Category: hobbies

Niagara event showcases contributions from Jamaican farm workers

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The Jamaican Liaison Service is gearing up for an exciting summer with plans to enhance the overall experience of Jamaican farm workers employed in Ontario. To kick off these efforts, they’ve launched a series of events spanning all major farming regions in the province. Similar events are being planned across other provinces as well.

The first of these events took place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, starting with a lively ‘cook-up’ gathering that drew workers from the local area. The evening was a mix of music, games, and delicious cuisine, including jerk chicken and curried goat catered by a Jamaican restaurant. Attendees also had the chance to win exciting prizes, including a brand-new TV, through a raffle that added to the festive atmosphere.

Each participating country in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program provide liaison officers in Canada to ensure the smooth functioning of the program for the mutual benefit of both the employers and workers.

“This initiative forms a crucial part of the new liaison service plan to enhance its service delivery to our workers and is integral to the comprehensive effort to overhaul and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Jamaican workers while working in Canada,” said chief liaison officer, Althea Riley.

The event commenced with an opening ceremony hosted by a few of the Jamaican liaison officers, who welcomed over a couple hundred people, made up of workers and members of the Niagara farming community. Speakers expressed heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable contributions of Jamaican workers to Ontario’s fruit and vegetable industry, specifically in the Niagara area.

Jamaican liaison officer, James Golding, speaks to the crowd. Credit: Jamaican Liaison Service

Highlighting the evening were individual recognitions for long-serving workers from various farms across the Niagara region. Jamaican liaison officers personally acknowledged each worker, most of whom have dedicated over 29 years (with one even surpassing 40 years!) to farming in Ontario. The presence of farm employers added a special touch as they also joined in sharing their appreciation for the workers.

Riley was delighted with the event’s success and emphasized its importance in building mutual respect between workers and liaisons. According to Riley, such events underscore the essential role the liaison office plays in supporting the Jamaican workers coming to Ontario through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

“The event on Saturday was strongly attended and received significant support from the workers’ employers and the NOTL community, who highly value and appreciate the substantial contribution of the SAWP workers to the community,” Riley continued. “The Liaison Service eagerly anticipates hosting several such events for our esteemed workers throughout the season.”

Following the formalities, the celebration continued with music and fun, marking just the beginning of a summer-long series of similar events across Ontario. From domino competitions to barbeques, these gatherings promise to celebrate and appreciate Jamaican workers throughout the province.

Stay connected to our social channels and blog page as we continue to highlight these awesome events and more from across the farming community!

 

Title photo credit: Jamaican Liaison Service

Do migrant farm workers have access to any support systems?

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With the help of many groups, organizations, and funding sources, there are an abundance of resources made available to migrant farm workers during their stay in Ontario. In this blog, we’ll take a look at a few of the great support systems in Ontario for the migrant farm workers who come to work in the farming industry each year.

Community health centres

In Ontario, community health centres (CHCs) play a crucial role in promoting and maintaining the well-being of individuals and communities by providing support for the emotional, physical, and social needs of those in their area. Examples include providing accessible primary health care, engaging in community outreach to promote healthy lifestyles, and having the resources to offer culturally responsive care.

For many years, CHCs with migrant farm workers in their community have made it a priority to ensure workers feel welcomed in the community and aren’t afraid to get the healthcare coverage they are entitled to under the contracts of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) and Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program.

The Grand River CHC is one of several CHCs across the province that provides resources and services to migrant farm workers. They provide primary health care clinics on farms, at mobile clinics in town centres, or virtually. Grand River CHC also continues to explore ways to address health and wellbeing concerns through social work and health promotion interventions, while offering primary health care for issues such as muscular skeletal, hypertension, diabetes, skin, sexual health, or eye issues. Spanish speaking health professionals are made available at the clinics to ensure the workers are comfortable and there is no miscommunication.

Each year, the Grand River CHC, along with many of its partner agencies, holds a health fair for farm workers. This year, the fair is set to occur on June 29. For more details please visit their website.

Migrant Worker Support Program

In 2021, to further strengthen the support for migrant farm workers, the federal government introduced the Migrant Worker Support Program (MWSP) to fund community-based initiatives for workers. The purpose of the program, as outlined by the Employment and Social Development Canada, is to ensure the health, safety, and quality of life for workers while they are living and working in Canada.

TeaMWork Windsor-Essex is a project that falls under the MWSP and currently provides funding to 11 different organizations in the Windsor, Essex, and Lambton regions. This includes language services, legal-aid, mental health services, and many more! Visit their website to learn more about the events, opportunities, and success stories that have been made possible by this amazing initiative.

Regional groups

There are other regional support groups like Migrant Matters Flamborough, which, with the help of volunteers, offer weekly Sunday gatherings for workers in the area. Their efforts are highlighted by a huge BBQ celebration in August, which is a great social setting and usually an opportunity to grab a tasty meal. There are many similar groups in other parts of the province, too.

For more information about migrant farm workers, including wages, check-out some of our other blog posts at https://www.morethanamigrantworker.ca/blog/.