Article from the Caledon Enterprise
by Danielle Marr:
Despite its proximity to the Big Smoke, Caledon has held on to its farming roots and on Nov. 18, the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance (GHFFA) paid tribute to 37 families who have been farming in Peel for 150 years or more.
“Agriculture and family farms have played a major role in the development and growth of our country and province, so it feels right to pay tribute to these families during Canada’s 150th celebrations,” says Bill Hodgson, chair of the GHFFA.
The event, which took place at the Caledon Community Complex, was hosted as part of the Canada 150 Farm Family Program, which is being touted as a celebration of those families who have had such an integral part in the growth of so many communities since Confederation.
Families of three different Caledon council members were among the 37 families honoured at the event and Wayne Innis, father to regional Coun. Jennifer Innis was grateful for the opportunity to recognize the many generations of his family.
“In the early 1800s, our family settled in the hills of Adjala and began farming,” he said. “We are grateful that our father Murray and all our grandfathers before him choose to call this community home,” Really it is them that deserve to be honoured and the generations yet to come.”
Coun. Innis added that she sees farmers as the nations first environmentalists.
“Recognizing these families for their sacrifices and commitment to the industry is a great way to honour our rich cultural heritage,” she said.
Mayor Thompson told the Enterprise that he learned a lot about his personal heritage in researching the Thompson family roots for the initiative, as applicants were asked to provide official documents and a family tree laying out each of the generations dating back to Confederation that had managed and run their farm operations.
Those 37 farm families recognized in Peel, in addition to hundreds more throughout the Golden Horseshoe, received a special Canada 150 Farm Family sign at their respective recognition events.
“Passing the farming tradition from generation to generation is an impressive achievement, but continuing that tradition for 150 years or more takes tremendous commitment, continuous improvements, risk taking and hard work,” GHFFA executive director Janet Horner wrote in a press release.
The program is open to family farms in the Golden Horseshoe (applications being accepted until Dec. 1), which includes the regions of Peel, Durham, Halton, Niagara, York and the cities of Hamilton and Toronto.
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The above article is copied from the Caledon Enterprise, written by Danielle Marr; the three photos have been added to the article, and are from Johanna Downey, Region of Peel Councillor.
Thank you to the Peel Federation of Agriculture for hosting this great evening to honour Peel’s 150 Farm Families!