Summer Student Farm Worker Bursary

This bursary provides financial support to students engaged in seasonal agricultural work by offering variable funding based on hours worked. The funding strategy is designed to align student work schedules with seasonal labor demands.

• Bursary payment amounts vary according to the number of hours worked: $1,500 for 250 hours, and $3,000 for 500 hours.
• Funding may be prorated for hours worked between 250 and 500, aiding alignment with seasonal employment needs.
• Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis until the program's funding is fully committed.
• Bursary payments are issued at the end of the work season upon confirmation of completed hours.
• Reporting requirements must be fulfilled, including the submission of pay stubs or payroll hours and completion of a final survey.
• Fund acknowledgment rules must be adhered to in all public communications and require pre-approval from the IAF Communications Team prior to dissemination.

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the student applicant's status and employment conditions in BC.

• The student must be 16 years or older before the first day of the summer season (May 1, 2025).
• The student must be enrolled in full-time studies in the current academic year and intend to return to full-time studies in the fall.
• The student must be enrolled in a designated educational institution.
• The student must be legally permitted to work in Canada.
• The student must be hired for employment within the sectors of Primary Agriculture, Food, Beverage, Seafood Processing, Fishing or Aquaculture, or Nurseries for bedding plants (large-scale/wholesale production).

Who is eligible?

Full-time students aged 16 or older who are legally permitted to work in Canada and are enrolled in designated educational institutions can apply. They must be employed or seeking employment within specific sectors, including agriculture, food, beverage, seafood processing, fishing, aquaculture, and certain large-scale nurseries, in British Columbia during the summer season.

Who is not eligible

This bursary excludes certain participants and job placements due to specific conditions and sectors. The restrictions aim to ensure that funds are allocated to youth engaged in qualifying agricultural and related sectors in British Columbia.

• Students under the age of 16 during the work term.
• Students not returning to school and/or full-time studies in the fall.
• Part-time students or those enrolled in graduate/post-doctoral studies.
• Job placements outside of the agriculture, seafood/food/beverage processing, or fishing/aquaculture sectors.
• Job placements outside the province of BC.
• Job placements with Farmer’s Markets, apiaries, community gardens, hobby farms, landscaping, Industry Associations, research farms, food security and/or non-profit organizations.
• Remote job placements, office and retail positions, social media, events coordination, sales, etc.
• Employment with a company based/headquartered outside of BC.
• Working on a family-owned farm if the student owns shares in the corporation.

Eligible expenses

The Summer Student Farm Worker Bursary Program does not specify eligible expenses. It provides financial support in the form of bursary payments to students working in specific sectors during the summer season, depending on the hours worked.

• The program provides bursary payments based on hours worked within eligible sectors.

Eligible geographic areas

This bursary is specifically available for companies located within the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is designed to support employment within BC's agricultural sector during the summer months.

• Companies based within British Columbia, Canada.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Funding amounts may be prorated for hours worked between 250-500 hours.
• Applicants must report and submit proof of completed work hours.
• All payments will be issued at the end of the work season.
• Program participants will be required to complete a survey as part of their final reporting requirements.
• Public communication about the bursary funding must be pre-approved by the IAF Communications Team.