Prairie Innovation Centre receives $25k boost from D&B Sprinklers

Assiniboine Community College’s Prairie Innovation Centre looks to build on the college’s long history of delivering agricultural programming that is responsive to industry needs. Assiniboine continues to engage partners who see the value in the future of agriculture in Manitoba, and are pleased to announce that D&B Sprinklers has recently come aboard with a $25,000 contribution.

“D&B Sprinklers has been working throughout Southwestern Manitoba since 1981. We have recognized agriculture as being the main driver of our economy. The Prairie Innovation Centre will help to grow and enhance our region’s most important industry,” said Jeff Fawcett, owner of D&B Sprinklers.

Agriculture is a huge economic driver in Canada, but in both Canada and Manitoba, the ag sector is experiencing an increasing labour shortage. The Prairie Innovation Centre is Assiniboine’s made in Manitoba solution to address this gap and ensure the agriculture sector can meets its full potential as an economic driver in the Canadian and Manitoban economy.

“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.

“We’re fortunate that community leaders, like D&B Sprinklers, see the importance of this growing industry and its contributions to the community as a whole,” added Derrick Turner, Director, Advancement and External Relations at Assiniboine.

The facility, which will repurpose the historic Valleyview Building on the college’s historic North Hill campus in Brandon, will combine indoor and outdoor learning spaces for hands-on training experiences.