Driving Manitoba's future through innovation: Jeremy Timmer

When Jeremy Timmer stepped into his new role as Chair of Assiniboine College’s Prairie Innovation Centre, he brought with him a blend of technical expertise, industry knowledge, and a deep commitment to building Manitoba’s future. His journey started on the factory floor of one of the region’s largest processing facilities. Now, he steps in to lead a new program on the leading edge of shaping the next generation of skilled workers in a rapidly expanding field.

“I’m a forever learner,” Timmer says. “It wasn’t about being right. It was about getting it right, learning. And that mindset is what helped me succeed throughout my career, and that is what excites me about being here.”

Before Assiniboine, Timmer spent over a decade with Saputo, one of Canada’s largest dairy processors. He started on the production floor, then moved into technical leadership. “I got to learn the plant,” he recalls. “I picked the brains of technologists and subject matter experts. That gave me a unique view once operations went live.”

That hands-on exposure sparked Timmer's fascination with robotic automation and drive for continuous improvement. He led projects to modernize cheese aging, replacing manual vats with automated systems.

“When your yield goes up, your cost per kilogram to manufacture really comes down,” he explains. “That project was my brainchild: I worked with the engineering team through the design phase, helped coordinate stakeholders and managed the installation. But beyond efficiency, it drastically reduced manual handling and injuries, making the cheese area a safer place to work”

His experience with automation extended to robotics, where he helped implement robotic palletizers, an innovation that raised important questions about workforce skills.

“As automation changes, the skill level of the operator changes,” Timmer notes. “It became evident that we needed people coming in who already understand how automation works. That’s a trend happening everywhere.”

His goal isn’t automation as a means for replacing the workforce; it has always been about readying the workforce to be able to harness the opportunities that automation provides. That realization ultimately led him to Assiniboine College as one of the leaders of the college’s Mechatronics program.

“I hit a ceiling at my previous job,” he admits. “I stopped feeling like I had opportunities to learn new skills. When I saw this position, I thought, maybe I’m the jack of all trades they’re looking for, someone who’s dabbled in a bit of everything.”

Today, Timmer is focused on aligning the college’s Mechatronics Engineering Technology program with industry needs.

“One of the biggest things I found right off the bat is there’s a lot of question marks around how we tie this program to local industry,” he says. “So, I’m out talking to as many industry partners as possible, getting their perspective on where their operations are headed. What I’m consistently hearing is that even when a specific job title doesn’t exist yet, the skill set fits squarely into their systems and aligns with what they see as the future of their skilled workforce.”

For Timmer, success isn’t just about program metrics; it’s about impact. “I have two boys, and I’ve got a vested interest in Manitoba’s future,” he says. “We need to make sure the jobs and quality of life are here for the next generation.”

Looking ahead, he sees automation as a defining force in manufacturing and agriculture.

“Automation and AI (artificial intelligence) are here, and it’s growing,” he says. “As it increases, the skills required to work in those environments will amplify. Our role is to train the people who will work in that future economy.”

As for his vision of the Prairie Innovation Centre, and the role this sort of programming can play. It’s about fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

“If I could solve one problem in this field, it would be changing the mindset around knowledge,” Timmer reflects. “We need to become comfortable with sharing what we know. The stronger we are as a group, the stronger Manitoba becomes.”

(Jeremy Timmer along with his wife Camilla and their two sons)