Rural power provider donates $25,000 to Irvine’s Agricultural Discovery Centre

By Samantha Johnson
Commentator/Courier
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Oct. 17, rural power provider EQUS CEO Andy Metzger, along with staff members, gathered at the EQUS Medicine Hat facility to present a $25,000 cheque to the Agriculture Discovery Centre at Irvine School. The cheque was received by Irvine principal Trent Rayner, vice principal Kerry Watson and ADC co-ordinator Nichole Neubauer.

The funds were raised over the past year as part of EQUS Community Connection, an employee-driven initiative that raises funds in support of the rural communities EQUS serves.

The ADC will use the funding to develop a set of agri-food toolkits. The aim of the kits is to bring a hands-on agriculture learning experience, such as the one ADC students receive, into schools and rural communities across the province that are served by EQUS.

“The Agri-Food Toolkits will be curriculum-linked and filled to the brim with hands-on materials and interactive activities that will get students excited about the amazing Canadian Food System,” said Neubauer. “The toolkits will form the ADC’s agriculture resource lending library. Educators will be able to borrow and then return the toolkits at no charge.

“We are thrilled to partner with EQUS to help bring agriculture into classrooms in communities throughout Alberta.”