Executive Council has identified an ongoing commitment to Member well-being, local food security, and employment in agricultural businesses. TFN would like to leverage its agricultural land base for viable economic benefits. As a result, TFN is looking to form a Members Agricultural Advisory Working Group (MAAWG).
TFN initially developed its Agricultural Plan in 2012-2013 in collaboration with the agricultural sector, TFN Members, govt. agencies and other local stakeholders, with project oversight from TFN’s Agricultural Steering Committee.
A TFN Agricultural Business Plan could help align some of the objectives and action items identified in the Agricultural Plan, including:
- ensuring that a productive agricultural land base is maintained and protected;
- engaging TFN membership in agricultural initiatives and employment-generating business ideas, propose agricultural business ideas that are feasible and can be implemented;
- achieving local food security; and
- improving agricultural knowledge.
Recently, staff acquired a Ministry of Agriculture grant to pay a consultant to facilitate TFN’s agricultural business planning exercise with the community.
The consultant, Darrel Zbeetnoff from Zbeetnoff Agro-Environmental Inc. (who worked on TFN’s Agricultural Plan in 2012-2013) along with another consultant, Darren Scott from Green Chain Consulting, will be taking the lead on this work.
The consultants will work directly with this newly formed MAAWG committee, led by Executive Councillor Steven Stark. The work must be completed by February 2020.
Some Members have already been identified as potential persons to sit on this committee. In addition, staff are reaching out to membership through this Community Notice, to ensure there is a fair process in the formation of the MAAWG.
This group will represent the larger community and guide the consultants in terms of the types of agricultural business ideas that the community wants.
If you are passionate and knowledgeable about agriculture we want to hear from you!
Please contact Kris Patel at 604.948.5215 or email him at kpatel@tsawwassenfirstnation.com to be part of this group, by January 6, 2020.