In this issue of our BCAITC Teacher Champion series, we profile BC teacher Jason Edge. Discover his passion for educating students about BC agriculture, food, and the environment.

Q: What school do you teach? A: I teach at Walnut Grove Secondary School in Langley.

Q: What grade(s) do you teach? A: I teach Culinary Arts students from Grades 10-12.

Q: How and when did you first learn about BCAITC? A: I was introduced to BCAITC during my B.Ed Practicum with Chef Brian Smith at Thomas Haney Secondary School in 2018.

Q: How long have you been teaching students about BC agriculture and food? A: I have been teaching students about BC Agriculture and food for about 7 years. 

Q: What are the most important things that you want your students to learn about BC agriculture and food? A: I want my students to know that the province of British Columbia produces a wide variety of products such as fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and seafood. It's important for them to understand the significance of agriculture in BC as it provides employment opportunities for a large number of people, both directly and indirectly. I also want them to acknowledge that by purchasing these products, we are supporting our fellow British Columbians. I make an effort to educate my students about the importance of using seasonal produce and demonstrate various ways to incorporate them into recipes that students can easily make at home.

Q: BCAITC has over 500 free downloadable resources including lesson plans, activities, videos, recipes, and more! What is your favourite BCAITC resource and why? A: Recipes! I was just talking about this with Chef Trevor Randle and the recipes by far are the best resource and my favorite. I was experiencing a creative block when I was coming up with menus for the Fall (Yes! I plan ahead), and Chef Randle reminded me about all the fantastic recipes on the BC Agriculture in the Classroom website. Don't overlook them!

Q: What is your favourite BCAITC program and why? A: Take a Bite of BC is my favourite program. Five times a year, Take a Bite of BC delivery truck pulls up to the loading dock at the school and drops off multiple boxes of BC-grown products. The quality is always top-notch - we aren't getting seconds. I think I speak for all teaching kitchens when I say that, these BC-grown products are greatly appreciated in the kitchen and awesome to work with.

Q: Describe an agriculture or food-based project/program you have implemented in your classroom/school recently. A: In the spring of 2024, I took the opportunity to organize a food-based activity in my classroom. While our school's kitchen was undergoing renovations, we had extra time on our hands. I decided to introduce my students to the art of cheese-making. We began by watching informative videos and then enjoyed a cheese-tasting experience, sampling everything from mild, tasty cheeses to bold and flavorful blue cheese.

Q: Do you have any advice for other educators on how to integrate agriculture and food education into their curriculum? A: You don't need to reinvent the wheel! Take the time to explore the BC Agriculture in the Classroom website for resources that are suitable for your classroom. Reach out to your fellow educators for inspiration. You can also check THESA or BCCASA for ideas! And remember, organizing field trips is crucial for agriculture and food education. Let's get those students outside and exploring!

About the Teacher Champion Series: This monthly BCAITC series features BC teachers and school staff who are passionate about providing agriculture and food education to K-12 students. For more information, contact BCAITC Communications Coordinator, communications@aitc.ca.