Farmers are an integral part of society but can be an overlooked population when it comes to providing them access to mental health resources and programs. To help address this need, many organizations such as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and Gateway, have strived to help provide awareness of mental health issues facing farmers, conduct relevant research and create programs that enable farmers to get the resources they need. If you or your farming neighbor would like more information on the resources available click here. 

This summer, Dr. Al Lauzon and Valencia Gaspard, of the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph supervised two of our Gateway students, Emma Warren  and Valerie Steckle as they researched food insecurity among rural seniors. This research team interviewed medical professionals, service providers, home care staff and public health officials to determine the barriers preventing the elderly from accessing nutritious meals Huron, Perth, Grey, and Bruce counties. Thank you Dr. Lauzon and Valencia for being great mentors to our summer students. 

Last week Dan Stringer, Gateway's treasurer, took two of our summer students into the clouds. 

​"I was on an adrenaline rush for the rest of the day! What a unique opportunity it was to be able to drive 5 minutes down the road, hop in an airplane, and go for a quick tour of the Huron County shoreline. Dan has successfully persuaded me that I need to go and get my own pilot's licence!"
- Valerie Steckle, Gateway Summer Student