Community Garden Coordinator

  • CompanySOAHAC
  • Education / CredentialsNone required
  • ResumeRequired
  • Cover LetterRequired
  • Application Deadline05/25/2022

Job Description

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) is a diverse, dynamic, multiservice Indigenous health and wellness agency. We strive to provide quality, wholistic health services by sharing and promoting traditional and western health practices to enable people to live in a more balanced state of well-being. SOAHAC provides services to Indigenous people including those who live on and off reserve, status, non-status, Inuit, and Metis within the Southwest and Erie St Clair regions. SOAHAC has a mandate of ensuring that health services are accessible, of high quality, and are culturally appropriate. It is SOAHAC’s objective to build health care capacity within Indigenous communities. Currently, we are seeking the services of an Indigenous Community Garden Coordinator to join our interdisciplinary staff team to work at our Nshwaasnangong Childcare and Family Centre Site.

Nshwaasnangong is a place for Indigenous young children and families to honour, rekindle, and express their identities as Indigenous Peoples; where kindness and compassion helps everyone to have a sense of belonging; where we nurture our well-being, while living in sync with community and all creation; where we engage deeply with questions and possibilities.

We are looking for a Community Garden Coordinator for the development of the Indigenous garden at Nshwaasnangong. The garden will be working closely with the Family Centre Manager and will be available to people in and around the community and be a place where people can gather and learn. The garden will include vegetable gardens, naturalized and medicinal gardens and provide an inviting, safe and nurturing place where people can increase health and well-being. Traditional teachings will be made available for people who are engaged in the garden and for others.

Requirements

  • Must love and have experience in organic gardening (through paid or volunteer work)
  • Commitment to and understanding of Indigenous cultural teachings and practices
  • Experience working with volunteers and community members
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Ability to take initiative, and work independently
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Strong facilitation and public speaking skills
  • Ideally person of Indigenous heritage
  • Food Handler Certificate and First Aid training an asset
  • Valid Ontario Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle an asset
  • Ability to have a flexible work schedule
  • Must have a current and satisfactory Criminal Reference check as a condition of employment

Responsibilities

  • Organize and facilitate most activities in the garden
  • Outreach, engage and support volunteers in garden (planting, watering, harvesting, etc.)
  • Additional garden maintenance and development of garden space as needed
  • Support maintaining garden records
  • Organize garden planning meetings (develop agenda, invite participants, complete minutes)
  • Coordinate teaching events and cultural activities
  • Support special community events, field trips and workshops
  • Co-facilitate garden-based education activities with various groups
  • Promote the garden project with individuals and families, potential volunteers, and other members of the community

This job may require additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre.

Please Note: This position is full-time @ approximately 30 hours per week for 8 weeks. Salary is competitive. Individuals do not have to be eligible for Canada Summer Jobs for this position.

SOAHAC values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer; however, hiring preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants. SOAHAC is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please advise Human Resources.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward your cover letter and resume to hr@soahac.on.ca