Manitoba Canola Growers commit to $100k sponsorship of Assiniboine’s Prairie Innovation Centre

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A yellow canola field spans the bottom half of the photo, while the top half is filled with a dark blue cloudy sky.

The Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA) has committed $100,000 to sponsor an industry collaboration area, the Collaboration Zone, within Assiniboine Community College’s Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.

“Working with industry is an integral piece of the vision for the Centre,” said Tim Hore, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Assiniboine.

This is an important partnership and it’s quite fitting to welcome a major commodity association like MCGA aboard the Prairie Innovation Centre project. I look forward to our continued collaboration in enhancing the agricultural landscape in Manitoba.

The Prairie Innovation Centre is a one-of-a-kind Canadian college project that will bring together collaborative learning spaces, applied research labs, multipurpose spaces and amenities that will serve both industry and the college community. A vital part of the Centre, the Collaboration Zone, is where education and industry connection meet.

“MCGA is proud to expand our longstanding support of Assiniboine Community College,” said Delaney Ross Burtnack, Executive Director, Manitoba Canola Growers Association.

We recognize the invaluable role Assiniboine plays in developing agriculture’s future people and innovations, and the Prairie Innovation Centre Collaboration Zone will become a central point connecting agricultural education to industry. We are honoured to play a role in bringing this new facility to life.

Danielle Tichit is a faculty member in the School of Agriculture & Environment. In the courses she teaches, students build a thorough understanding and skill set regarding canola production and marketing.

“Canola is essential to agriculture in the Prairies, making up one third of the acres here in Manitoba,” said Tichit. “Our students will either be growing canola in their own future farming operations or supporting the canola industry with financial or production advice. We are fortunate to have had a longstanding partnership with the Manitoba Canola Growers, and I look forward to seeing the Prairie Innovation Centre provide a space for enhanced collaboration and networking with industry.”

The MCGA have long provided significant support to the college, sponsoring the Manitoba Canola Growers Association Culinary Theatre in the Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts along with student financial awards for Culinary and Agribusiness students and several event sponsorships.

“Assiniboine is a valued institution to Western Manitoba and to agriculture. In fact, three of my kids launched their careers through Assiniboine programs including Communications, Culinary Arts and Agribusiness,” said Bill Nicolson, who is a farmer and MCGA board member from Shoal Lake, Manitoba.

I'm pleased to support MCGA's investment in the future of education and agriculture in Manitoba.