My name is Ricardo Cole and I am from Jamaica. I have been coming here for seven years. The program was introduced to us by our MP back in Jamaica so I decided to take the trip. Back home, I was working at the Appleton Estate. Appleton Estates does cane sugar and rum.
The program gave me the opportunity to make some money for my family and put some food on the table. I’ve known lots of people that have come to Canada to work. Some told me that it is hard work but you can make money. I am also building a house. It’s a very nice feeling to know that you can achieve something for yourself as a farmer and build a house for my mother, brother and sister.
Here on this farm, my jobs pertain to the irrigation part, irrigating the peppers and asparagus. I live in a house with nine of us. In the evenings, we sit and talk and maybe play some soccer. Back home, for fun, I raise some animals on a farm and play soccer as well. I like playing defence.
I come in March and go home in October or sometimes November. It depends if the crop goes long. I remember the first time I saw snow. It was exciting because people had told me about it so I said I wanted to see it for myself.
What should Canadians know about me? Well, they should know that we provide lots of food stuff for Canada, so basically, we do our best for Canada.