Helping hands from donors
Cultiv8 is one of Dalhousie’s five sandbox programs brought to life as the result of generous donor support — from individuals, community sponsors and large corporations alike. This includes TD Bank and RBC, who have been instrumental in getting Cultiv8 off the ground.
Cultiv8 allows students to operate a vegetable farm and food stand where they can confront real world issues. (Nick Pearce photo)
Specifically, as part of TD’s Ready Commitment — a funding initiative which supports programs that bring people together, offering resources and providing meaningful solutions for a sustainable and inclusive future — the financial services corporation has committed to a gift of $250,000 over 10 years to help support entrepreneurial programming facilitated by Cultiv8. Its intention is to further inspire students to engage in skills development for the modern-day, agricultural workforce.
“Through the Ready Commitment, TD is proud to support initiatives like Cultiv8 that prepare people for the jobs of tomorrow,” says Jennifer Auld, Vice President, Atlantic Region of TD Canada Trust. “Equipping students with employable skills positions them to succeed in their careers and ultimately address issues we face today and in the future. We are excited to be a part of this program and contribute to a more sustainable tomorrow.”
Community member and Agriculture alum Dale McIsaac (Class of 1973) is also a proud supporter of Cultiv8, and says it was his late son Ben who first encouraged his involvement.
“Ben knew that I had been involved with agriculture my entire life and that I was a believer in ‘local food’, in promoting food security in the Maritimes and Canada, and in learning how to feed the world’s populations,” he says. “Cultiv8 was a natural fit for me, and I am so pleased to have been able to help Dalhousie, the program and the students achieve their goals.”