December 16, 2024, Ottawa, ON – Farm Management Canada recently held its annual Agricultural Excellence Conference where Erica Nitchie was announced as the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Wilson Loree Award. Now in its twenty-second year, the Award honours individuals or groups who have made an extraordinary contribution to advancing farm business management in Canada.
Erica Nitchie is a Professional Agrologist and Team Lead of Indigenous Food Systems within the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Indigenous Partnerships and Reconciliation Branch.
Erica has contributed profoundly to the Ministry’s ability to understand and support Indigenous priorities and advance reconciliation in the food and agriculture sector. Through her commitment to relationship building, passion for excellence in responsive service design and delivery and championing of dialogue, Erica has provided direct support to Indigenous agriculture and food enterprises across BC, contributed significantly to reducing barriers to access and better alignment of government programs and services, and is a role model and leader of cultural change within the Ministry.
Erica has worked directly with dozens of First Nations governments, economic development corporations, and community-driven initiatives across BC to support their food and agriculture related economic revitalization, food security and food sovereignty projects and with Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs to support agriculturally-sound business planning, capacity development and access to low-barrier programs and services. In addition to leading the BC Indigenous Agriculture Development Program supporting business planning and management and the design of new Indigenous programs, Erica has designed and led numerous projects and initiatives to support Indigenous food and agriculture businesses.
Her leadership has driven the development of partnerships, innovative programs and technical resources and services that have empowered First Nations communities, businesses, and individuals to strengthen Indigenous food systems, enhance agricultural success, and improve food sovereignty. Through Erica’s work, key programs and initiatives have been launched that reflect her deep commitment to advancing reconciliation and Indigenous rights within the agriculture sector.
Wilson Loree proudly presented Erica with the 2024 Wilson Loree Award on November 20, 2024 during the Agricultural Excellence Conference.
Pictured (L-R): Erica Nitchie accepting the 2024 Wilson Loree Award from Wilson Loree.
Here is some of what was said about Erica’s contribution to affecting positive change in Canada’s farm business management landscape:
“Erica works diligently with a vision reflecting insights gained from trust-based relationships with Indigenous food and agriculture leaders, to design programs and services in response to Indigenous priorities and needs.”
“I believe Erica deserves recognition as a leader and innovator in the field of farm business management for her quiet dedication for nearly two decades to creatively and collaboratively applying farm business management principles to support Indigenous businesses and community economic development, while simultaneously expanding the bounds of farm business management to include and recognize Indigenous approaches and values outside the traditional scope of farm business development.”
“I have not met a better advocate for our indigenous needs in agriculture. She is there for so many communities in the Interior. She has a kind heart and always takes the time to reach out and share new programs and funding opportunities with us.”
Our congratulations to Erica!
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For more information contact:
Farm Management Canada
21 Florence St. 2nd Fl, Ottawa (Ontario) K2P 0W6
Telephone: 1-888-232-3262
Email: info(at)fmc-gac.com