Polytechnic receives $3-million from federal government towards agri-food programs

Lethbridge Polytechnic is receiving support from the federal government to the tune of $3-million to launch new skilled trades programs that support the agri-food sector.

The move is part of an effort to address a shortage of tradespeople and technicians in the industry and strengthen Canada’s food corridor, while putting less reliance on foreign suppliers. Persistent shortages could mean lack of workers with knowledge of food-safe maintenance practices, sanitation protocols, specialized processing equipment, automation, and industrial controls can lead to longer installation and repair times, reduced productivity, and delayed business growth. 

Eleanor Olszewski, the Federal Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) says the funding will help give students the specialized skills they need to thrive in Alberta’s agri-food sector.

In the official release, she says, “Alberta is at the heart of Canada’s food production and Albertans have been feeding Canadians and the world for decades. Today’s announcement enables Lethbridge Polytechnic to build on their world class programming that gives students the specialized skills needed to thrive in Alberta’s agri-food sector. These investments will help graduates attain good paying careers and put more made-in-Canada products on shelves at home and abroad.”

The Dean for the Polytechnic’s Centre for Trades and Technologies, Sheldon Anderson, also says, “Lethbridge Polytechnic offers exceptional student experiences driven by industry workforce needs through new programs such as Industrial Mechanic (Millwright), Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal Work. We thank PrairiesCan for their continued support of our institution, as this funding ensures our students and apprentices have access to important equipment, resources and space on our campus that are necessary for hands-on learning. This announcement is a win for our students, for our industry partners and our communities that depend on skills tradespeople.”

The investment will come from PrairiesCan and will help purchase equipment, modernize facilities, and market new programming.