Newly formed Agriculture in the Classroom-Canada (AITC-Canada) has a strong commitment to educating Canadian youth about the importance of agriculture and thereby contributing to a strong, sustainable, viable Canadian agriculture industry. As evidenced by its combined reach of over 1 Million students and teachers across Canada, AITC member organizations have a substantial impact and influence on the attitudes of future generations. AITC-Canada and its many contacts have expanded this reach by influencing friends, families, and the communities in which they live by the education received through AITC educational programs and resources.
Over the past several years, provincial AITC organizations representing British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have been working towards building the capacity and capability of a formalized AITC Canada. To achieve its Mission of “Working together to enhance the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of agriculture in everyday life” AITC Canada’s executive committee has defined a formalized strategic plan that identifies four priorities critical to moving to the next stage of its successful future.
- Secure human resources assistance that supports AITC Canada in becoming a legal entity, delivering on its Mission and Purpose, formalizing the organizational and operational structure, and delivering national educational initiatives.
- Secure start-up and ongoing financial support that enables AITC Canada to deliver on its Mission and Purpose, formalize the organizational and governance structure, and fund national educational initiatives.
- Establish a national image and presence that positions AITC Canada as the umbrella organization for provincial AITC organizations.
- Identify and explore national initiatives that contribute to building provincial capacity for offering educational resources and programs to its key beneficiaries - teachers and students.
“We want thank our initial partners for their commitment,” stated Johanne Ross, Executive Committee Chair. “The Canadian Canola Growers Association, CropLife Canada, Farm Credit Canada, Nutrients for Life, and Syngenta Canada are supporting us in enhancing our organizational capability and capacity to develop educational resources and programs that can be delivered to a national audience through provincial AITC member organizations.” Ross added that while fundraising is ongoing, this funding support will enable AITC Canada to continue its strategic approach to national collaboration, enhance its influence on the national agricultural industry through the development of educational resources for teachers and students across Canada, establish AITC Canada as a legal, non-profit organization, and secure human resources assistance beyond what provincial AITC Canada organizations can support.
AITC Canada invites interested stakeholders to get in touch and get involved in this critical, national initiative.
Source: AITC