Roots to Harvest to continue to provide meaningful employment and training opportunities for youth

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY — Pays Plat First Nation’s Jordan Lees enjoyed learning about gardening and dealing with people over the summer through the Roots to Harvest Seasonal Horticultural Outdoor Worker (SHOW) program. Lees was one of the Roots to Harvest staff and SHOW interns who celebrated the Sept. 10 announcement by Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, of more than $610,000 in Youth Employment Strategy funding for Roots to Harvest at its Urban Farm on the south side of Thunder Bay. Roots to Harvest also has another Urban Farm and an Edible Food Forest on the north side of Thunder Bay.

“I heard about the program through NorWest Community Health Clinic and all I knew coming into it was that I was coming to a garden and I was going to learn a little bit about gardening,” says Lees, a SHOW intern. “And I have, but what I am taking from this program is not a whole lot about gardening — I learned a lot more about myself and a lot more about dealing with people. And even just being able to stand up here and talk in front of a group of people is a huge thing for me because I was always one of those people who were like, ‘I can’t do it.’ I learned a lot in being able to communicate with people from all walks of life.”

Minister Hajdu announced the funding for Roots to Harvest’s Youth and Sustainable Livelihoods Employment Strategy project, which is designed to help 73 youth get the skills they need to overcome employment barriers and enter the workforce by offering a targeted entrepreneurship experience.

“Young Canadians are talented, ambitious and hard-working, but getting a strong start in the workforce can be challenging for many — especially for youth with additional challenges,” Minister Hajdu says. “The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy will make it easier for young people to transition from the classroom to the workforce, including those facing barriers. It is part of our plan to ensure that everyone has a fair chance at success.”

Erin Beagle, executive director of Roots to Harvest, says the funding will allow Roots to Harvest to continue to provide meaningful employment and training opportunities to youth, with the necessary wrap around supports that make this approach successful.

“By using food as a tool to engage and learn through, Roots to Harvest can provide engagement and support through our kitchen skills programs, our newcomer programs and our urban agriculture programs,” Beagle says.

Walter Lewis, a SHOW intern from Aroland whose father is from Pic Mobert, says it was an “amazing” experience at Roots to Harvest.

“I haven’t had a better job in my life,” Lewis says. “I don’t even think this is a job — you come here, you do your work, people are great. I’ve never met a more well-rounded group of individuals, so it’s awesome.”

Sabrina Bottle, a SHOW intern from Lac Seul, also enjoyed her work with Roots to Harvest.

“I made lots of friends, I got a good tan and I just like my job overall,” Bottle says. “Everybody is great to me. They keep me on my toes, they make me laugh every day. We just get along so well.”

Minister Hajdu says she is proud of the work that Roots to Harvest does.

“This is an amazing organization using food and planting food as a way to develop skills in young people to give them a sense of community and provide them with employment and ultimately at the end of the day to build a stronger community,” Minister Hajdu says.