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Open Farm Day 2025 Registration
The PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee invites you to become a PEI Agricultural Ambassador and participate in this year’s Open Farm Day being celebrated across Atlantic Canada on Sunday, September 21st. This is your opportunity to showcase your farm to islanders, your products, your contribution to a vibrant culture and economy, and, most importantly, the pride you take in your profession. Let’s make it our responsibility as agriculture producers to make sure that every Islander understands the work, knowledge, skills, and investment (personal and financial) in building a strong farming business that provides consumers with the highest quality PEI grown agricultural products.
Building on the success of the past Open Farm Days, the Agriculture Awareness Committee is excited to offer a HYBRID delivery of this year’s event. You can choose to host an in-person open farm day taking place September 21, 2025 and/or participate in our virtual option.
Farms wanting to particiate in a virtual Open Farm Day will be chosen based on funding for pre-filmed videos of your farm and will be notified if chosen for a filming date in July. You will take the virtual audience on a tour of your farm while explaining and showing them a snapshot of your daily operations. Our staff will offer support by visiting your farm and looking after the filming/editing of the videos. We will be posting the pre-filmed videos on a joint Atlantic YouTube channel and our Facebook page on September 21st.
We are also looking for farms interested in hosting tours for Grade 3 classes the Friday before Open Farm Day (September 19th, 2025). This will entail hosting one or multiple grade 3 classes for a 30-45 minute tour.
Any questions about this year’s Open Farm Day can be sent to peiopenfarmday@gmail.com
If you are interested in participating in Open Farm Day please fill out the following registration form and return it no later than July 15th, 2025
To participate in PEI Open Farm Day, you must be a bonafide farmer/business and carry liability insurance. All applications are subject to PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee approval and site inspection.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1zr29deVmGhH_zvxaCxzjYNjG3c1su30khpUJLtvdXy-amQ/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawLKNSFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFxUnRlcWc4WVI5TW4yemhQAR7lIfhRSwjLQ04zhQxw6QzvK61KHFQO8UT9SRKitMiUm7Cpu9hYPW8a6Hk4eQ_aem_-ZZ-ATb-2gGlstAZgCasyA
e-mail: peiopenfarmday@gmail.com
Mail: Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Suite 113, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7Z5
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PEI Farm Team Bursary
ARE YOU READY TO PLAY ON THE PEI FARM TEAM AND EARN A BURSARY RANGING FROM $750 TO $1500?
PEI Farm Team Student Bursary
PEI Farm Team is an initiative aimed at helping farms find student to work during the Summer months of 2025. The program consists of a bursary of either $750 or $1500. The program has been amended to allow for immediate family members to qualify for the bursary.
TEAM FOOD ISLAND
Are you ready to play on Team Food Island and earn a bonus ranging from $750-$1500?
If you’re a high school or post-secondary student under 30, you could earn a bursary and gain valuable experience in some of PEI’s key industries this summer by taking a seasonal job in Seafood Processing, Agriculture or Aquaculture!
High school students (including this year’s grads) qualify for a bursary of $750 after working at least 250 hours for a participating employer, while post-secondary students qualify for a bursary of $1500 by working a minimum of 500 hours.
Step 1: Register for Team Food Island
Step 2: Use our website or scan job boards to find participating employers near you.
Step 3: Work the minimum required hours (250 for high school students, 500 for post-secondary students) without inexcusable absences.
Step 4: Your employer pays you your bursary directly at the end of your work term, and submits a claim to Team Food Island to split the cost.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: JULY 15TH
PEI Agriculture Sector Council
Sara Arsenault
jobs@peiagsc.ca
Tel: (902) 892-1091
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Increase to the federal minimum wage to $17.75/hr on April 1, 2025
The government is increasing the
federal minimum wage to
$17.75 per hour on April 1, 2025—a 2.4% increase.
News release
February 28, 2025 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
Strong economies invest in their workforce and the hard-working people that make them run. Resilient economies ensure that workers have the tools and supports they need to not only get ahead, but stay there.
That’s why, today, the government is increasing the federal minimum wage to $17.75 per hour on April 1, 2025—a 2.4% increase.
This increase will ensure salaries for workers in federally regulated private sectors are keeping pace with year-over-year cost of living increases and help Canadians working in part-time, temporary and low- or minimum-wage jobs earn more.
Employers will be required to adjust their payroll information accordingly to ensure that these employees are paid at least the new hourly wage starting April 1. Should the provincial or territorial minimum wage rate exceed the federal rate, employers must pay the higher of the two.
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AgPal Program
AgPal helps farmers and agri-businesses find relevant resources by gathering agricultural information and presenting it all in one place. Search and navigation tools make it quick and easy to find exactly what you are looking for. Find programs, services, market intelligence, research and more! To begin, select a topic below or
proceed to the AgPal search page.
https://agpal.ca/
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ATTENTION AGRICULTURE EMPLOYERS
The PEI Agriculture Sector Council welcomes Federal and Provincial Immigration Representatives for a discussion on the options available to hire and retain full time employees year-round.
Everyone is invited to join us for coffee on March 21st, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave. suite 105-107 to discuss federal and provincial programs available for you.
Please register by March 17th, 2025
https://www.eventbrite.ca/.../employment-opportunities...More Information
Elevate with fully funded digital skills training and talent!
Jelly Academy is excited to provide fully funded digital marketing skills training through Digital Marketing Skills Canada in partnership with the Government of Canada. Upon completion of this course, you will gain knowledge and skills that you can apply directly to your marketing efforts.
https://jellyacademy.ca/digital-marketing-bootcamp-funding-2025More Information
Forklift Training- registration now open
Thank you for your interest in our Forklift training program.
Training 50% covered under Skills PEI Workplace Skills Training
All our training programs are designed for maximum participation and flexibility. All courses include a review of the applicable legislation including Employer and Employee responsibilities, equipment requirements and reference to any external standards.
Participants are made familiar with all terminology, equipment, and standard industry practices which relate to the topic, and are given applicable reference material to assist them in their duties.
When you complete our Forklift Training you should be familiar with the safety principles of Forklift, have an increased knowledge of how to inspect them and safely operate them and be able to recognize and avoid the most common hazards associated with their use
Classroom portion: Approx: 3 hrs
Equipment anatomy & inspections:
Importance of pre-shift inspection
Stability of a Forklift:
Principles of Forklift stability
Stability Triangle
Importance of machine’s capacity plate
Safe operation:
Safe operation
Load handling principles.
Attachments
Re-fueling and battery care:
Refueling combustible engines
Battery Powered
The classroom portion of the above mentioned topics is supported by videos and workbooks with group discussions encouraged.
Practical portion will include:
Hands on operation of the Forklift
• Performance by the participant on the following:
1. Daily inspection procedure
2. Operating Forklift through obstacle course
3. Performing driving scenarios in controlled environment
4. Demonstration of overall Safe Operation of the Forklift
Evaluation:
Completion of a quiz on all aspects of operation.
Pass all required practical scenarios.
Course Duration:
• Approx. 6hrs
Employers will be issued a Record of Training and any additional information or assistance as may be required to integrate the training into
their Occupational Health and Safety plan and all successful participants will receive a wallet card.
Speaker: ASTA Safety
Dates: April/May 2025
Location: on farm
Time/Duration: 1 day
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Giv'HER the Gears- Rabbit
Welcome to Giv'HER the Gears!
Come join us at Green Diamond Equipment - Summerside, PE .
Join us for the Rabbit session(level 2) on Thursday, February 13th at Green Diamond, Summerside if you have advanced knowledge on tractor, gps, safety training, etc. This hands-on training program empowers women in agriculture by teaching them how to safely and confidently operate tractors & machinery. The workshop provides a supportive and safe environment for women to advance their exsisting knowledge on tractor maintenance, safety, and operation, while encouraging practical interaction with your peers. Providing women an inclusive environment for training to support them in upskilling in agriculture.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow women in agriculture. See you there!
This event has limited tickets- register now!
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Giv'HER the Gears-Turtle
Welcome to Giv'HER the Gears!
Come join us at Green Diamond Equipment - Summerside, PE .
Join us for the Turtle session(level 1) on Wednesday, February 12th at Green Diamond, Summerside if you have general knowledge on tractor, gps, safety training, etc. This hands-on training program empowers women in agriculture by teaching them how to safely and confidently operate tractors & machinery. The workshop provides a supportive and safe environment for women to learn tractor maintenance, safety, and operation, while encouraging practical interaction with your peers. Providing women an inclusive environment for training to support them in upskilling in agriculture.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow women in agriculture. See you there!
This event has limited tickets- register now!
Our Giv'HER the Gears, Rabbit Event will be held February 13th also at Green Diamond in Summerside for the more advanced.
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Canada Summer Jobs 2025
submit your CSJ 2025 funding application
The annual Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program Call for Applications will be launched during the week of November 18, 2024, and will close on December 19, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).
Don’t wait to apply! This year the CSJ Call for Applications will end before the new year. Don’t risk missing the deadline and apply early for Canada Summer Jobs funding!
Are You Ready?
The CSJ program will once again aim to support 70,000 quality jobs for youth during the 2025 summer season.
Not-for-profit employers can receive a wage subsidy up to 100% of the current provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. Public and private sector employers are eligible to receive a wage subsidy of up to 50% of the current provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage.
Are you ready to:
- Provide quality work experiences for youth?
- Provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills?
- Respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers?
If so, stay tuned for the launch of Canada Summer Jobs 2025 by visiting the CSJ website!
How to Apply
If you already have an existing Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) account simply log in to your account and apply, once the Call for Applications is open.
If you do not have a GCOS account, create your account today!
If you are unsure whether you or someone in your organization created an account, or if your organization is already registered, please contact us. Initiating a duplicate account for your organization can cause delays in completing the validation process by Service Canada which enables you to become a fully registered user.
To create a GCOS account you will have to take note of your Organization ID and User Reference Number (URN) for future reference.
Please watch the video to learn more about creating and managing a GCOS account: GCOS video
Creating a GCOS account is a one-time process and allows you to apply for CSJ and other funding opportunities with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in a secure web environment.
Your GCOS account allows you to:
- Apply for funding and track your application status for CSJ and other ESDC programs;
- Save your application and complete it at any point in time while the Call for Applications is open;
- Submit supporting documents;
- Set up a direct deposit; and
- Access your account 24/7 from all mobile devices.
Register today for your GCOS account and be ready to apply for CSJ 2025 this November!
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Farm Tech
Register now for Block II- Farm Equipment
Start date- Jan 6th, 2025
End date- Feb 7th, 2025
5 Week Block Release
PEI Farm Technician Apprenticeship Program
2025 Training Block
Monday, January 6 - Friday, February 7, 2025
Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown PE
Developed in consultation with the PEI Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, this one-of-a-kind, two-year registered apprenticeship program combines classroom learning with on-farm experience, earning students a Certificate of Qualification in Farm Technician by the PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning.
The program highlights the important contribution of farm technicians to Canada’s agri-food system.
Apprentices work throughout the year gaining skills on-farm with a farm mentor in addition to participating in five weeks of in-class training delivered by Extended Learning, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, on PEI.
This unique program was developed to address the demand for a skilled, sustainable, agricultural workforce on P.E.I.
Those interested in starting the journey to become a Blue Seal Certified Farm Technician must first register with the PEI Department of Innovation and Advance Learning or PEI Agriculture Sector Council- laurie@peiagsc.ca
Congratulations to our 8 New Farm Technician Blue Seals!
The work and attention you have put in for the last 2 years has paid off!
Congrats to Mellissa Costain, Breckum Weeks, Connor Mill, Joshua Brown, Carter MacDougall, Alystair O'Connor Brenton Harding and Tyler Peters!
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P.E.I. Department of Agriculture Minister’s Dedication to Agriculture Award 2024
P.E.I. Department of Agriculture Minister’s Dedication to Agriculture Award 2024
The ideal candidate for this award is an agricultural employee that through long serving dedication, devotion, involvement and thoughtfulness has contributed to the success and long term profitability of the agriculture enterprise.
Please forward all nominations by December 15, 2024 to:
P.E.I. Agriculture Sector Council Phone: (902) 892-1091
420 University Avenue
Farm Centre, Suite 113 Fax: (902) 892-1891
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7Z5 Email: laurie@peiagsc.ca
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P.E.I. AGRICULTURE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024 Sponsored by: Kool Breeze Farms
P.E.I. AGRICULTURE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024
Sponsored by: Kool Breeze Farms
The ideal candidate for this award is an agricultural employee that makes an invaluable contribution to any farm operation. The candidate will have demonstrated a strong work ethic and shown dedication and commitment to the agricultural industry. Agriculture employers are encouraged to nominate an employee for the 2024 PEI Agriculture Employee of the Year Award.
Nomination deadline December 15th, 2024
Please send the completed nomination forms to laurie@peiagsc.ca or drop off to PEIAgSC at 420 University Ave., Farm Centre #113
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PEI MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
Minimum wage in PEI will increase from $15.40 per hour to $16 per hour on October 1, 2024. The Employment Standards Board reviews minimum wage annually and provides their recommendations to government.
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Bridging the Gap Farm Transition Workshop - Moncton
Farm families- check out this opportunity from
Farm Management
Bridging the Gap Farm Transition Workshop - Moncton
Friday, November 29, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Delta Hotels Beausejour
Moncton, New Brunswick
Register today:
https://fmc-gac.com/programs-services/btg/More Information
Mandatory Entry-level Training (MELT) for Commercial Class 1 Truck Drivers
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/mandatory-entry-level-training-melt-for-commercial-class-1-truck-drivers
As part of Prince Edward Island's commitment to public safety for all road users, the Province is introducing mandatory entry-level training (MELT) for applicants seeking a commercial Class 1 driver’s license for the first time.
Effective August 5, 2024, Island residents applying for a Class 1 must complete a certified MELT program from a provincially licensed commercial driver training school before taking a Class 1 road test.
We have put registration on hold while we wait for an update.
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YESP - Youth Employment and Skills Program
We offer financial support to agricultural employers that hire youth and provide them with valuable experience.
These organizations can include:
• industry
• not-for-profit organizations
• provincial and municipal governments
• associations
• boards
• councils
• universities
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PEI Farm Technician Apprenticeship Program
The PEI Farm Technician Apprenticeship Program is a Blue Seal Trade that provides Farm Employees an opportunity to gain important skills and experience to use in the Agriculture Industry!
Eligibility
In order to enter the program a person must ....
- Be at least 16 years of age
- Have Grade 12 of Equivalent Education (or willing to obtain during the program)
- Be working on a farm with an employer will to Mentor
- Have at least 1000 hours work in the Agrcilture Industry
REGISTER TODAY!
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HELP RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NATIONAL WORKFORCE STRATEGIC PLAN
Show your support
Help raise awareness about the National Workforce Strategic Plan
Our National Workforce Strategic Plan aims to address some of the most pressing labour issues in Canadian agriculture and agri-food. Want to support this work and raise awareness about the plan? Download our supporter badge – you can display it on your website or promote it over social media.
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Free PEI HR Toolkit
HELPING
SMALL BUSINESS
WITH THEIR HUMAN
RESOURCES NEEDS
What You Need To Know
The following employment related legislation is the legal foundation for provincially regulated employers:
- Employment Standards Act
- Human Rights Act
- Youth Employment Act
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Workers Compensation Act
- Privacy Act
Depending on the nature of your business, other pieces of legislation may also apply to your workplace. At a minimum, employers need to comply with all legislation. Many employers will have internal policies and procedures to communicate rights, roles, and responsibilities on a number of different matters, including those required by legislation.
Policies identify the broad principles/standards for expected workplace action, behaviour, and/or compliance. The procedure may outline step-by-step instructions, such as templates, forms, or simple visual aids.
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Events
