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WC DAIRY NEWS  CHRISTMAS 2024 15
BC Dairy Association Bulletin Board
Making Milk and Cookies Mean More:
Supporting Children’s Health in BC and
Alberta This Holiday Season
In the spirit of holiday traditions, BC and
Alberta’s dairy farmers are hoping to make
BC Dairy x BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Match
putting out milk and cookies for Santa even
From November 27 to December 3, BC’s dairy
more special this year. BC Dairy and Alberta
farmers matched donations up to $100,000 to
Milk are excited to bring back their holiday
the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. These
match campaigns, making the holiday season
contributions help fund essential healthcare
even more meaningful for children and families
programs, research, and equipment, ensuring
across BC and Alberta. For the second year,
children across British Columbia receive the
they are partnering with the BC Children’s
quality care they need. By participating, you
Hospital Foundation and Alberta Children’s
helped brighten the season for BC’s kids in
Hospital Foundation to raise vital funds for
need.
pediatric healthcare. To make a lasting impact,
Alberta Milk x Alberta Children’s Hospital
they’re supporting local children’s hospital
Foundation Match
foundations and other children’s charities this
From November 26 to December 3, Alberta’s
holiday season.
dairy farmers matched donations up to
Media Campaign Highlighting Here
$100,000 to the Alberta Children’s Hospital
for Good
Foundation. Your support and donations help
To further celebrate the season, BC Dairy and
provide critical resources for children across
Alberta as they journey toward recovery and
Alberta Milk are launching a media campaign to
well-being. Campaigns such as this give the
share the spirit of giving across BC and Alberta
community a meaningful way to come together
and help kids get back on the mend. Running
and make a difference for local children this
from November 25 to January 3, the campaign
holiday season.
will appear across a range of platforms,
including YouTube, Disney+, connected TV,
Together, Let’s Make This Holiday Season
and social media. Through these channels,
Even More Special
we’re excited to share a campaign video that
These holiday-match campaigns by BC Dairy
highlights how BC and Alberta’s dairy farmers
and Alberta Milk offer a powerful way to support
are doing good in their communities and
pediatric healthcare and impact children’s lives.
encourage everyone to join them in supporting
By doubling every dollar donated, they extend
local children’s hospital foundations.
the reach of your generosity, ensuring that more
young patients receive the care they need
when it matters most. With donations matched
up to $100,000, your contributions will support
healthcare services, programs, and equipment
that will benefit children today and for years
to come.
HOW TO DONATE:
Donations are always welcome - visit the
website of the foundation of your choice or for
further information regarding these campaigns
go to bcdairy.ca and albertamilk.com
Join us this holiday season in creating a time
of comfort and compassion for children and
families across BC and Alberta. Your support
means everything to these young patients and
their families. Thank you for helping us make a
lasting impact this holiday season.
In the lead-up to the British Columbia provincial election this fall, BC
Dairy’s public affairs team collaborated with the BC Agriculture Council
(BCAC) to launch a new campaign called “No Food Without Water.”
The goal of the campaign was to educate candidates from all major
parties on the importance of guaranteed access to water for farmers,
ranchers, and other agricultural producers across the province.
The campaign called on all parties to commit to the creation of an
“Agricultural Water Reserve” to protect access to water in key agricultural
regions across British Columbia. Provincial food security relies on
predictable water availability. For several years now, adverse climate
events brought the agriculture sector in BC unrelenting heat, devastating
wildfires, catastrophic floods and prolonged dry spells. Water scarcity
hinders crop growth, affects forage availability for livestock and, as a
result, farmers and ranchers are suffering significant production losses.
In September, we launched a website, nofoodwithoutwater.ca, enabling
supporters to send letters to their local candidates, advocating for the
establishment of an Agricultural Water Reserve.
The campaign began with a joint Op-Ed in the Vancouver Sun, with
contributions from BCAC, BC Dairy and the BC Cattlemen’s Association.
The article was strategically timed to coincide with BC Dairy participation
in the Union of British Columbian Municipalities (UBCM) conference
No Food Without Water: A Campaign for Agricultural Security in BC
in Vancouver, where thousands of municipal leaders from across the
province convened.
During the UBCM conference, BC Dairy’s team promoted key election
priorities with a strong emphasis on the “No Food Without Water”
campaign. This effort resulted in more than 100 signatures of support
from mayors and councillors across the province.
The campaign gained widespread attention, resonating with political
actors, the public, and the media. It led to further articles in the
Vancouver Sun and an extensive segment on Global News Hour at 6,
which featured BC Dairy Board Chair Casey Pruim. Our campaign was
showcased as the title sponsor for the ‘Milking the Data’ segment on
BC’s top political podcast, Hotel Pacifico, which aired daily throughout
the writ period.
The response
to the initiative
was substantial,
resulting close
to a thousand
letters being
sent to elected
officials in almost
all of BC’s 93
p r o v i n c i a l
r i d i n g s .
Ultimately, the
BC NDP, BC
Conservatives,
and BC Greens all incorporated elements related to water security
and the protection of water for agricultural use into their platforms.
The success of the “No Food Without Water” campaign underscores the
importance of collaboration between BC Dairy and other agricultural
commodity groups. Organizations such as the BC Agriculture Council,
and the BC Cattlemen’s Association share our commitment to advocating
for policies that benefit British Columbians and the agricultural industry.
With the election concluded, BC Dairy looks forward to working with the
re-elected government to help them fulfill their platform commitments
and advance the interests of dairy farmers in the coming years.