Dear Editor:
Inspired by a variety of articles and letters to editors of local papers throughout South Okanagan Similkameen region and over a decade of work with community organizations, citizens and seasonal farm workers, Penticton and Area Women’s Centre is working on a project titled From Discord To Action: Cultivating Community Change Around Seasonal Farm Work.
The project’s purpose is to bring the communities and the farmers from the South Okanagan Similkameen region (from Summerland to Keremeos) together to discuss the issue of seasonal farm labour.
By discussing all the related problems and sharing our best and worst experiences, we aim to design a workable action plan to enable the entire region to best address this challenge.
As one region with developed action plan, South Okanagan Similkameen communities, acting together, would increase chances of receiving assistance from any government agency.
We are presently handing out survey questionnaires through the communities that would help us streamline the dialogue at the forum.
Survey pamphlets and drop-in boxes can be found at the following locations:
Keremeos – Visitor’s Centre
Osoyoos – Town Hall main lobby
Oliver – Park Drive Church
We are asking you to support PAWC and your community by participating at the all day Action Planning Forum on Nov. 20, 2012 or by becoming a sponsor of the event.
Lilly Zekanovic
project coordinator
Penticton and Area Women’s Centre
Penticton