With the help of the Neil Squire Society’s Working Together program, the Cumberland House (new window) Market Garden and Farm (new window) has won a Regional Centre of Expertise (new window) sustainability award.

The award, which goes to projects that make Saskatchewan a more sustainable place to live, was handed out at the 8^th Annual Education for Sustainable Development Recognition Awards (new window) by Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Vaughn Solomon Schofield (new window).

Recently, the Market Garden hired eight persons with disabilities with the help of a wage subsidy from the Working Together program.

These employees are responsible for planting and seeding, harvesting, and marketing of the produce.

The Market Garden, which sells its produce, helps offset the high cost of food in Northern Saskatchewan and produces healthier food options for locals, while promoting a self-sustainable community. Cumberland House is home to roughly 2,000 Aboriginal, Cree, and Metis people.

Operated since 2012, the garden is known for its strawberry (new window) crops, and has a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, from cantaloupes (new window) to tomatoes (new window). This year, they are planning on expanding their potato (new window) harvest.

However, the Market Garden isn’t the only program assisted by the Neil Squire Society in the community located nearly 450 km north of Saskatoon (new window).

10 persons with disabilities have been hired in Cumberland House through Working Together for a new community beautification project. These employees will go around the community doing tasks including cleaning up yards, getting rid of hazardous materials, completing repairs, and painting houses for homeowners who provide paint.