Community Cider Program

“Cultivating Diversity and Equity in the Cider Industry”

Welcome to Our Mission

Cider Canada / Cidre Canada’s Community’s Cider Program is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the cider sector. Join us in our journey to empower underrepresented communities and bring new perspectives to Canadian Cider.

Our Objectives

  • Increase Representation: Elevating voices and talents from diverse backgrounds in the cider industry.
  • Educational Opportunities: Offering workshops, seminars, and resources for aspiring cider makers.
  • Professional Development: Creating pathways for career growth and success in the cider sector.

What are our goals?

For Aspiring Cider Makers

Developing a range of educational programs, mentorship opportunities, and financial support designed to kickstart your journey in cider making.

For Volunteers

Join our team of dedicated volunteers and make a difference in the cider community. Learn about the roles available and how you can contribute by contacting info@cidercanada.ca

For Donors and Supporters

Your support can help us build a more inclusive and diverse cider industry.  Donations accepted here.  *Note, we are unable to provide charitable receipts, sorry!

Partnerships and Collaborations

We proudly partner with local businesses, educational institutions, and industry leaders to bring you the best resources and opportunities. We are thrilled to work alongside the American Cider Association’s “Cider is For Everyone” Campaign. Contact us if you’re interested in getting more involved. 

Contact Us

info@cidercanada.ca or via our socials (Instagram)

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30

September 30 is a solemn day of remembrance and reflection. For many Canadians, the truths about the history and legacy of residential schools have only recently come to light.

As cider makers, we acknowledge that apples – and cider itself – were brought to Turtle Island by settlers alongside colonial systems that caused deep harm to Indigenous peoples. Our industry is connected to this history, and with that comes responsibility: to learn, to listen, and to contribute to reconciliation.

We honour the children who never returned home, the survivors who carry these truths, and the families and communities forever impacted.

Ways to Learn and Reflect

  • Movies/Shows: Sugarcane, Bones of Crows, We Were Children, Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance
  • Podcasts: Words & Culture, IndigiNews Podcast, Telling Our Twisted Histories, Unreserved
  • Books: 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act (Bob Joseph), The Inconvenient Indian (Thomas King), Braiding Sweetgrass (Robin Wall Kimmerer), From Truth to Reconciliation (Aboriginal Healing Foundation), In My Own Moccasins (Helen Knott)

Ideas for Cideries

  • Host a team learning session or book club using the above resources
  • Showcase Indigenous art or music in your cidery space
  • Include land acknowledgements in your communications
    Support Indigenous educators, performers, and knowledge keepers in your programming

Organizations to Support with Donations

If you or your cidery would like to take direct action, we encourage donations to organizations working with Indigenous peoples across Canada:

  • Orange Shirt Society – Raising awareness of the impacts of residential schools
  • National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Preserving history and supporting reconciliation education
  • Legacy of Hope Foundation – Advancing healing and understanding of residential school history
  • Indspire – Supporting Indigenous students through scholarships and bursaries
  • First Nations Child & Family Caring Society – Promoting the well-being and rights of Indigenous children

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the traditional homelands of the many diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across Canada. As settlers, we recognize that our work as cider makers is rooted not only in orchards across these lands, but also in a shared responsibility to support reconciliation.

On September 30, we commit to reflecting on this history and taking action toward a more just and respectful future.