The Government of Canada is paving the way for future leaders in agriculture and across all sectors. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz attended the Canadian 4-H Council’s Annual General Meeting and announced an investment of over $1 million on behalf of Heritage Minister James Moore. Minister Ritz was also presented with a certificate recognizing Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as a founding member of the Canadian 4-H Council.
“To keep Canadian agriculture ahead of the pack, we need to make sure that a bright future awaits tomorrow’s farmers,” said Minister Ritz. “This investment will help 4-H continue their excellent work in developing the leaders of tomorrow, from farm leaders to those across all sectors.”
This investment from Canadian Heritage’s Exchanges Canada Program will go to two projects over three years. The 4-H Youth Exchanges Canada project and the National 4-H Citizenship Seminar project will help Canadian youth connect with one another, experience the diversity of Canada’s communities, languages and cultures, and get involved in the future of the country.
“The 4-H Youth Exchanges Canada enables youth to become acquainted with other Canadians, make lasting friendships and acquire life skills such as responsible citizenship, leadership and engagement,” said Minister James Moore. “By supporting young people to become active and engaged citizens, the Government of Canada is building a strong nation for our future.”
This funding is in addition to the $3 million investment delivered under Growing Forward announced last year. This investment was made in support of the 4-H Council’s national programming to help Canadian youth succeed in their future careers.
“We are extremely pleased to see the continuing investment in the 4-H program from the Government of Canada,” said Judy Shaw, president of the Canadian 4-H Council. “The Canadian 4-H Council has a long-standing partnership with the Government of Canada, and this investment goes a long way to ensure that 4-H members have access to new and exciting opportunities across this great country.”
The Canadian 4-H Council is a community-based organization promoting technical and life skills. The 4-H Clubs are mainly active in rural communities with economies based on agriculture and natural resources. In Canada, there are approximately 26,000 members and 8,000 volunteers in 2,123 clubs in all ten provinces. The Canadian 4-H Council has been involved in the delivery of exchange projects since 1962.
To learn more about the Canadian 4-H Council, please visit 4-h-canada.ca.
