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Support for New Ag Facility Continues
INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE PRAIRIE INNOVATION CENTRE CONTINUES
The Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture is Assiniboine’s vision for the future of agriculture training and a Manitoba-made response to labour market gaps in the industry. As Assiniboine continues to engage partners who see the value in the future of agriculture in Manitoba, we have been fortunate to announce several new supporters in late 2021 and early 2022.
THE MANITOBA CROP ALLIANCE
The Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) came aboard the Prairie Innovation Centre project with a $100,000 contribution to the Collaboration Zone, an integral piece of the Centre where education and industry connection will meet.
MCA is an important organization in Manitoba’s agricultural landscape, representing five key commodities in the province: spring and winter wheat, sunflowers, corn, barley and flax.
“The birth of MCA unified multiple organizations—a great example of evolving with industry needs, much like the college is looking to do with the Prairie Innovation Centre,” said Tim Hore, Dean, School of Agriculture and Environment. “The Prairie Innovation Centre is an important piece of tomorrow’s ag landscape, and we are grateful for support from partners like MCA, who are crucial to the success of the Centre.” Assiniboine has a long and successful history of delivering agricultural programming that is responsive to the need for highly trained workers across the province. The Prairie Innovation Centre will be a hub for agricultural innovation and collaboration, and stand as the academic heart of agricultural and environmental education in Manitoba.
“Students are the future of agriculture,” said Fred Greig, Chair of MCA. “MCA is proud to support the Prairie Innovation Centre Collaboration Zone at Assiniboine Community College as it will enable students to form strong connections within the agriculture industry. The new facility will greatly expand the College’s programming capabilities to educate more students, and will provide new opportunities to learn, connect and collaborate with each other and with industry professionals.”
RON AND VERA HELWER AND SHUR-GRO FARM SERVICES
In November 2021, the college received a $500,000 contribution from Ron Helwer and Shur-Gro Farm Services, a long-time presence in Westman agriculture.
“Ron is an agricultural institution in his own right, so it’s a thrill to welcome his support for what we know will be the future of agricultural education in our province,” said Derrick Turner, Director, Advancement & External Relations at Assiniboine. “He’s a business leader and an influential voice within the agriculture community, and we know that his partnership, outside of any dollar figure, is invaluable.”
Ron’s legacy in Westman began in 1968 when he and his late wife, Vera, moved to Brandon where they started Shur-Gro Farm Services and raised their three kids. “I think it’s a great expansion, and it makes sense for the Westman area. Increasing local graduates in agriculture programs, that’s great for everyone, not just our business,” said Helwer, who is an honorary cochair of the Prairie Innovation Centre campaign cabinet.
“To us, Assiniboine is really important and we are really pleased and proud to be involved. When I look at where our people get educated, Assiniboine plays a huge role. We are very supportive of the college. People is what makes the business.”
Being a leader in the agriculture industry for more than 50 years, Ron recognizes the need to adapt with the sector.
“The Centre aims to expand training capacity to better meet labour market demands, and it will also be a hub for agricultural education, innovation and applied research,” said Tim Hore, Dean, School of Agriculture & Environment. “This will give us the ability to collaborate and work with industry to transfer that knowledge to the ag sector.”
Adding another contribution to the campaign in December 2021, local community and business leaders, Gord and Diane Peters and the Brandon Area Community Foundation (BACF) donated $500,000.
The Peters’ are well-known for supporting various community projects, and in 2009, they set up a partnership with the Brandon Area Community Foundation to facilitate long-term giving.
“Gord and I have long believed in giving back to the community and this project will not only be good for Brandon, but all of Westman. It will serve the ag industry well but also provide a great number of training opportunities for the area’s youth,” said Diane Peters.
“We are excited to contribute alongside other area businesses and individuals to make this transformational project a reality,” added Gord Peters. This one-of-a-kind Canadian college project, to be located on Assiniboine’s historic North Hill campus, will bring together collaborative learning spaces, applied research labs and multipurpose spaces that will serve both industry and the college community.
“Here in Manitoba, we live in the Canadian food bank, and it is initiatives like the Prairie Innovation Centre that will ensure the sustainability of the agricultural industry and a bright future for the next generation of producers and agricultural business,” said Dan Robertson, Chair of the BACF.
“This remarkable support from two industry and community institutions, the Peters’ and BACF, both moves us toward our fundraising goal and reinforces the project as an important and necessary addition to the community and industry landscape.” said Derrick Turner, Director, Advancement & External Relations.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT
To kick off the new year, Assiniboine announced a $100,000 from local agricultural equipment dealer, Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME).
“We feel this project and ag-related training at the college is extremely important in attracting today’s youth who have interest in the agriculture industry and the opportunities it presents,” said Jim Wood, Chief Sales and Operating Officer, Rocky Mountain Equipment.
“Having a large footprint in the Manitoba community, RME has numerous Assiniboine graduates currently on staff, and our hope is this initiative helps attract new employees to RME and the ag industry in general, better equipping all to better serve the farming customer.” In Manitoba, it’s projected that one in five jobs in agriculture will go unfilled by 2029. The Prairie Innovation Centre is Assiniboine’s madein-Manitoba solution and aims to expand seats in agriculture-related programming from 300 to more than 800.
“As a hub for agriculture education, applied research and extension, the Prairie Innovation Centre will give the college the ability to collaborate and work with industry to extend or transfer knowledge not only to students, but also to the agriculture sector and producers in Manitoba,” said Tim Hore, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Assiniboine.
Agriculture is a huge economic driver in Canada, and with the ag sector experiencing an increasing labour shortage, Assiniboine’s made in Manitoba solution aims to ensure the sector can meets its full potential as an economic driver in the Canadian and Manitoban economy.
DOUG & LAURIE MURRAY AND MURRAY AUTO GROUP
Further into 2022, Assiniboine announced Doug and Laurie Murray and the Murray Auto Group contributed $100,000.
“Assiniboine Community College is a staple in our community. We regularly hire graduates of the college in all areas of our operations, and are pleased with what they bring to our organization,” said Doug Murray, General Manager of Murray Auto Group. “The Prairie Innovation Centre, as important as it will be for the agriculture industry, will be important for our community and the Westman area. We recognize the significance of agriculture and are happy to support a project that will help ensure its prosperity.” “We know that the future of agriculture belongs here at Assiniboine. A big part of why that is and why it’s possible is the outstanding community support we have from community members and businesses, some of which may not even be directly associated with agriculture,” said Derrick Turner, Director, Advancement & External Relations at Assiniboine. “This support furthers instills that this is the right project, at the right time, in the right community.”
The campaign to build this state-of-the-art facility on the college’s North Hill campus is Assiniboine’s largest philanthropic undertaking.
