Labour campaign
New Video: Reuniting Families
We have just published the latest video in our Heartbeat international farm workers awareness campaign: “Reuniting Families.” Throughout the years, Valentine showed leadership and made Canada his home. He took pride in his day-to-day tasks and wanted to share it with his family. Now, his children and wife share a home in Rougemont. bringing two important parts…
Read MoreNew Video: For my Son
We have just published the latest video in our Heartbeat international farm workers awareness campaign: “For my son.” Meet Kevin: His son has sickle cell anemia which requires costly medication monthly and travel to far towns to receive the treatment he needs. Through the International Farm Workers program, Kevin has worked for the past 12 years and…
Read MoreNew Video: More than a Partnership
We have just published the “More than than a Partnership” video in our awareness campaign in celebration of international farm workers. When you have workers returning year after year, the partnerships reach beyond just the day to day operations of the farm. It should come as no surprise that friendships form and farmers and workers alike…
Read MoreMeet the International Workers: Felena Pereira
Felena’s a single mom from Trinidad and Tobago, with a son and daughter aged 13 and 10. Back home, she lives with her mom, with her siblings close by. Everyone depends on her and the salary she makes as an international farm worker. She calls it her “bread and butter”. At first, she wasn’t able…
Read MoreMeet the International Workers: Shervan Lumsden
Shervin, a Jamaican native, has been coming to Canada since 2009. He and others like him make the long trip to prune, manage and harvest Canadian fruit and vegetable crops for Canadian farmers. He says this opportunity is a life-changer for a lot of people and he means every word of it. “With this job,…
Read MoreMeet the International Workers: Joseph Hackett
When Joseph Hackett first came to Canada as an international farm worker in 2004, he only intended it as a one-time job. But owner Charles Stevens and his family at Wilmot Orchards made him feel so much at home that he has been coming back every year since. In fact, it’s the family atmosphere he…
Read MoreMeet the International Workers: Gary Dickson
Meet Gary Dickson. He’s originally from Trinidad and Tobago. 21 years ago, Marshall Schuyler, from Norfolk County, ON, recruited him to work on his farm. The opportunity changed his life. With the money he made as an international farm worker, Gary put his two kids through school. Those kids are now grown up and have…
Read MoreMeet the International Workers: Tony Rice
Tony has been coming back to Wilmot Orchards every year for 30 years. According to him, “it’s like a family reunion every time we come back.” As one of 14 siblings, Tony knows what he’s talking about! Other than the financial benefits of working on the farm and being able to buy things to take…
Read MoreMeet the International Workers: Lester Cruz Cueto
Lester is a long-time international farm worker, in fact he’s been coming to Canada for more than 18 years. He originally hails from Arriaga, Chiapas, in southern Mexico. “I am very happy to be working here,” he says. “It has been good for me and more importantly it has been good to my family.” Although…
Read MoreMeet the International Workers: Ronald (Dole) Lakhan
Ronald is from Trinidad and Tobago. For the past 14 years – every summer – he has been coming back to Simcoe, ON, to work on the Schuyler Farm. Since his grandpa passed away, he has been sending money back home to his dad and sister. Thanks to this money, they built a house not too…
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