May 23, 2023 · New Glasgow, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Organizations that provide training and vocational opportunities for people living with challenges help ensure that Canadians of all abilities have the chance to participate fully in the economy. In rural Atlantic Canada, issues such as food security and protecting the environment by growing fruits and vegetables locally are increasingly top of mind. That is why the Government of Canada is investing in Summer Street Industries (known as Summer Street) to build a fully accessible greenhouse.
Growing food, skills, and a cleaner economy
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, announced a non-repayable investment of $1,500,000 through the Canada Coal Transition Initiative - Infrastructure Fund (CCTI) to Summer Street to construct a three-bay greenhouse in New Glasgow, built to universal accessibility standards.
The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA. The Province of Nova Scotia is also contributing $1,400,000 to this project, which includes $1,000,000 from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage and $400,000 from the Department of Agriculture.
The all-season greenhouse will enable Summer Street to grow produce for its food service businesses, sell food locally, and contribute to local food banks - improving food security in the area.
Summer Street participants will be the main workers, learning hands-on life and employment skills. The greenhouse will be fully accessible to people of all mobility levels and engineered to be environmentally sustainable and reduce carbon emissions. Local small and medium-sized businesses will also be able to lease space to grow food, scale up and reach their market potential.
The Government of Canada is proud to invest in projects that create education and employment opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities, while supporting the transition to a greener economy.
