P.E.I. Agriculture Certificate Program in Island High Schools

The P.E.I. High School Agriculture Certificate Program is a three year program which students complete during their grade 10, 11 & 12 years. Students apply to enter the program during their grade 9 year as a part of the course selection process. Once in the program, students complete their high school curriculum with a ‘specialization’ in agriculture. This program was modeled after CATT, the Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism. The P.E.I. government purchased the rights to model the agriculture certificate program off of the CATT program in 1999, and began to develop this unique program based on the same set of academy guidelines. The first group of grade 10 students on P.E.I. started the program in 2000 in the Western School Board (WSB) and graduated in 2003 from Kensington Intermediate Senior High School (KISH), and Kinkora Regional High School (KRHS). In 2007, Westisle Composite High School, a third WSB Island high school began a certificate program, and they will see the first graduation class in June of this year.

Students are required to acquire 240 hours of agriculture industry work experience through any combination of paid employment, volunteer, cooperative work study or workshop hours.

Employment opportunities, Internship features:
Practical: takes place between/during their Grade 11 and Grade 12 year or at the end of Grade 12.

Relevant: Addresses current talent pool challenges, and is a win-win proposition for the future job market. In long term, a pool of trained young people for the future employment needs will be available.

Benefits:
Employers: Certificate students bring enthusiasm and fresh perspectives; a good partnership will be formed between your organization and the local high school; certificate students can complete projects and provide valuable manpower.

Students: Will be able to test career options in a changing society, gain valuable work experience and network with members of the agriculture industry.

Internship sponsor responsibilities:
Work assignment whereby the student intern joins your
company organization to learn all aspects of your business.
On the job supervisor will insure a quality, well-rounded
work experience.
Meaningful work experience so that Certificate students can
learn about agribusiness cultures, teamwork, planning and
acquiring specific agriculture related skills.

If you are interested in a having an Agriculture Certificate student work with your farm or agricultural business this coming season, please contact the local program coordinator in your area.

Kensington Intermediate Senior High School
- Jessica Reeves, 836-8901
Kinkora Regional High School – Shelley Tremere, 877-2424
Westisle Composite High School – Kim Williams, 853-8626