At President’s Choice Children’s Charity (PCCC), we believe that every child deserves access to nutritious food and the opportunity to thrive. That’s why we’re so incredibly proud of Future Growers, a growing national initiative that’s helping communities reimagine food access through youth-led, culturally grounded, and tech-enabled farming. It’s more than just a program; it’s a testament to the power of community, the resilience of youth, Indigenous food sovereignty, and the commitment to truth and reconciliation.
Demonstrating our commitment to nurturing essential growing and cooking skills and providing equitable access to nutritious food for students, Future Growers is cultivating hope across the country. With farms already operating in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, we are excited to welcome Kikino School in Northern Alberta to this growing community.
Kikino School, nestled within the Kikino Métis Settlement, is a place where Indigenous students are not only learning about food, but also connecting with their culture and building a brighter future. With approximately 110 students from pre-K to Grade 8, the school is a vital hub for the community. The student-led container farm will provide year-round access to fresh, nutritious food in a region where outdoor growing is limited by climate.
But Future Growers is about so much more than just growing vegetables. It’s about empowering youth to become leaders in their communities. It’s about integrating food systems education into the curriculum, connecting students to subjects like science, technology, math, language, health, and nutrition in a hands-on, engaging way. It’s about fostering intergenerational learning, with Elders sharing their traditional knowledge of foods and land-based practices.