What:

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is looking for a KinPark Urban Farm Assistant at the farm located at Kinsmen Park. This position is full-time temporary and directly reports to the KinPark Youth Urban Farm Supervisor.

KinPark Youth Urban Farm
After site plan presentations were made and subsequently approved by North Cowichan and City of Duncan councils in late 2012, CGC’s Skills link team of 6 local youth, began to bring their vision of an urban farm on parkland to life. This included the transformation of a quarter acre of grass at Kinsman Park into a lush growing space and the construction of a passive solar greenhouse next to the retrofitted pool building.

What has emerged since is a youth-led urban farm and demonstration site based on the principles of permaculture, that aims to train young people how to grow food and run a business, provide increased access to local and sustainably produced food, and educate community members of all ages on various aspects of urban agriculture.

Since July 2014, KinPark expanded its programming by adding in a summer camp called KinPark Kids Camp. Every summer, KinPark blossoms with learning, laughter, and magical friendships from children and their families attending KinPark Kids Camp. This camp is for children ages 6 to 10 to engage in hands-on learning that includes growing, harvesting, cooking, and all things related to sustainability.

Eligibility:

To be eligible youth must
• be between 16 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
• This is an 8-week position with the option of extending
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Who:

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is a non-profit organization that has been focusing on environmental sustainability in the Cowichan Region since March 2004. CGC’s mandate is to improve food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers, increasing capacity for local food production (both urban and rural), and empowering people with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to feed their community.

Our Vision and Purpose:

• We envision a food-secure Cowichan nourished by celebrating our connection to food, to our environment, and to each other.
• Cowichan Green Community (CGC) cultivates resilient, inclusive, and healthy local food systems and a vibrant social fabric.
• Our mission is to cultivate food, community, and resilience.
• CGC is a community leader, creating a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy, and social fabric are resilient and inclusive; where we celebrate our connection to the earth and to each other.
• CGC is also a hub for social innovation, community engagement, and community building.
• CGC creates positive change through education, regenerative projects, and celebration.
• CGC’s Guiding Principles are evident in all the work that we do: we value inclusion, responsibility, commitment, positive solutions, diversity, collaboration, and environmental reverence.

Our Perks

CGC offers a work environment where you will feel safe and supported. Your successes are our successes, and we will make sure you get what you need to make that happen.

Diversity and Inclusion

CGC believe that communities include everyone, regardless of what you look like, where you’re from, who you love or how you think. Just come as you are and grab a plate. If you eat food and want to help others to do the same, you have a place with us.

When:

CGC is hiring for summer 2023 full-time/35 hours per week for 8 weeks with Summer Youth Employment. KinPark is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, with some evening or weekend events.

Wage:

$17

Duties:

• Communicate with community partners, community members, and park visitors
• Assist with KinPark Kids Camp as required
• Assist with general day-to-day operations of the farm including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, marketing, etc.
• Assist with online market orders
• Assist with ongoing construction at the farm
• Assist with the hygiene of facilities including bathroom and mini-kitchen area

Communications:
• Communicate clearly with staff, clients, and Management.
• Keep the KinPark Urban Farm Supervisor fully informed on the status of the client sites.
• Advise the KinPark Urban Farm Supervisor immediately about any safety, health, thefts, or other vandalism issues.

Other:
• Perform other duties as required by the KinPark Urban Farm Supervisor.

Working Conditions:

• This position will work primarily outdoors in adverse and varying weather conditions, but there will be a time in an office environment as well.
• Standing for long periods of time will be required.
• Lifting to 50 lbs. will be required.

Experience and Skills:

The ideal candidate has:
• Previous garden and/or farm work experience
• Good organizational skills
• Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the Internet
• Knowledge and understanding of food security is an asset
• Previous work at a community non-profit organization an asset

Benefits:

• Free parking
• $25/month credit at CGC’s grocery store for recovered food
• Discounted summer camp for employee’s children
• Free access to CGC workshops
• Casual dress code

What:

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is looking for a Camp Counselor for the summer at KinPark Youth Urban Farm, located at Kinsmen Park on Alderlea St. This position reports directly to the KinPark Camp Leader.

KinPark Youth Urban Farm
After site plan presentations were made and subsequently approved by North Cowichan and City of Duncan councils in late 2012, CGC’s Skills link team of 6 local youth, began to bring their vision of an urban farm on parkland to life. This included the transformation of a quarter acre of grass at Kinsman Park into a lush growing space and the construction of a passive solar greenhouse next to the retrofitted pool building.

What has emerged since is a youth-led urban farm and demonstration site based on the principles of permaculture, that aims to train young people how to grow food and run a business, provide increased access to local and sustainably produced food, and educate community members of all ages on various aspects of urban agriculture.

Since July 2014, KinPark expanded its programming by adding in a summer camp called KinPark Kids Camp. Every summer, KinPark blossoms with learning, laughter, and magical friendships from children and their families attending KinPark Kids Camp. This camp is for children ages 6 to 10 to engage in
hands-on learning that includes growing, harvesting, cooking, and all things related to sustainability.

Eligibility:

To be eligible you must
• be between 16 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
• This is an 8-week position with the option of extending
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Who:

CGC is a non-profit organization that has been focusing on environmental sustainability in the Cowichan Region since March 2004. CGC’s mandate is to improve food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers, increasing capacity for local food production (both urban and rural), and empowering people with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to feed their community.

Our Vision and Purpose:

• We envision a food-secure Cowichan nourished by celebrating our connection to food, to our environment, and to each other.
• Cowichan Green Community (CGC) cultivates resilient, inclusive, and
  healthy local food systems and a vibrant social fabric.
• Our mission is to cultivate food, community, and resilience.
• CGC is a community leader, creating a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy, and social fabric are resilient and inclusive; where we celebrate our connection to the earth and to each other.
• CGC is also a hub for social innovation, community engagement, and community building.
• CGC creates positive change through education, regenerative projects, and celebration.
• CGC’s Guiding Principles are evident in all the work that we do: we value inclusion, responsibility, commitment, positive solutions, diversity, collaboration, and environmental reverence.

Our Perks

CGC offers a work environment where you will feel safe and supported. Your successes are our successes, and we will make sure you get what you need to make that happen.

Diversity and Inclusion

CGC believe that communities include everyone, regardless of what you look like, where you’re from, who you love or how you think. Just come as you are and grab a plate. If you eat food and want to help others to do the same, you have a place with us.

When:

CGC is hiring for summer 2023 full-time/35 hours per week for 8 weeks with Summer Youth Employment. KinPark is open 9am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, with some evening or weekend events.

Wage:

$18

Duties:

Camp Activities
• Support the coordination of all camp activities including setting up weekly schedules
• Supervise all campers
• Provide appropriate medical attention as required
• Report any medical or behavioral concerns
• Complete daily updates with Camp Leader
• Help to plan, organize, and implement all activities
• Assist in the coordination of field trips and other organization partnerships
Assist with clean up of the farm area before and after camp
• Assist with ensuring the kitchen area and restroom are kept sanitary
• Assist with administrative support Marketing and Promotion
• Help to promote the camp through a variety of medium
• Social Media
• Word of mouth

Communications
• Communicate clearly with participants, consultants, steering committee, and staff.
• Communicate with all parents and caregivers of campers providing camper updates, and assisting with problem-solving and solutions when issues arise with campers.
• Keep the Camp Leader and Program Manager fully informed on the status of the project deliverables.

Other
• Perform other duties as required by the Camp Leader or Program Manager Working Conditions:
• The KinPark Kid’s Camp Counselor will work on a full-time basis, 35 paid hours per week. This is an outdoor farm activity-based camp with some indoor activities, so the Camp Counselor should be prepared for the weather.

Experience and Skills:

The ideal candidate has:
• Experience working with children, setting up and organizing activities
• Proven facilitation, communication, and leadership skills
• Workable knowledge of social media, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other computer programs.
• Experience at a community non-profit organization is an asset.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates a willingness to be flexible, versatile, and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Relationship Building: Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the program.
• Communication: Speaks, listens, and writes in a clear, thorough, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develops new and unique ways to promote the program and engage the community.
• Volunteer Supervision: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to engage and inspire volunteers to assist with programs.
• Organizational Skills: Sets priorities, develops a work schedule, monitors progress towards goals, and tracks details, data, information, and activities.
• Problem-Solving: Assesses problem situations to identify causes, gathers, and processes relevant information, generates possible solutions, and makes recommendations to the Manager and/or resolves the problem.

Benefits:

• Free parking
• $25/month credit at CGC’s grocery store for recovered food
• Discounted summer camp for employee’s children
• Free access to CGC workshops
• Casual dress code

What?

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is looking for a Camp Leader for the summer at KinPark Youth Urban Farm, located at Kinsmen Park on Alderlea St. This position reports directly to the Program Manager.

KinPark Youth Urban Farm

After site plan presentations were made and subsequently approved by North Cowichan and City of Duncan councils in late 2012, CGC’s Skills link team of 6 local youth, began to bring their vision of an urban farm on parkland to life. This included the transformation of a quarter acre of grass at Kinsman Park into a lush growing space and the construction of a passive solar greenhouse next to the retrofitted pool building.

What has emerged since is a youth-led urban farm and demonstration site based on the principles of permaculture, that aims to train young people how to grow food and run a business, provide increased access to local and sustainably produced food, and educate community members of all ages on various aspects of urban agriculture.

Since July 2014, KinPark expanded its programming by adding a summer camp called KinPark Kids Camp. Every summer, KinPark blossoms with learning, laughter, and magical friendships from children
and their families attending KinPark Kids Camp. This camp is for children ages 6 to 10 to engage in hands-on learning that includes growing, harvesting, cooking, and all things related to sustainability.

Eligibility:

To be eligible youth must be
• be between 16 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
• This is an 8-week position with the option of extending
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Who:

CGC is a non-profit organization that has been focusing on environmental sustainability in the Cowichan Region since March 2004. CGC’s mandate is to improve food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers, increasing capacity for local food production (both urban and rural), and empowering people with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to feed their community.

Our Vision and Purpose:

• We envision a food-secure Cowichan nourished by celebrating our connection to food, to our environment, and to each other.
• Cowichan Green Community (CGC) cultivates resilient, inclusive, and healthy local food systems and vibrant social fabric.
• Our mission is to cultivate food, community, and resilience.
• CGC is a community leader, creating a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy, and social fabric are resilient and inclusive; where we celebrate our connection to the earth and to each other.
• CGC is also a hub for social innovation, community engagement, and community building.
• CGC creates positive change through education, regenerative projects, and celebration.
• CGC’s Guiding Principles are evident in all the work that we do: we value inclusion, responsibility, commitment, positive solutions, diversity, collaboration, and environmental reverence

Our Perks

CGC offers a work environment where you will feel safe and supported. Your successes are our successes, and we will make sure you get what you need to make that happen.

Diversity and Inclusion

CGC believe that communities include everyone, regardless of what you look like, where you’re from, who you love or how you think. Just come as you are and grab a plate. If you eat food and want to help others to do the same, you have a place with us.

When:

CGC is hiring for summer 2023 full-time/35 hours per week for 8 weeks with Summer Youth Employment. KinPark is open 9 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, with some evening or weekend events.

Wage:

$20

Duties:

Camp Activities
• Organize coordination of all camp activities including setting up weekly schedules
• Supervise and schedule camp counselors
• Supervise all campers
• Provide appropriate medical attention as required
• Report any medical or behavioral concerns to the Program Manager
• Complete daily updates with Program Manager
• Plan, organize, and implement all activities

• Coordinate field trips and other organization partnerships
• Assist with administrative support
• Ensure the farm is clean before and after camp
• Ensure the kitchen area and restroom are kept sanitary
• Communicate with parents regarding any issues that occur during camp

Marketing and Promotion
• Help to promote the camp through a variety of medium
• Social Media
• Word of mouth.

Other

• Perform other duties as required by the General Manager and Project Manger

Communications:

• Communicate clearly with participants, consultants, steering committee, and staff.
• Communicate with all parents and caregivers of campers providing camper updates, and assisting with problem-solving and solutions when issues arise with campers.
• Keep the Manager fully informed on the status of the project deliverables.

Working Conditions:

• The KinPark Kid’s Camp Leader will work on a full-time basis, 35 paid hours per week. This is an outdoor farm activity-based camp with some indoor activities, so the Camp Leader should be prepared for the weather.

Experience and Skills:

The ideal candidate has:
• Two years of experience working with children, setting up and organizing activities.
• Training in conflict resolution
• Proven facilitation, communication, and leadership skills
• Experience in marketing and media relations
• Workable knowledge of social media, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other computer programs.
• Experience at a community non-profit organization an asset.
• Adaptability: Demonstrates a willingness to be flexible, versatile and/or tolerant in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Relationship Building: Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the program.
• Communication: Speaks, listens, and writes in a clear, thorough, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Creativity/Innovation: Develops new and unique ways to promote the program and engage the community.
• Volunteer Supervision: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to engage and inspire volunteers to assist with programs.
• Organizational Skills: Sets priorities, develops a work schedule, monitors progress towards goals, and tracks details, data, information, and activities.
• Problem-Solving: Assesses problem situations to identify causes, gathers, and processes relevant information, generates possible solutions, and makes recommendations to the Manager and/or resolves the problem.

Benefits:

• Free parking
• $25/month credit at CGC’s grocery store for recovered food
• Discounted summer camp for employee’s children
• Free access to CGC workshops
• Casual dress code

What:

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is looking for a reFRESH Food Recovery Assistant who will report directly to the reFRESH Cowichan Marketplace Operations Manager and is responsible for assisting with the CGC Food Recovery program as well as assisting in CGC’s reFRESH Marketplace Grocery Store. This position will be a full-time temporary contract position.

reFRESH Cowichan: CGC’s Food Recovery Program

CGC’s Food Recovery Program started in 2018 with the goal of improving local food access and security through food recovery in the Cowichan Region. Through strenuous research of various food recovery models and networking with over 21 service providers in the region, the team started collecting produce from local grocery stores and re-distributing it throughout the community. Since then, the program has expanded tremendously and rebranded to reFRESH Cowichan. By June 2021, reFRESH Cowichan had recovered and distributed over 450,000 pounds of fresh produce throughout the Cowichan Region.
Currently, every week reFRESH collects thousands of pounds of excess fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, meat, and bakery products from local grocery stores. In addition, local farms donate freshly harvested vegetables regularly. The program distributes the donated produce to regional partners including food banks, daycares, soup kitchens, shelters, community programs, the KinPark Community Pantry, Indigenous Communities, and schools.

Eligibility:

To be eligible youth must
• be between 16 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
• This is an 8-week position with the option of extending
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Who:

Cowichan Green Community Foundation, (CGC) is a charitable initiative that was formed on March 26, 2014 and its mission is to build community, health, and environmental stewardship. The purpose of the Foundation is to advance education by offering workshops, seminars, classes, lectures and instructional materials on the subjects of environmental protection, food production, food preparation, and food preservation to children, youth and adults in the Cowichan Region.

Our Vision and Purpose:

• We envision a food-secure Cowichan nourished by celebrating our connection to food, to our environment, and to each other.
• Cowichan Green Community (CGC) cultivates resilient, inclusive, and healthy local food systems and vibrant social fabric.
• Our mission is to cultivate food, community, and resilience.
• CGC is a community leader, creating a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy and social fabric are resilient and inclusive; where we celebrate our connection to the earth and to each other.
• CGC is also a hub for social innovation, community engagement and community building.
• CGC creates positive change through education, regenerative projects, and celebration.
• CGC’s Guiding Principles are evident in all of the work that we do: we value inclusion, responsibility, commitment, positive solutions, diversity, collaboration, and environmental reverence.

Our Perks

CGC offers a work environment where you will feel safe and supported. Your successes are our successes, and we will make sure you get what you need to make that happen.

Diversity and Inclusion:

CGC believe that communities include everyone, regardless of what you look like, where you’re from, who you love or how you think. Just come as you are and grab a plate. If you eat food and want to help others to do the same, you have a place with us.

When:

CGC is hiring for this position for spring and summer 2022 for 35 hours per week as part of the Canada Summer Jobs program funding. reFRESH Marketplace is open 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 3pm onSaturday.

Where:
This position will be located at the CGC main office at 360 Duncan Street, Duncan. The office is open from 9am
to 4:30pm Monday to Friday

Wage:
$17 per hour

Duties include:

• Food Recovery:

• Assist driver with daily pick-up and delivery route
• Weigh and sort food upon arrival
• Ensure food is directed to correct recipients
• Train and work with volunteers
• Complete donation tracking

Communicate clearly with community groups
• Clean sorting area after food sort

• Packaging and Processing Food:

• Package bulk products for reTHINK Zero Waste initiative
• Clean returned jars and donated containers
• Communicate with Store Manager to ensure correct items are being restocked and packaged
• Track inventory of products, jars and containers
• Process recovered food in the kitchen as required

• reFRESH Marketplace:

● Complete cash, debit, and credit transactions
● Open and close the store
● Balance end-of-day transactions with Square and complete daily reports
● Clean daily including washing the floors, dusting, and windows as well as weekly deep cleaning
● Serve customers including taking payments and answering questions
● Train and work with volunteers
● Keep store organized and tidy at all times
● Answer phones and relay messages to the appropriate staff
● Sort incoming food and ensure any past-due or spoiled food is removed immediately
● Address all inquiries and take payments for other CGC programming including community gardens, summer camp, CERES, etc
● Report all thefts, inventory discrepancies, and challenging client interactions to the Store Manager immediately
● Distribute Island Farm and Garden magazines and other CGC promotional materials
● Adhere to all COVID protocols including ensuring sanitizers are readily available at all times, baskets are cleaned after each use, and the number of customers are monitored.

Events

• Assist with CGC summer events as required

Working Conditions:

• Indoor kitchen and sorting room
• Indoor retail environment
• Heavy lifting and reaching overhead items (Accommodation can be made if these requirements cannot
be met)

The ideal candidate has:

• Some skills and knowledge in retail and kitchen industry an asset
• Workable knowledge of Square, Word, Excel, Canva and the internet
• Adaptable: Demonstrate a willingness to be flexible, versatile, and or tolerant in a changing workenvironment with maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Self-Starter: Ability to see the whole picture and willing to take initiative to complete tasks.
• Relationship Builder: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others.
Communicator: Speak, listen, and write in a clear appropriate manner.
• Organization Skills: Set priorities and keep the store tidy.

Benefits:

• Free parking
• $25/month credit at CGC’s grocery store for recovered food
• Discounted summer camp for employee’s children
• Free access to CGC workshops
• Casual dress code

What?

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is looking for a Cowichan Farm Hub Farm Assistant at the farm located at the Cowichan Farm and Food Hub. This position is full-time temporary and reports directly to the Cowichan FarmHub Supervisor.

From Seed Hub to Garden Education Centre to Farm Hub
The 3.5-acre lot on Beverly Street was acquired by CGC in the summer of 2015 through a lease agreement with North Cowichan in preparation for the new Cowichan Incubator Seed Farm. In 2016, fields were tilled, and the seed farm began to grow producing locally adapted seed, training new seed farmers, housing a community seed library, and offering education about seed saving and food security to community members. Throughout the years, the seed farm became the Cowichan Agricultural Seed Hub and expanded by including an equipment lending library, community seed bank, and the Ross Wristen Inclusion Garden with wheelchair-accessible beds and garden paths.

In 2019, the seed hub rebranded as the Garden Education Centre, which now has two greenhouses, a retail space, and community gathering places for education and workshops in addition to what the seed hub has implemented already. At the end of 2021, the GEC was rebranded as the Cowichan Farm Hub as plans for the Cowichan Farm and Food Hub get closer to fruition. This agricultural area continues to educate the public while selling produce to local restaurants, to the community, and on an online farmers market called Cow-Op.

Eligibility:

To be eligible youth must
• be between 16 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period
• This is an 8-week position with the option of extending
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Who:

Cowichan Green Community Foundation, (CGC) is a charitable initiative that was formed on March 26, 2014 and its mission is to build community, health, and environmental stewardship. The purpose of the Foundation is to advance education by offering workshops, seminars, classes, lectures, and instructional materials on the subjects of environmental protection, food production, food preparation, and food preservation to children, youth and adults in the Cowichan Region.

Our Vision and Purpose:

• We envision a food-secure Cowichan nourished by celebrating our connection to food, to our environment, and to each other.
• Cowichan Green Community (CGC) cultivates resilient, inclusive, and healthy local food systems and a vibrant social fabric.
• Our mission is to cultivate food, community, and resilience.
• CGC is a community leader, creating a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy, and social fabric are resilient and inclusive; where we celebrate our connection to the
  earth and to each other.
• CGC is also a hub for social innovation, community engagement, and community building.
• CGC creates positive change through education, regenerative projects, and celebration.
• CGC’s Guiding Principles are evident in all the work that we do: we value inclusion, responsibility, commitment, positive solutions, diversity, collaboration, and environmental reverence.

Our Perks

CGC offers a work environment where you will feel safe and supported. Your successes are our successes, and we will make sure you get what you need to make that happen.

Diversity and Inclusion

CGC believe that communities include everyone, regardless of what you look like, where you’re from, who you love or how you think. Just come as you are and grab a plate. If you eat food and want to help others to do the same, you have a place with us.

When:

CGC is hiring for summer 2022 full-time/35 hours per week for 8 weeks with Summer Youth Employment. Cowichan Farm Hub is open 9am to 4:30pm, Monday to Saturday, with some evening or weekend events.
Wage: $17

Duties:

• Communicate with community partners, community members, and Farm Hub visitors
• Assist with general day-to-day operations of the farm including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, marketing, etc.
• Assist with nursery sales
• Assist with online market orders
• Assist with “We Pick” orders
• Assist with ongoing construction at the farm
• Assist with hygiene of facilities including bathroom and mini-kitchen area
Assist with preparation for Food Hub construction
• Assist with the Resiliency (Native and Pollinator Plant) Restoration Project

Events

• Assist with CGC summer events as required
• Assist with workshops as required Communications:
• Communicate clearly with staff, clients, and Management.
• Keep the Cowichan Farm Hub Supervisor fully informed on the status of the client sites.
• Advise the Cowichan Farm Hub Supervisor immediately with any safety, health, thefts, or other vandalism issues.

Other:

• Perform other duties as required by the Cowichan Farm Hub Supervisor.

Working Conditions:

• This position will work primarily outdoors in adverse and varying weather conditions, but there will be time in an office environment as well. Standing for long periods of time will be required. Lifting to 50 lbs. will be required.

Experience and Skills:

The ideal candidate has:
• Previous garden and/or farm work experience
• Good organizational skills
• Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the Internet
• Knowledge and understanding of food security an asset
• Previous work at a community non-profit organization an asset

Benefits:

• Free parking
• $25/month credit at CGC’s grocery store for recovered food
• Discounted summer camp for employee’s children
• Free access to CGC workshops
• Casual dress code

Cowichan Green Community (CGC) is looking for two Food Security Administrators who will report directly to the General Manager and are responsible for assisting CGC with ongoing food security initiatives, including the Food Recovery program, reFRESH Marketplace Grocery Store, the commercial kitchen programming, FruitSave fruit gleaning program, farming and other food security initiatives. This position will be a full-time temporary contract position.

To be eligible, you

• are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada (non-Canadians holding temporary work visas or awaiting permanent status are not eligible);
• are legally entitled to work in Canada;
• will be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
• are willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
• will not have another full-time job (over 30 hours a week) during the Young Canada Works (YCW) work assignment;
• have been a high school, college, CEGEP or university student (as defined by their educational institution) in the semester preceding the YCW work assignment;
• intend to return to studies during or after the YCW work assignment;
• have a working knowledge of both English and French; and
• are willing to work in another region of Canada

Note: To enable geographic mobility within the YCWBOL program, priority will be given to students who must travel at least 125 km from their permanent residence to their place of work.

How to apply:

To apply, students are required to:

• visit the YCW login page;
• create an account by clicking on the “Sign Up” link, then complete and submit a candidate profile;
• browse job opportunities via the “Search for a job” link in their account; and
• express their interest in a position by clicking on the job title and then on “Express interest in this job”.

Transportation and accommodation costs

YCWBOL will pay the cost of one round trip between the student’s permanent residence and workplace for students who must travel at least 125 km from their permanent residence to their job site. The program also offers an allowance for housing costs incurred by a participant who has to pay rent. Students must contact the appropriate delivery organization for all travel arrangements.

Who we are:

Cowichan Green Community Society (CGC) is a non-profit organization that has been focusing on environmental sustainability in the Cowichan Region since March 2004. CGC’s mandate is to improve food security by developing strong relationships with local food producers, increasing capacity for local food production (both urban and rural), and empowering people with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to feed their community.

Our Vision and Purpose:

We envision a food-secure Cowichan nourished by celebrating our connection to food, to our environment and to each other. Cowichan Green Community (CGC) cultivates resilient, inclusive and healthy local food systems and vibrant social fabric.

Our mission is to cultivate food, community, and resilience.

CGC is a community leader, creating a future where our foundation is built on health and well-being; our environment, economy and social fabric are resilient and inclusive; where we celebrate our connection to the earth and to each other.

CGC is also a hub for social innovation, community engagement and community building.

CGC creates positive change through education, regenerative projects, and celebration.

CGC’s Guiding Principles are evident in all of the work that we do: we value inclusion, responsibility, commitment, positive solutions, diversity, collaboration, and environmental reverence.

Our Perks:

CGC offers a work environment where you will feel safe and supported. Your successes are our successes, and we will make sure you get what you need to make that happen.

Diversity and Inclusion:

CGC believes that communities include everyone, regardless of what you look like, where you’re from, who you love or how you think. Just come as you are and grab a plate. If you eat food and want to help others to do the same, you have a place with us.

When:

CGC is hiring for this position for Fall 2022 for 35 hours per week from September 6- December 16, 2022.

Where:

This position will be located at the CGC main office at 360 Duncan Street, Duncan. The office is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday

Wage:

$16 per hour plus a $2.35 geographic mobility wage increase if applicable.

Duties include:

• Food Recovery:
  • Assist driver with daily pick-up and delivery route
  • Weigh and sort food upon arrival
  • Ensure food is directed to the correct recipients
  • Train and work with volunteers
  • Complete donation tracking
  • Communicate clearly with community groups

• Packaging and Processing Food:
  • Package bulk products for reTHINK Zero Waste initiative
  • Clean returned jars and donated containers
  • Communicate with Store Manager to ensure correct items are being restocked and packaged
  • Track inventory of products, jars and containers
  • Process recovered food in the kitchen as required
  • Food prep for Meals on Wheels or other contracts

• reFRESH Marketplace:
  • Complete cash, debit, and credit transactions
  • Open and close the store
  • Balance end-of-day transactions with Square and complete daily reports
  • Clean daily, including washing the floors, dusting, windows as well as weekly deep cleaning
  • Serve customers, including taking payments and answering questions
  • Train and work with volunteers
  • Keep store organized and tidy at all times
  • Answer phones and relay messages to the appropriate staff
  • Sort incoming food and ensure any past-due or spoiled food is removed immediately
  • Address all inquiries and take payments for other CGC programming, including community gardens, summer camp, CERES etc
  • Report all thefts, inventory discrepancies, and challenging client interactions to the Store Manager immediately
  • Distribute Island Farm and Garden magazines and other CGC promotional materials
  • Adhere to all COVID protocols, including ensuring sanitizers are readily available at all times, baskets are cleaned after each use, and the number of customers are monitored.

• Cowichan Farm & Food Hub and KinPark Youth Urban Farm
  Planning and Production:
  • Assist with general day-to-day operations of the farm, including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, marketing, etc.
  • Assist with ongoing construction of the farm
  • Assist with coordination of any community workshops
  • Assist with community outreach and project coordination
  • Assist with the promotion of the farm through social and print media
  • Assist with kids camp

Working Conditions:

• • Indoor kitchen and sorting room
  • Indoor retail environment
  • Heavy lifting and reaching overhead items
  • Outdoors in adverse and varying weather conditions

The ideal candidate has:

• Some skills and knowledge in retail, kitchen, and farm industry an asset
• Workable knowledge of Square, Word, Excel, Canva and the internet
• Adaptable: Demonstrate a willingness to be flexible, versatile and or tolerant in a changing work environment with maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Self-Starter: Ability to see the whole picture and willing to take initiative to complete tasks.
• Relationship Builder: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others.
• Communicator: Speak, listen, and write in a clear appropriate manner.
• Organization Skills: Set priorities and keep the store tidy.

Benefits:

• Vacation and sick days as outlined in CGC’s Employee Handbook
• Free on-site parking
• Monthly allowance of $25 for food at the Farm Hub or reFRESH Marketplace
• Free access to CGC workshops
• Casual dress code

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 15 weeks

Salary: $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Discounted or free food
• Language training provided
• On-site parking

Flexible language requirement:

French not required

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Expected start date: 2022-09-06