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Please forward this message to your industry members, who will benefit from this information.
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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It’s election season!
We are now two weeks into the federal election campaign, and CHC remains busy monitoring important developments for growers. We have been in contact with each political party, providing them with a questionnaire on our main policy priorities, and connecting local candidates with growers in key horticulture ridings.
As we get closer to the September 20th election day, our team will continue to provide important updates and resources to support growers who want to get involved. As always, up-to-date information and resources can be viewed on our website.
In the meantime, if you want to get involved and follow news and developments more closely online, please see some tips below about joining the conversation on social media!
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Rebecca Lee
Executive Director
Canadian Horticultural Council
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IMPORTANT INDUSTRY UPDATES
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Tips for joining election 2021 conversations on social media
- Use hashtags like #Elxn44, #CanAg, and #cdnpoli to link your post to the broader election discussion.
- Tag your local candidates and/or leaders and party accounts to bring your message to their attention (ex. @JustinTrudeau, @liberal_party, @erinotoole, @CPC_HQ, @theJagmeetSingh, @NDP, @yfblanchet, @BlocQuebecois, @AnnamiePaul, @CanadianGreens).
- Tag @CHC_CCH so we can like and share your post.
- Be sure to follow local candidate/party accounts to keep up-to-date on their commitments and activities.
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Become a community scientist and help protect Canada's biodiversity
The Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS) is encouraging everyone across Canada to observe and report invasive species to help protect biodiversity in Canada.
Every report helps scientists track and protect Canada’s biodiversity from unwanted impacts. To participate, visit www.reportcanadainvasives.ca and join the “I Spy and Identify” project. Known invasive species can also be reported to your provincial or territorial invasive species hotline or phone app.
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UN Food Systems Summit
The UN Food Systems Summit will take place on Thursday, September 23, 2021, and will serve as a historic opportunity to empower all people to leverage the power of food systems to drive our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and get us back on track to achieve all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Plan to attend the Summit as it is available to everyone through its virtual program and platform.
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Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) AgriHR Toolkit
Through the Canadian Horticultural Council’s partnership with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, our members have free access to the AgriHR Toolkit. This resource is designed to address the unique needs of the agriculture industry. Based on years of research and field testing conducted in Canada and internationally, this toolkit offers everything you need to improve your people management skills and develop key resources to help you find, retain, and support your employees. To access it, simply set up an account using the Coupon Code: HORTtoolkit.
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COVID-19 Information Centre
We are continuing to work with commodity and regional representatives, as well as with other agriculture industry organizations, to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our sector. Visit CHC's COVID-19 Information Centre webpage for the latest information, updates and links for resources for producers and industry representatives.
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GET TO KNOW YOUR INDUSTRY
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This month's focus: CHC's President Jan VanderHout
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Tell us about your job - what do you do day to day and what are your long-term goals? My brother Dale and I are third generation cucumber growers, we have 30 acres of greenhouses. My day usually consists of doing administrative tasks due to the government and health departments requirements. My long-term goals consist of developing a smooth transition of the farm to the next generation and equip them for ongoing success in the future. That is why I am happy to serve in my role at CHC as it allows me to set the stage for the next generation of farmers across the country.
Why did you choose to work in this industry? It has always been a part of my heritage, but in some ways I fell into it by accident. I have a passion for the variety of work that we as growers do. I love fixing things, and the challenges that we face everyday are very rewarding.
What do you most respect/admire about Canadian growers? I admire their tenacity and ability to stick with it no matter the circumstances to get that produce to market.
What will be our industry’s biggest challenges in the short/long term and how can we address them? I think that right now we really need to focus on emerging from the pandemic because recovering economically is going to be a challenge for not only society but for growers as a whole. Long term I think it's important that we work on providing sustainable food for ourselves and the entire food production model.
Where was the last place place you travelled? In November I purchased a classic car in Kamloops, BC, so my wife and I spent 8 days driving there from Ontario to pick it up and bring it back.
What is your favourite Canadian fruit and veg? This a tough one! Canada has many different seasons so I enjoy many different things! A great way to eat cucumbers is with a chunk or slice of feta cheese - Delicious! We also like to make our own salads with a variety of fruits and vegetables. I love blueberries in yogurt, and peaches with whipped cream.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEADLINES
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CHC and CPMA to host Meet and Greet series with the 44th Parliament
In light of the ongoing federal election, the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) will host a series of Meet and Greet meetings with key members of the 44th Parliament later this fall.
The Meet and Greet series will replace this year’s Fall Harvest event and provide an important opportunity for CPMA and CHC members to connect with incoming Members of Parliament and policy staff. Our next joint advocacy event, Farm to Plate, will be held in early 2022 to further build on this momentum, and ensure our industry’s priorities are front-and-centre for the new government.
Learn more about CPMA and CHC’s joint advocacy events
Additional information about the Meet and Greet series and how you can get involved will be shared in the coming weeks, so please keep your eyes on your inbox. You can also contact Jordan Boswell, Acting Manager of Policy Research and Development at jboswell@hortcouncil.ca with any questions or for more information about CHC’s advocacy efforts.
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44th NAPPO Annual Meeting
NAPPO will be holding their virtual annual general meeting on November 3-5, 2021. Registration for the event is now open and free to all participants, note that the event is capped at 500 attendees, so don't delay on securing your spot to attend the meeting.
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