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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • NOVEMBER 2016
Ag council recognizes civic support for farming Surrey and North Saanich win leadership and innovation awards in agriculture: UBCM
by TAMARA LEIGH
VICTORIA – The City of Surrey and District of North Saanich were recognized for Leadership and Innovation in Agriculture at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community Excellence Awards in Victoria, September 29. The awards are part of a co-operative initiative by the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC), the BC Ministry of Agriculture and UBCM to recognize the important role that municipalities play in supporting agriculture.
“Municipal governments are playing an increasingly important role when it comes to regulations and enforcement and supporting the development of the agriculture and food industry in their communities,” says Reg Ens, executive director of BCAC. “We thought these awards would be a great way to work with the province to recognize what communities were doing in this area.” The City of Surrey received an award for their BioPod Initiative, which aims to stimulate agri-tech development, provide opportunities for careers in agriculture and strengthen the local food system. The BioPod is a partnership between the
skills training and certification for students at the academy. The project is part of the City of Surrey’s Agricultural Protection and Enhancement Strategy, with funding through the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC and support from JVA, Affinor Growers and the City of Surrey.
The BioPod Initiative provides agricultural training and research in a demonstration greenhouse in Surrey and was recognized by the BC Agriculture Council during an awards ceremony in Victoria this fall. (Photo courtesy of the John Volken Academy)
city, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and the John Volken Academy (JVA), a Surrey-based addictions recovery institution.
The high-tech twin greenhouses
provide a test-site for development and demonstration of new technologies for the commercial greenhouse sector. At the same time, the initiative is providing agricultural
“It’s all about the partnerships,” says councillor Mike Starchuk, chair of the City of Surrey’s Agriculture Food Security Advisory Committee, sharing the credit with UFV for bringing the technology and vision and the John Volken Academy for their enthusiastic support and embracing the opportunity for their students. “We are proud to receive this kind of recognition. From the city’s point of view, we wanted to see what types of innovation could come out of this that could be applied here and elsewhere in the world,” he explains. “If the BioPod initiative continues to grow the way it is, it is going to change an entire industry.”
Sandown
The District of North Saanich was recognized for its role in the Sandown
See SANDOWN page 10
BC Young Farmers Thank Our 2016 Sponsors
www.bcyf.ca
The BC Young Farmers (BCYF) would like to thank our 2016 sponsors. Your support and generosity is building the next generation of farmers in BC. Through your support, BCYF held several events for farmers aged 18 to 40 in 2016. These events provided educational material in a social setting – BCYF members learn important business principles that we incorporated into the management of the family farm. BCYF events provide important networking opportunities for BCYF members as we meet with fellow young farmers, business leaders, and educators. Without your generous support BCYF would not have been able to hold events for our members.
On behalf of BCYF Directors and members we thank you and look forward to working with you in 2017 as we continue to provide educational and networking opportunities for BCYF members – the next generation of BC’s farmers.
Our program in 2016 included:
A booth at the Pacific Agriculture Show – an opportunity to promote the work that BCYF does and recruit new members.
Sending BCYF members to Vancouver to attend the national Canadian Young Farmers Forum. An event that exposed BCYF
IRRIGATION
Directors and future BCYF directors to national agricultural issues and world-class networking and education opportunities. BCYF took the lead in organizing a tour of local farms for conference delegates.
Events with local MLAs and MPs – important events to build connections, attach faces to agriculture, and to discuss challenges
and opportunities facing agriculture and young farmers.
Farm tours – BCYF toured local agri-businesses providing educational and networking opportunities. Our most popular
tours continue to be those that involve hands-on experiences.
Farm Fest – a one day event with top notch educational sessions. These year’s focus includes diversification of farm finances, retail
food trends and our keynote Elaine Froese speaking on what we wish our parents understood.
You’re Invited to
Farm Fest 2016 Saturday, November 19th UFV Chilliwack Campus
5579 Tyson Road |Trades and Technology Center Rivers Dining Room.
Doors open at 3pm for registration. Join fellow young farmers for an
afternoon of educational sessions & networking. Stay for a social & buffet
dinner, followed by entertainment by our keynote Elaine Froese speaking on What We Wish Our Parents Understood.
The event is free. Please see our website
www.bcyf.ca
for more information and to register.
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