Approximately $100,000 Invested in Community Projects Through FCC Ag Safety Fund
April 22, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Farm Credit Canada (FCC) in partnership with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is awarding approximately $100,000 towards 10 farm safety training projects across the country this year through the FCC Ag Safety Fund.
In its fourth year, the FCC Ag Safety Fund is providing financial support to a wide range of projects covering everything from grain bin rescue training to milk house safety and human-bear awareness and conflict reduction. The funding is offered to charitable and non-profit organizations planning projects that provide safety training to producers within Canada.
FCC is committed to helping Canadian producers stay safe at work. Since its creation in 2010, the FCC Ag Safety Fund has helped Canadian producers learn about the importance of managing safety risks in their operations,” says Rémi Lemoine, FCC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We’re proud of our partnership with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), which allows us to better serve the needs of our customers, their communities and, ultimately, the Canadian agriculture industry.”
Marcel Hacault is the Executive Director of CASA. He says these projects will contribute to the safety of rural communities across the country. “The FCC Ag Safety Fund enables communities to deliver farm safety training that responds to their needs, whether disabled farmers want to talk to other farmers about the importance of farm safety, dairy producers in PEI would like milk house safety training, or producers in Quebec want to help reduce on-farm tree felling injuries.”
This year’s fund will provide: $10,000 towards bear safety training for farm and ranch families in southwestern Alberta through the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association; $5,200 to the Manitoba Farmers With Disabilities to deliver youth and farm-family oriented farm safety training on everything from ATV safety for parents and children, farm tractor safety training for youth, and age-appropriate tasks and safe play area awareness for farm parents; and $10,000 to the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, for farm safety training for agricultural students and farmers across Ontario. The Canadian Farmers with Disabilities Registry is the recipient of the only national project this year. They will receive $25,000 towards train the trainer sessions for their volunteers on the latest occupational health and safety methodology and practices, which will then be shared with producers at agriculture-related events across the country.
For a full list and description of projects funded via the FCC Ag Safety Fund in 2014–2015, visit: www.casa-acsa.ca/fcc-ag-safety-fund.
FCC has partnered with CASA for approximately two decades to help make farm operations a safe place to work and live. FCC is a long-time sponsor of CASA’s annual conference, and Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, CASA’s annual farm safety public education campaign. This is the fourth year that FCC has partnered with CASA to deliver granting support to communities via the FCC Ag Safety Fund.
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is a national, non-profit organization promoting farm safety in the agricultural sector. CASA’s vision is a country where no one is hurt farming and CASA is working with partners in government, business, and farming organizations across the country to support initiatives that equip producers, their families and their workers with the information and tools needed to make farms a safe place to live, work and play. CASA is funded in part by Growing Forward 2, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative, with support from the agricultural and corporate sectors, including Farm Credit Canada, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, CHS and TransCanada Corporation. Connect with CASA at www.casa-acsa.ca through Facebook, YouTube or Twitter @planfarmsafety.
FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture lender, with a healthy portfolio of more than $26 billion and 20 consecutive years of portfolio growth. FCC is strong and stable – committed to serving the industry through all cycles, and to being socially and environmentally responsible. FCC provides financing, insurance, software, learning programs and other business services to producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations. Employees understand agriculture and are committed to the success of customers and the industry. With FCC in the market, producers benefit, agriculture benefits, rural Canada benefits and so do all Canadians. For more information, visit www.fcc.ca. Follow Farm Credit Canada on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @FCCagriculture.
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For more information and interview opportunities, contact:
Michelle French Lancaster
Communications
CASA/ACSA
1-877-452-2272
mfrenchlancaster@casa-acsa.ca
Cécile Kayijuka (bilingual)
Communications
Farm Credit Canada
306-780-5046
cecile.kayijuka@fcc.ca
