STRATFORD, Ontario, April 22, 2008 - The Government of Canada knows our rural communities are the stewards of our future and this Government is ensuring they continue to be bastions of opportunity. We are investing $1.1 million to provide leadership and learning opportunities to the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Gary Schellenberger, Member of Parliament for Perth–Wellington, made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, at the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations annual conference.

"Young Canadians are key to the survival of our rural communities and this Government is making sure they have the leadership skills they need to succeed,” said MP Schellenberger. “A generation of strong and able rural youth will carry Canada into the future."

The Centre for Rural Leadership will partner with 4-H Ontario, the Ontario Rural Council, and the Foundation for Rural Living to provide leadership learning opportunities across Ontario. This collaboration among the four organizations will ensure greater efficiencies and sharing of resources.

Funding will go towards the development of various leadership programs and conferences, drawing on the experience of well-respected leaders to mentor and enrich the learning experience of program participants. This project will benefit agriculture organizations by helping to build leadership capacity.

"Partnering with others towards common goals and objectives is an integral part of each of the four organizations involved in this project," said Rob Black, Ontario Executive Director of The Centre for Rural Leadership. “Collaborating on the delivery of the initiatives will strengthen the overall project and ensure strong leadership development opportunities are made available to current and emerging leaders across rural Ontario.”

Project funding is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the industry-led Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).

“The development of the next generation of leaders for Ontario agriculture will benefit Ontario’s rural sector, the agricultural sector and everyone in the agri-food value chain,” said Fred Wagner, AAC Treasurer. “This project is another example of the great partnerships that are being developed between government, industry and academia.”

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For more information, media may contact:


Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-759-7972
1-866-345-7972

Margaux Stastny
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-759-1059

Nadine Armstrong
Communications Manager
Agricultural Adaptation Council
519-822-7554