Wawanesa Insurance contributes generous $100K to Assiniboine’s Prairie Innovation Centre

Image
An agriculture student in a blue jacket smiles while holding up a research sample. A classmate in a black jacket looks down at the field behind her.

Assiniboine Community College’s Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture has received a generous contribution of $100,000 from Wawanesa Insurance. The campaign to build this state-of-the-art facility on the college’s North Hill campus is Assiniboine’s largest philanthropic undertaking, and aims to address the growing needs of the agriculture sector.

“Looking after one another is at the heart of who we are at Wawanesa Insurance. That’s why we’re proud to support the college, its students and the Prairie Innovation Centre. Together with Assiniboine, we share a commitment to making our community a better place to live and learn, and at Wawanesa, we know all of the Westman region will benefit from the new Centre,” said Kevin Bailey, Regional Vice President – Central Region, Wawanesa Insurance.

This one-of-a-kind Canadian college project will bring together collaborative learning spaces, applied research labs, multipurpose spaces and amenities that will serve both industry and the college community. Creating an enhanced agricultural training capacity, the Centre will enable the agriculture sector to continue to be an economic driver in the Canadian and Manitoban economy.

“The Prairie Innovation Centre will not only address the current and developing gaps in the labour market in Manitoba agriculture, it will also be a hub for agricultural innovation, encouraging engagement and collaboration with industry partners to address emerging situations and issues,” said Derrick Turner, Director of Advancement and External Relations at Assiniboine.

The college looks forward to building upon the relationships we have with partners, like Wawanesa Insurance, while creating a meaningful impact on the future of agriculture.

This partnership comes as Wawanesa Insurance marks its 125th anniversary while Assiniboine celebrates the 60th anniversary of the college—notable milestones for two organizations with longstanding roots in the Westman community and in agriculture.