Wasn't that a party? You can't boast about a Peach Festival in NIagara on the Lake without inviting the men and women who are responsible for it's success!
The Niagara Workers Welcome in Niagara on the Lake has become an annual tradition for farm workers and their employers.
The goals of the Niagara Workers Welcome the past 11 years are simple -
a.To express our gratitude to all farm workers and publicly recognize their valuable contribution to our local economy.
b. To connect farm workers with a caring community by providing an opportunity for locals, employers and workers to share a common experience of uplifting music, food and friendship.
The 2017 Welcome event -“ The Peach Pickers Picnic”, was held at the Farm Market at the Village on Sunday night, August 13 in conjunction with the Peach Festival. For the first time this year’s event included farm workers from both the Caribbean and Mexico. The response was overwhelmingly positive from everyone who attended!
Over 400 farm workers attended the event with 32 enthusiastic volunteers helping. Close to 100 locals dropped in over the course of the evening to “pay it forward” or enjoy the music and meet the farm workers.
Local Caribbean and Mexican restaurants/food trucks provided meals which were available to the farm workers at a subsidized rate of $2 per meal ticket. Over 400 meals were served to the farm workers.
Music was provided by a band comprised of farm workers and local musicians.
A bike repair service provided bicycle maintenance while the men and women enjoyed socializing, a meal and music. Maps of the Caribbean islands and Mexico on the picnic tables encouraged conversation and domino tables were also set up for anyone wanting to learn or hone their skills!
A portrait studio was set up by Morgan Falk Photography and beautiful 5x7 portraits were printed and delivered later free of charge to grateful recipients on the farms.
Transportation on 3 designated bus routes was available through the donated services of the Community Transport Group, DanNel and First Student Bus Lines.
All organizing is done on a volunteer basis in order to ensure that 100% of the donations go directly to related expenses.
We’d like to thank everyone who “paid it forward” for meals, your donations were greatly appreciated by some hungry crews! We couldn’t have done it without the many volunteers and translators who helped to makeeveryone feel welcome!
A big THANK YOU to our sponsors!
Town of Niagara on the Lake
The Market@ the Village
Applewood Hollow B+B
Tiffany Mayer
Bushy House B+B
Shaw Festival
St.Davids Hydroponics
Stratus Vineyards
Tregunno Farms
NOTL Rotary Club
Quest Community Health
Calvary Church
Emmanuel Grace Church
Grace United Church
Grantham MB Church
Orchard Park Church
Carla and Richard Dew
Rebecca and Sam DaSilva
Kristin Lozanski
Drew Unruh
DanNel Bus Lines
Community Transport Group
First Student Transportation
Plans are underway for the 2018 Peach Pickers Picnic which will take place Sunday, August 12 at the Farm Market @ the Village, Niagara Stone Rd. from 5:30 to 9pm.
If you would like to contribute or get involved please contact:
Jane Andres – niagaraworkerswelcome@gmail.com
Sharon Brinsmead Taylor, market manager ~ notl.market@gmail.com
