A celebration of the Jamaican-Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Kelowna

A celebration of the Jamaican-Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Kelowna

Published 6:00 am Sunday, August 2, 2026

The British Columbia Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) hosted Jamaica’s minister of labour and social security, Pearnel Charles Jr., and a senior Jamaican delegation in the Okanagan on July 28-29 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jamaican-Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

​The two-day visit included farm tours and conversations with workers and employers, ending with a recognition reception in Kelowna on Wednesday.

​Jamaican workers with 20 or more years of service and Canadian employers with at least 15 years of partnership with Jamaica were honoured.

​B.C. Agriculture and Food Minister Lana Popham, regional MLAs, Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas, city councillors, federal and provincial officials, and Jamaica Liaison Service representatives also attended the event.

​“This program has lasted because workers chose excellence even when no one was watching, employers chose fairness season after season, and liaison officers chose service,” said Charles.

​This year, 1,263 Jamaican workers are employed on farms across B.C. and Alberta, with growers relying on their experience during peak harvest periods, while workers gain seasonal income that supports families and communities in Jamaica.

​BCFGA President Deep Brar called the Jamaican-Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program a true partnership built on trust and shared responsibility, highlighting the Jamaica Liaison Service’s Kelowna office, which opened in 2007, as a key reason for the program’s success.