Latest news with #AssiniboineCollege
CBC
16-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Assiniboine College getting $120M to expand ag school, help fill jobs in 'backbone' of Manitoba economy: Kinew
Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture getting $60M in capital funding, $60M in bridge funding Assiniboine College in Brandon, Man., is getting a $120-million boost from the province to expand its agricultural school and get its long-planned Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture built — a project Premier Wab Kinew says is critical to filling labour gaps in one of Manitoba's key economic sectors. Kinew announced the funding Thursday during his state of the province address to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. "We know that there are so many jobs that we're going to have to fill going forward into the coming years to be able to keep growing that backbone of our provincial economy," Kinew said. "Assiniboine College's Prairie Innovation Centre is the way to get it done." The new centre, which has been years in the making, and is expected to offer 16 new or expanded educational programs under its roof. It will more than double the Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment from about 300 students to 800 students, said Assiniboine vice-president of advancement Derrick Turner. He says the college researched gaps in agriculture industry training, and the new state-of-the-art facility will help students prepare to work in areas like automation, chemical technology and resource management— all key for supporting Manitoba's evolving agriculture sector. "I don't think it's any secret that in Manitoba or the Prairies, agriculture drives our economy," Turner said. "[Industry] realizes they need this. We had car dealerships giving us donations towards it, because they know that the ag industry is buying trucks and other implements." The province said Thursday it is providing $60 million in capital funding, which includes $40 million for the Prairie Innovation Centre and $20 million for a child-care project in the centre. An additional $60 million in bridge funding is being provided to support the build. The centre has also received $23 million in private industry donations. Kinew says he's still hopeful the federal government will also come to the table with money. The province contributed $10 million to the project in 2023, under the then Progressive Conservative government, to support its planning and design. The announcement comes as labour shortages loom over the province's ag industry, which accounts for 7.2 per cent of Manitoba's GDP and provides more than 37,000 jobs, according to a 2024 provincial fact sheet. A November report from the Canadian government says the agriculture sector expects to see a 15 per cent gap between labour demand and supply by 2030. According to the college's research, one in three agriculture jobs in Manitoba could go unfilled by 2029 if action isn't taken, said Turner. More than doubling the number of graduates from Assiniboine's program will be "huge for the industry of Manitoba, and really, the Prairies," he said. Assiniboine College began formally fundraising for the new centre in the fall of 2019. The full build will cost $150 million, Turner said. The Prairie Innovation Centre will be located on the college's North Hill campus, in a former mental health facility that has been empty since the 1990s. It will become the third repurposed building and the largest on campus. The project will go to tender immediately, with a request for proposals expected this fall. Turner said the centre's construction will also generate spinoff jobs and long-term benefits for Brandon. "This is a good news story," Kinew said. "We can start building right away, and it's 1,000 jobs that are being spoken about, not to mention all the additional workers that are going to be able to come out of this new facility once it's fully up and running."
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Province puts up $120M for Brandon college's innovation centre
BRANDON — The Manitoba government will provide $60 million in capital funding and a further $60 million in bridge financing to support Assiniboine College's new Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, which will expand workforce training, the premier announced Thursday. 'This is an amazing project — a big reward for us,' said Kinew, who made the announcement at a luncheon at the Keystone Centre, attended by 550 business leaders. 'The ag industry is the backbone of our economy here in Manitoba … This is a really solid investment for us.' Submitted photo An artist's rendering of the main entrance to Assiniboine College's new Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture which will receive $60 million in capital funding and a further $60 million in bridge financing from the Manitoba government. Kinew said the centre will help grow the agriculture industry, not only in Westman, but the entire province. 'When you're dealing with the threat of tariffs to the south and the tariffs from China, we can't be cutting and slashing — you've got to be investing to keep people working,' said Kinew. 'The Prairie Innovation Centre, to me, is one of the best ways when we talk about investing in this core part of our economy, the ag industry.' Of the $60 million in capital funding, $40 million is earmarked for the Prairie Innovation Centre and $20 million will be used for a new 216-spot child-care centre inside the development. 'It's a game changer,' said Assiniboine College president Mark Frison after the announcement. Frison donated $50,000 of his money to the centre in November 2021. He said the centre will enable the college to bring in specialized programs, some of which aren't common on the Prairies. 'We're very excited about the prospect of those new programs.' They include chemical process technology and food science technology, which he said are especially important in Manitoba. Frison said the centre should be able to teach 800 students once completed in June 2028, up from the 300 students who are enrolled in agriculture-related programs at the college. He said because the province is providing $60 million in bridge financing, the college will be able to start finding contractors 'within weeks' and start construction toward the end of the year. Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett applauded the investment. 'It's great news. The enhancing and strengthening of any of our core industries in the city, including (the college)… benefits all of us,' said Fawcett. 'A strong college gives more opportunity for people to work, more opportunity for people to go to school. Agriculture is sort of the hub of where we are,' he said. He said the inclusion of a daycare will also be a big help to the community. Fawcett said he wants the federal government to do its share, which he said has been lagging. 'The province has always been in, the feds, as the premier said, have been a bit slow,' said Fawcett. 'We will continue to look for that federal money.' Kinew also called on Ottawa to help fund the centre. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Kinew originally pledged the $60-million contribution from the province during the 2023 election campaign. The college first announced the new centre in January 2021, describing it at the time as a 'vision for the future of agriculture in Manitoba.' The previous Progressive Conservative government, under premier Heather Stefanson, announced $10 million for the centre in January 2023, which paid for planning, assessing future programs and building supporting infrastructure. Donors include local philanthropists Gord and Diane Peters, who donated $10 million; Sunrise Credit Union, which chipped in $1 million; accounting firm MNP handed over $1 million; the RBC Foundation earmarked $700,000; the Anthony Matlashewski Charitable Foundation donated $500,000; Scotiabank gave $125,000; and the Manitoba Crop Alliance donated $100,000. — Brandon Sun
CBC
16-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Assiniboine College getting $120M to expand ag school, help fill jobs in 'backbone' of Manitoba economy: Kinew
Assiniboine College in Brandon, Man., is getting a $120-million boost from the province to expand its agricultural school and get its long-planned Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture built — a project Premier Wab Kinew says is critical to filling labour gaps in one of Manitoba's key economic sectors. Kinew announced the funding Thursday during his state of the province address to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce. "We know that there are so many jobs that we're going to have to fill going forward into the coming years to be able to keep growing that backbone of our provincial economy," Kinew said. "Assiniboine College's Prairie Innovation Centre is the way to get it done." The new centre, which has been years in the making, and is expected to offer 16 new or expanded educational programs under its roof. It will more than double the Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment from about 300 students to 800 students, said Assiniboine vice-president of advancement Derrick Turner. He says the college researched gaps in agriculture industry training, and the new state-of-the-art facility will help students prepare to work in areas like automation, chemical technology and resource management— all key for supporting Manitoba's evolving agriculture sector. "I don't think it's any secret that in Manitoba or the Prairies, agriculture drives our economy," Turner said. "[Industry] realizes they need this. We had car dealerships giving us donations towards it, because they know that the ag industry is buying trucks and other implements." The province said Thursday it is providing $60 million in capital funding, which includes $40 million for the Prairie Innovation Centre and $20 million for a child-care project in the centre. An additional $60 million in bridge funding is being provided to support the build. The centre has also received $23 million in private industry donations. Kinew says he's still hopeful the federal government will also come to the table with money. The province contributed $10 million to the project in 2023, under the then Progressive Conservative government, to support its planning and design. The announcement comes as labour shortages loom over the province's ag industry, which accounts for 7.2 per cent of Manitoba's GDP and provides more than 37,000 jobs, according to a 2024 provincial fact sheet. A November report from the Canadian government says the agriculture sector expects to see a 15 per cent gap between labour demand and supply by 2030. According to the college's research, one in three agriculture jobs in Manitoba could go unfilled by 2029 if action isn't taken, said Turner. More than doubling the number of graduates from Assiniboine's program will be "huge for the industry of Manitoba, and really, the Prairies," he said. Assiniboine College began formally fundraising for the new centre in the fall of 2019. The full build will cost $150 million, Turner said. The Prairie Innovation Centre will be located on the college's North Hill campus, in a former mental health facility that has been empty since the 1990s. It will become the third repurposed building and the largest on campus. The project will go to tender immediately, with a request for proposals expected this fall. Turner said the centre's construction will also generate spinoff jobs and long-term benefits for Brandon. "This is a good news story," Kinew said.
