new video tool gives young Canadians the chance to see the future and picture themselves in a role in ag. Students simply upload a photo of themselves and select five attributes that suit them best. They will get a custom AI video that shows them in different roles in the future and a list of potential careers in agriculture and agri-food that match their attributes and interests. To learn more about those specific jobs, young people are invited to visit thinkAG.ca, a website dedicated to promoting a wide variety of careers in the agriculture and agri-food industry.
It's a fun and creative way to learn about the many career opportunities in agriculture and agri-food in Canada. It’s also completely confidential and private. While users are encouraged to share their videos using the hashtag #iamthefuture, the videos created can only be posted by the users themselves.
Remember to share your ag pride!
If you haven’t already done so, share your ag pride and career story at iamag.ca and use the hashtag #iamag. Following the same steps as young Canadians, upload a photo of yourself, select your attributes and you will receive a customized video that showcases your unique superpowers. By sharing stories and videos of people already working in agriculture and agri-food, we want to showcase the diversity and let people know there is a place in our industry for everyone!
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The Adventure Begins with Mission Explorium! | |
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Agriculture in the Classroom's new national competition, Mission Explorium, is underway! This deserted island adventure takes classrooms across Canada on a journey of discovery. Embarking on four quests aligned with the UN sustainability pillars, students are working together to learn their active role in creating a sustainable future. The mission got underway on February 19 and classrooms right across the country are participating. The program's pilot year has over 6,200 students participating and a total of 280 classrooms competing for the title of national champion!
See the intro video for Mission Explorium below and join us on social media to follow along!
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Great Canadian Farm Tour Season 3
Save the Date: April - June 2024
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This spring, students will get to visit farms across the country during Season 3 of The Great Canadian Farm Tour. The series, which kicks off in Ontario on April 11, features 10 live virtual tours highlighting the rich diversity and importance of agriculture across Canada. With one stop in each province, the virtual tours establish a dynamic platform for encouraging discussions and facilitating learning by connecting students and educators with farmers across the country. | |
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Meet The Board!
From coast to coast, members of the AITC-C board of directors each bring unique expertise and perspective to guide our national vision. Get to know the leaders from each of our amazing member organizations one edition of The Cultivator at a time!
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Charlotte Flores - New Brunswick
Charlotte Flores is secretary of AITC-C's board of directors and manager of Agriculture in the Classroom New Brunswick (AITC NB). Once a classroom teacher, her love for education led her to environmental education before she found her place at AITC NB two years ago.
When Charlotte arrived, she knew she wanted to focus on careers, bring in national resources for K-5 students and engage teachers. The organization has built relationships with the school district and supported a new high school science course, Agriculture 110. AITC NB provides resource kits and provides support to teachers for the course.
"That's been a fantastic initiative and it has expanded into a new aquaculture course in the science curriculum for Grade 12," said Charlotte.
AITC NB has the added interesting layer of being in a bilingual province. Charlotte explained that they also have to look through the lens of the Francophone community when producing materials.
"We want to make sure there are French-first resources out there instead of just translated resources," she continued, noting that these resources highlight and tell the stories of Francophone farmers and the community.
Sharing the story of agriculture with students is something Charlotte is passionate about.
"As a history teacher by trade, I think there's always this connection between agriculture and society and culture in general," said Charlotte. "It's so incredible to see the movement we can make for the betterment of the world."
"If we really look at agriculture, if we invest in it, Canada in particular, we could have such a bright future ahead."
Charlotte is excited to see how New Brunswick can continue to tell its story. As a newer organization, she says the support they have received from the other maritime provinces and across Canada has been incredible.
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Luree Williamson - Alberta
Luree Williamson is treasurer on the AITC-C board of directors and CEO of Agriculture For Life, AITC's member organization in Alberta. Before joining Ag For Life, she worked with a marketing and communications agency doing pro bono work for the organization in its infancy.
"That sort of sparked my passion for agriculture and youth education," said Luree, who has been with Ag For Life since the organization began in 2011.
The organization strives to connect K-12 students to the exciting world of agriculture, as well as teach rural and farm safety and injury prevention for students who might live on or visit farms.
When it comes to delivering ag education, Luree said she and her staff go into classrooms themselves, but they also have networks and relationships with schools and school boards. She describes the moment when Ag For Life first works with a new teacher introducing them to Agriculture in the Classroom as an "aha moment."
Ag For Life develops initiatives and resources not only for the classroom but also for communities and youth organizations.
"We've seen a great surge in interest in food and where their food comes from," explains Luree, adding they are starting to see more interest in agriculture education.
The students' excitement is what keeps her excited about Agriculture in the Classroom and youth education, said Luree.
"It's always that moment when a student has that realization of where their food actually comes from, whether they're digging up potatoes or whatever that moment is, that excitement, that's what keeps us all going."
For Ag For Life and AITC members across the country, Luree said moments like those are possible in classrooms and communities because of support from a passionate agriculture industry.
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Celebrating Canada's Agriculture Day
Members of the AITC collective celebrated Canada's Agriculture Day in Ottawa on February 13. Christa Wright, AITC-C Relationship Manager, Mathieu Rouleau, AITC-C Executive Director, and Rebecca Sooksom, AITC-C Board Chair, celebrated our dynamic industry and strengthened connections to help encourage growth in agriculture.
| (l-r) Christa Wright, Mathieu Rouleau and Rebecca Sooksom | | | |
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Leading Agriculture Organizations Support AITC
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC) have publicly recognized AITC-C as the leader in agriculture education.
Both organizations provided official endorsements for AITC-C at the CFA's annual general meeting in Ottawa on February 28.
“It is with great pleasure that we share our support for the important work that AITC-C is undertaking to educate students and teachers about agriculture,” said Keith Currie, Chair of the CFA. “Our organizations share a common vision for building public trust and helping to ensure a trusted, sustainable, and vibrant agriculture sector in Canada.”
Peggy Brekveld, Chair of CAHRC, also demonstrated her organization’s support for the important work that AITC-C is doing to educate and inspire students about agriculture.
"The National Workforce Strategic Plan clearly points out the need for the work of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada and collaboration amongst industry to raise awareness of the opportunities in agriculture, starting with students at all levels,” said Brekveld.
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“CAHRC supports the great work of AITC-C on this front and it is with great pleasure that CAHRC formally supports and partners with AITC-C.”
Today’s students will be in the workforce over the next 20 years and it is critical they understand the importance of agriculture in our economy to grow our industry for the future, said Mathieu Rouleau, Executive Director of AITC-C.
“We are very grateful for the support from both CFA and CAHRC as we work together to ensure the continued sustainability of the agriculture industry and inspire the next generation to consider a career in agriculture and agri-food,” said Rouleau.
Thanks to CFA and CAHRC for their support and for promoting the importance of agriculture education.
| (left-right) Jennifer Wright, Executive Director, CAHRC; Cyr Couturier, Director of CAHRC; Christa Wright, Relationship Manager, AITC-C; Keith Currie, President, CFA; Mathieu Rouleau, Executive Director, AITC-C; and Scott Ross, Executive Director of CFA | | | |
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THANK YOU TO OUR MEDIA PARTNERS FOR
THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT
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Agriculture in every classroom, inspiring every student. | | | | |
