February 24, 2021
EDMONTON – A first-of-a-kind post-secondary sector cannabis partnership welcomes two additional Ontario post-secondaries to its ranks. Ottawa’s La Cité and Belleville’s Loyalist College join five other Canadian post-secondaries in this pan-Canadian organization working to secure funding and support for research, expand educational offerings, and increase industry partnerships.
Loyalist College and La Cité join NorQuest, Niagara, Durham, and Okanagan colleges, and Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) as members.
Each college participating in the consortium has cannabis-related programming, industry partnerships, and advisory committees to identify need and professionalize the training and education available to employers and learners.
The consortium works together to:
Members expect that the consortium will continue to grow in size as more colleges enter the world of cannabis programming.
“When we envisioned this partnership back in 2019, we hoped that what we had developed would only be the start of something great for the cannabis industry,” said Michele Braun, Director of Continuing Education and Partner Solutions at NorQuest College. “We’ve seen incredible growth in the industry and corresponding demand for skilled graduates ready to contribute. This consortium continues to be a great example of how post-secondary institutions from across Canada can join forces and work hand-in-hand with industry to drive economic growth.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with other Canadian postsecondary institutions as we continue building capacity and supporting growth in this exciting new industry,” said Jeremy Laurin, Senior Vice-President, External Relations & Business Development at Loyalist College. “In 2017, Loyalist College was the first Canadian college and academic institution in Ontario to receive approval from Health Canada to conduct cannabis research. Since then, we have been working closely with our local industry partners to develop programs which prepare career-ready graduates to make an immediate and meaningful impact in the industry.”
“By joining the Consortium, Collège La Cité gains access to a wealth of collaborations,” stated Lise Bourgeois, President and CEO of La Cité. “This partnership allows the College to better understand industry needs, take part in research projects, develop collaborative training and share best practices. The students in our Agricultural Techniques – Cannabis Production program are sure to gain a lot from these opportunities.”