Document Details

2010

Agriculture Workers Alliance

AWA E-News

Agriculture Workers Alliance

AWA Simcoe celebrates their opening

On June 4, 2010 the AWA Simcoe centre official opened its doors by hosting a BBQ to the thousands of farm workers who come to work on the fields in the Simcoe area.
The BBQ, which was provided courtesy of UFCW Canada Local 175/633, was a huge success. Hundreds of workers participated in the festivities along with community members and staff from the AWA team.
Visiting the centre and taking the honour of cutting the ribbon was UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley, accompanied by other staff from the National Office.

National office staff members help with BBQ. From left to right: Stan Raper, AWA National Coordinator; Alexes Barillas and Emmanuelle Lopez Bastos.

UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley and AWA Simcoe Coordinator Fanny Belcoski take the honour of cutting the ribbon.
Students Against Migrant Exploitation (SAME) do outreach in Niagara Region

From May 28 to 30, students of the Brock University Chapter of Students Against Migrant Exploitation (SAME) visited the AWA Virgil centre and different venues in Ontario’s Niagara region in order to promote the AWA and provide information to migrant workers in the area.

In caravan style, students visited areas frequented by migrant workers to provide information about the work that the AWA Virgil centre provides and to also provide awareness among community members about the issues surrounding migrant workers in the area. To this end SAME also visited the closing ceremonies of the Multicultural Festival in St. Catharines.
Other SAME chapter students plan to do more outreach in the future in other areas of Ontario like Simcoe and Bradford, so stay tuned for more information or visit their website www.thesame.ca

Students from the Brock University Chapter of SAME

AWA Virgil hosts delegation of “Latinos Unidos – U.S.A.”

The AWA Virgil centre had the privilege of being hosts to a delegation from Latinos Unidos - U.S.A. on May 15, 2010.
The delegation had a first-hand look at the work the AWA has been doing at the centres for the past 8 years. During the visit members of the delegation had the opportunity to ask workers at the event their experience with the AWA. The delegates left the centre with a renewed energy to do similar work in the U.S.A.
Thanks to the donations of UFCW Canada Local 1977, the delegation was greeted with a BBQ and drinks while they visited.

Members of the delegation pose with UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley (fifth from left).

Group picture of delegation along with volunteers, workers, AWA and National Office staff.

AWA hosts social events for workers in Leamington and Kelowna

During the month of May, the AWA team in Leamington and Kelowna hosted social events to mark 5 de Mayo and celebrate Kelowna’s opening.
The AWA Leamington centre hosted a BBQ in collaboration with the St. Michael’s Parish to commemorate 5 de Mayo for the Mexican workers. Also in May, the AWA Kelowna held a welcome party for agriculture workers to celebrate the re-opening of the AWA Kelowna’s centre.

The AWA team is hoping to increase the amount of social events this year to promote solidarity among workers and to provide a space for workers to reduce work related stress and to reduce isolation.

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  Agriculture Workers Alliance Bits and Bites (3)16 (http://awa-ata.ca/en/media/e-news-2010/e-news-vol3-issue-16/)
  

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