*Please see bios below to know which one of us you should chat with today!

Our vision: Driving innovation and ingenuity to build a world leading agricultural and food economy for the benefit of all Canadians.

Our mission: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provides leadership in the growth and development of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

Our responsibilities: The activities of the Department range from the farmer to the consumer, from the farm to global markets, through all phases of producing, processing and marketing of farm, food and bio-based products. Agriculture is also a shared jurisdiction in Canada, and the Department works closely with provincial and territorial governments in the development and delivery of policies and programs.

The Department is also responsible for ensuring collaboration with its portfolio partners which are also involved in regulating and supporting Canadian agriculture

As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is proud to celebrate our achievements in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. Our five Diversity and Inclusion Networks (Gender and Sexual Diversity Inclusiveness Network, the Persons with Disabilities Network, the Indigenous Network Circle, the Visible Minorities Network and the Women in Science Network) advance awareness, contribute to departmental initiatives and provide a safe space and mentorship for their members. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace.

View this video to learn how Canada's agricultural and agri-food sector is poised for continued success and how YOU can make a difference!

Who should you chat with? Take a look at our bios below to give you the best idea on who you should connect with today :)

Interested in a job in Agri-business? Want the opportunity to work directly with producers, administering Farm Income Programs? Chat with Trevor or Garrett who both work in our Farm Income Programs Directorate under our Programs Branch. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)'s Programs Branch manages consolidated program delivery on behalf of AAFC for Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector.

Trevor Sunley: Trevor is a Team Manager with the AgriInvest Program. He supervises 9 staff in the review and verification of AgriInvest and AgriStability applications. He is responsible for supporting his staff in their learning & development, workflow management of their work queue, assisting with HR/LR concerns and anything else that arises. He has experience in writing articulations, reviewing applications for processes and in interviewing candidates. He is a former FSWEP student and has worked at CBSA, CRA and now AAFC."

Garrett Desmond: Meet a U of M graduate who was actually recruited at this event in 2019! Garrett has worked with AAFC as an economist for just over a year, he started as a temporary employee and is now working with us on a permanent basis. He works with three other economists and they spend most of their time analyzing statistical data within the Programs Branch.

Interested in learning more about our Science and Technology Branch? Chat with James!

James Tucker:

James is a research scientist, part of our Science and Technology Branch. He has been with AAFC since 1999! James can offer you a few different perspectives as he has been a summer FSWEP student and is now one of our scientists. He's also currently a PH.D. candidate at the University of Manitoba, Department of Plant Science.

James was a Biologist (Barley Pathologist) in support of the Two-row malting barley breeding program at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon Research and Development Centre (AAFC BRDC). During his PH.D. he has investigated host-plant resistance of barley to fusarium head blight, through application of modern biotechnological tools (Genome-wide molecular SNP markers, RNA-Sequencing). Currently he is employed as an AAFC BRDC research scientist (Barley Genomics) and is the Principal Lead for 2018-2023 Barley Cluster #8 (Developing barley germplasm with improved resistance to fusarium head blight and other biotic stresses for western Canada). He is the current chair of the Disease Evaluation Team (DET) of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Oat and Barley (PRCOB).

Do you have questions about AAFC in general, how to apply to the government, FSWEP or Co-op, or Human Resources? Have an interest in working in the IT world? Chat with Kelly!

Kelly McNaughton is an HR Advisor with our recruitment and collaborative staffing team. She helps managers recruit top talent at events like this one! She is the recruitment advisor for our IT branch so contact her if you areinterested in this field!

She joined the Federal Government in 2016 in an administrative role then became an HR advisor in 2017. She has been with AAFC since August of 2018.

Chat with one of our current Students to hear about her experience!

Kennedy Robillard is in her third year at the University of Manitoba, majoring in English. She started with our HR directorate in our recruitment and collaborative staffing team in May through FSWEP. She continues to work with us part-time as a student while she completes her studies.

Kennedy also self-identifies as an Indigenous person and a person with disability. If you have any questions about this, how she "got in," or her experience working here at AAFC please reach out and chat with her!

Interested in learning more about our Indigenous Programs? Start a chat with Ally, Bailey, Erle or Savannah!

The Indigenous Student Recruitment Initiative (ISRI) offers meaningful and rewarding employment to Indigenous university, college, and high school students. AAFC provides students with the opportunity to work in a supportive team environment and gain essential knowledge and skills with the goal of facilitating ISRI student's potential entry in the Public Service.

Additionally, ISRI is supported by the Indigenous Support and Awareness Office (ISAO) which was developed to support Indigenous participation in agriculture. They do this by; enhancing the recruitment and retention of Indigenous employees, creating awareness and learning opportunities, and building Western science-Indigenous knowledge partnerships with Indigenous communities.

Savannah is a recent graduate of the University of Ottawa and is currently a Student Councilor with Agriculture Canada's Indigenous Student Recruitment Initiative (ISRI). She began working with Agriculture Canada as a student in 2017 through this initiative which she is now an alumni from. Savannah is swampy cree from Opaskwayak Cree Nation and has grown up on Maliseet territory, in New Brunswick.

Erle is the Indigenous Student Recruitment Initiative (ISRI) Student Mentor and Councilor for Western Canada, and provides assistance for the rest of Canada. He has been with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) for 24 years. Presently situated in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is Anishinabek from Manitoba's Northern Interlake region. It is his job to speak with new and returning students and recruit new students into Agriculture Canada. He also meets with Universities, Indigenous Communities and Education Authorities across Canada. When a student joins AAFC, he is available for council at all times if the student requires someone to talk to.

Bailey is a Wolastoqey / Peskotomuhkati student at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick who was hired through the Indigenous Student Recruitment Initiative (ISRI). She is a part-time employee with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada working as a Project Officer for the Indigenous Support and Awareness Office (ISAO).

Ally is currently doing a Masters in Native Studies at the University of Manitoba while also working at Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). She was hired through the Indigenous Student Recruitment Initiative (ISRI) and is working for the Indigenous Support and Awareness Office (ISAO). She previously worked with AAFC during her undergrad and returned again when she decided to go grad school. She has worked both full time and part-time while being a student and is available to answer any and all questions about the Department, the program, and balancing work and school.

"ISRI has been such a life-changing program for me. I started with zero knowledge about the Public Service and the ways in which it operates, and have come to learn so much. They have taught me how to behave and work in a professional setting, write an email, and be a good co-worker and team player - amongst many other skills. It was truly one of the best decisions I have made."