FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2012

AALP Class 14 gains a ‘Northern’ perspective

THUNDER BAY, ON – Have you witnessed a real community in action?  The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program’s (AALP) Class 14 participants certainly have. Despite the cold and snow in Thunder Bay, the agriculture and agri-business community laid out a warm welcome for the class as they travelled to Northern Ontario in mid April to learn about examining and dealing with issues.

While visiting a number of local agri-businesses such as Belluz Farms, VanderWees Farms and Thunder Oak Cheese Farm it was evident that the spirit of community is hard at work in the Thunder Bay region. Examples of productive supply relationships and distribution partnerships abound, coupled with a palpable and generous volunteer movement. The class witnessed examples of collaboration and creativity to overcome the perceived challenges of distance, climate and diversity.

The law of Six Degrees of Separation is hard at work in the community as every encounter was met with the question, “Have you met so and so...” The result of this close knit and supportive community is evident in the growing local food movement, in both scale and scope, as the hard work and ingenuity of local leaders such as Joseph LeBlanc of Nishnawbe Aski Nation and True North Community Co–Op pave the way for young folks, older folks and everyone in between to become involved in their food community.

“I leave Thunder Bay with a powerful sense of what I want my community, especially my food community, to look like,” says Kelly Duffy, AALP Class 14 participant, “even if my food community reaches beyond my neighbourhood, city and region. It’s the spirit and awareness I want to capture and replicate.” 

The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) is a 19 month executive leadership program for Individuals actively involved in the agricultural and rural sectors in Ontario.  Through a series of seminars, national and international study tours and self directed learning, AALP prepares leaders to help shape the future of their businesses, organizations and associations. In its 28th year, there are currently over 380 graduates of the program making a difference in the agricultural and agri-food sectors and rural communities in Ontario and beyond.  For more information on the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) contact the Rural Ontario Institute at 519-826-4204.

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Kelly Duffy     Aneka Legault    Will Heeman
AALP Class 14   AALP Class 14   AALP Class 14
416-628-3162    613-551-4586    519-878-5281
kelly@globetrotterproducts.com aneka.legault@nbc.ca   will@heeman.ca

Rob Black    Kathie MacDonald
Chief Executive Officer  Communications Manager / AALP Coordinator
Rural Ontario Institute   Rural Ontario Institute
519-826-4204 ext. 222  519-826-4204 ext. 223
rblack@ruralontarioinstitute.ca kmacdonald@ruralontarioinstitute.ca