A farm with the mission to rehabilitate ex-prisoners is a front-runner in a national charitable funding competition.

Emma Acres, a farm for fruits and vegetables in Hatzic, BC employs ex-offenders and offenders together with victims of crime to grow organic products. It is currently one of the participants voted top in its class for the Aviva Community Fund, which will provide $ 1 million to community projects across Canada.

They hope to receive $ 45,000 from the Fund in order to improve the drip irrigation, electricity on the site to power cold storage, and improve the soil.

The farm is managed by the L.I.N.C. Society, an organization to rehabilitate ex-offenders by providing positive and productive ways to reintegrate into the community and help victims of crime.

The fertilizer- and pesticide-free fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs grown Acres Emma are sold in markets and local businesses of farmers and the proceeds to fund programs to help survivors of serious crimes .

L.I.N.C. leases 20 acres of land in the Mission District, near Hatzic cemetery.