Harvesting Freedom: The Life of a Migrant Worker in Canada

by Gabriel Allahdua, Edward Dunsworth (Primary Contributor)

In this singular firsthand account, a former migrant worker reveals a disturbing system of exploitation at the heart of Canada's farm labour system. When Gabriel Allahdua applied to the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program in Canada, he thought he would be leaving his home in St. Lucia to work in a country with a sterling human rights reputation and commitment to multiculturalism. Instead, breakneck quotas and a culture of fear dominated his four years in a mega-greenhouse in Ontario. This deeply personal memoir takes readers behind the scenes to see what life is really like for the people who produce Canada's food. Now, as a leading activist in the migrant justice movement in Canada, Gabriel is fighting back against the Canadian government to demand rights and respect for temporary foreign labourers. Harvesting Freedom shows Canada's place in the long history of slavery, colonialism, and inequality that has linked the Caribbean to the wider world for half a millennium--but also the tireless determination of Caribbean people to fight for their freedom.

Genres: Nonfiction

186 pages, Paperback

Published March 21, 2023

Reviews

[Justin M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A scathing indictment of Canada’s continued colonial practices. As someone who has grown up knowing the injustices committed against temporary migrant farm workers this was a good read, if leaning somewhat too academic at points. It was inspiring to hear from someone who had first-hand experience inside the program.

I would recommend this book for Canadians who are as yet unaware of how racism systemically pervades our agricultural sector.

This book contains numerous compelling and well-articulated points. Gabriel’s strong viewpoints are especially evident in the 20 injustices of Canada’s temporary farm migrant worker system. I would say that there is a lack of nuance when it comes to his preferred outcome, which ignores the possibility of dismantling the system entirely, and ignores the system’s negative impact on other racialized and working class citizens within Canada. It also is written for an audience that would already be easily persuaded to side with Gabriel on his viewpoints, and so falls short of being potentially impactful for those on the other side of the political spectrum. Similarly, the recognition of Canadian diversity is tempered by the authors view of religion as colonialist even as he mentions cases where he was greatly blessed by members of various congregations. However, I concede it is hard to have an even hand in social Justice writings such as these.

In the end, I’m glad that Canada has someone like Gabriel speaking up for those who aren’t similarly empowered to do so.

[Ferndk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book- it was succinct and well written, providing both facts, information and context about Canada’s Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program, but also the author’s personal story. I finished it in about a day and found it very compelling!

[Marie-Laure Riel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐️
This book is an important read, especially for anyone who advocates for local food consumption in Canada (we cannot look at our food system without a critical social justice lens). I learned a lot about the conditions of temporary workers in Canada, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and its systemic injustice, but also about St Lucia. This is a beautiful story of activism and social justice.

I am not giving it 5 stars because in my opinion, the book was written in a style that was more similar to an essay, and I was hoping for a more literary story. The book was nonetheless very easy to read and accessible.

[Scott Neigh]

My review here.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read for anyone wanting to learn about the experiences of migrant workers, and written with a clear and compelling narrative style that I think would make this accessible for many ages and reading levels.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Gabriel speak at a conference in October 2023 and knew I needed to read his book. I thought I knew the conditions of migrant farm workers. I had (and have) a lot to learn. Harvesting Freedom will open your eyes as it did mine. If you think exploitive or indentured labour is a sin of the past or of other nations, think again. Gabriel explains it better than I can, so I quote him here: “On the world stage, Canada portrays itself as a leader, a champion on human rights issues, a place of refuge, and a place of great diversity and inclusivity. But quietly, Canada hides the eighteenth-Century working conditions that persist in sectors like agriculture and exploit migrants from the Global South.” (129)

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this on Canada Day weekend and I’m not proud of what our country has done to migrant workers. Colonialism is alive in the 21st century. Thank you Gabriel Allahdua for sharing your life and welcome to Canada.

[Jessie MacInnis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening firsthand account of the cruel, inhumane conditions of the SAWP (Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program). A must read for anyone in Canada who eats.

[Roxanne Fyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

''A lot of pressure came from the structure of the program. As migrant workers, we are permanently temporary. In order to be sure of keeping our spot in the program, we need to be requested by our employer to return each year. Additionally, the threat of deportation hangs over our heads at all times. Employers in the program can send workers home if they are not happy with them, with basically no oversight. Making matters worse, migrant workers do not have a good understanding of what our rights are; we are isolated in rural communities, invisible, with neither support nor recourse.'' (p. 68)

''So when you put all of that together, you end up in a vicious cycle. You see, the program makes you dependent. You earn minimum wage and then have all these deductions - for your airfare, work visa, uniform, start-of-season loan, and bunkhouse utilities, in addition to all the usual taxes. So in eight months, it is like you only make four months' worth of wages. Then once you're back home, you have to stretch it. And you might not be able to find work for only four months. This then means that you have to go back to Canada again and go through the same thing. This all results in being dependent on the program.'' (p. 94)

''Later on, as I got to know a little more about the SAWP, I realized how low literacy was part of a broader design of the program, which ensures that workers are exploitable. The program is calling for people of colour. The program is calling for people who are illiterate, or who are struggling with English, or have English as a second language. The program is calling for people who are largely ignorant about labour issues and human rights issues.'' (p. 102)

[Minami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first became aware of the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) while living in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario in the summer of 2015. The SAWP is one of the most blatant examples of systemic racism in Canada today.

Allahdua's account is one part memoir, one part education. The result is a book that puts much needed humanity back into the reader's view of migrant workers, while also being easily digestible and informative on the political and economic powers at play. The book's structure, short 3-5 page chapters that read like short essays, make it a good book for anyone who can only focus on reading for short bursts at a time as its easy to pick back up where you left off (I read this on my daily commute on the TTC).

This quote from chapter 2 particularly stands out, "So I carry one leg of the indentured worker and another leg of the slave. In coming to Canada, I found myself participating in yet another exploitative labour migration movement, one that, like these older movements, features people of colour. In this way, like my mother and father, I, too, am wrapped up in a much larger history"

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

March 2025

I met Gabriel Allahdua in November 2024 at a conference and his story about being a migrant farm worker made me want to read more.


2025
The Spellshop
The Book of Doors
Harvesting Freedom: The Life of a Migrant Worker in Canada

Forestborn

[Anelyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a pleasure to read this labour of love from two colleagues. Here is the blurb I wrote for their book:

By tracing the story of a hurricane in St. Lucia that spurred Gabriel Allahdua’s path from beekeeper and teacher to migrant farm worker and activist, this book provides the first published chronicle of the life of a migrant farm worker in Canada. Harvesting Freedom not only disrupts the dehumanization that’s baked into Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, but it also provides a galvanizing account of migrant workers’ collective struggle for justice and dignity. Given the expansion of unfree migrant worker programs worldwide amid the climate crisis, this firsthand account from a migrant farm worker and organic intellectual is globally significant.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible read. I admittedly knew next to nothing about Canada's seasonal migrant worker program. This was very eye-opening. Gabriel tells the story of his upbringing and his experience in the program. I definitely recommend this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye opening account of migrant workers in Canada. It documents the author's path and how it relates to the bigger picture. The 20 Injustices listed are impactful.

[Snakebird · Rating 5 out of 5]

gabriel the GOAT

[Colleen Cavanaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a vert interesting and informative book. I recommit to everyone.

[AinZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I learned a lot about the treatment and working conditions of migrant works in Canada. Our government should be ashamed of themselves.

[Tierney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful first hand account of the oppressive policies and conditions that seasonal agricultural migrant workers in Canada face.

[Nikhita Dhiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

changed the way i view everything in life!!! the writing is so simple yet put a hole in my heart that will never be repaired. it’s powerful, eye opening, and exposes injustice- we need change immediately.