Kentville, Nova Scotia – On Sunday, September 11, 2022, several local community organizations hosted a community brunch event in Kentville with migrant farm workers throughout the Annapolis Valley. About 30 Jamaican and Mexican migrant farm workers and dozens of Nova Scotians gathered together to eat Jamaican, Mexican and Nova Scotian meals prepared by local caterers. Each year, hundreds of migrant farm workers live and work in the Annapolis Valley.
The community brunch is hosted regularly by the Valley Community Learning Association (VCLA), the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth Immigrant Services, and the Town of Kentville, with the help of volunteers. For Sunday’s event, No one is illegal – Halifax/Kjipuktuk’s (NOII-Hfx) Migrant Workers Program partnered and for the first time there was large participation by migrant workers. The event began with each organization giving a short presentation on their services, which was interpreted into Spanish.
A Jamaican migrant worker who attended the event said “The event was so wonderful, knowing that you guys have planned such a thing for us migrants, where we can come and enjoy the food that they have prepared for us and give us encouraging words while we are away from our country.”
According to NOII-Hfx, due to language barriers, being away from their families, living in rural areas, and when racism and abuse occur, migrant workers can feel isolated while in Nova Scotia. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, migrant workers have faced even more isolation. This event was held to combat the isolation faced by migrant workers, and to thank them.
Peter Gillis, executive director of the Valley Community Learning Association, said: “We were very pleased to be able to host this event with our partners, YMCA, NOII-Hfx and the Town of Kentville. Seasonal workers play a huge role in our local food system and frankly do not get enough recognition for their work.”
“For migrant workers, working in Nova Scotia means being away from family for extended periods of time, missing birthdays, funerals, and other special days in between. Through this event, we want to say thank you to all our migrant worker neighbours and friends for everything they do. We want migrant workers to feel welcome and appreciated,” said Stacey Gomez, Manager of NOII-Hfx’s Migrant Workers Program.
Since 2021, NOII-Hfx’s Migrant Workers Program has provided information and support to over 3,000 migrant workers throughout the province.
Event attendees applauded the work of migrant workers multiple times during the event.
