PrairiesCan investment will help Lethbridge Polytechnic launch new programs that better prepare skilled tradespeople to operate in the food and beverage sector

LETHBRIDGE, AB, Oct. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- The world is changing rapidly. Trade shifts, global conflicts, and climate change are all putting pressure on our food systems, driving up prices at home. While Canada is one of the largest exporters of agri-food products in the world, Canadians continue to face some of the highest grocery costs in the G7. We are not harnessing enough technology in our agri-food sectors, and our food chains rely too heavily on foreign suppliers.

Canada's government is focused on what we can control: building a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canadian economy. Central to this mission is a stronger, more affordable food system. That is why today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced more than $3 million for Lethbridge Polytechnic to launch new skilled trades programs that support Canada's growing agri-food sector.

Businesses across southern Alberta have identified a shortage of skilled tradespeople and technicians who understand both food manufacturing environments and advanced production technologies. Shortages 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. This increases food costs for consumers.

This investment through PrairiesCan will help Lethbridge Polytechnic launch new programs that provide the knowledge needed to effectively work on equipment and machinery used in food processing and manufacturing. Program participants will require minimal on-the-job training to adapt their foundational skills to the specialized operating conditions demanded in the agri-food sector. This new programming will strengthen domestic food-processing capacity while supporting quality jobs in southern Alberta.

Quotes

"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 Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)

"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."
–Sheldon Anderson, Dean, Centre for Trades and Technologies, Lethbridge Polytechnic

Quick facts

• PrairiesCan is investing $3,000,620 through the Community Economic Development and Diversification program for Lethbridge Polytechnic to purchase equipment, modernize facilities, and market new programming focused on enhancing skilled trades expertise applicable in the agri-food sector.  
• Southern Alberta is home to Canada's Premier Food Corridor, a collaborative regional network of more than 11,000 agriculture and agri-food businesses including food production, value-added processing, manufacturing, logistics, and export-oriented supply chains.
• Today's investment complements broader federal efforts to support food producers and Canadians, including the separate $3.2-billion National Food Security Strategy that was launched earlier this year to strengthen Canada's food system by improving domestic production while giving Canadians more choice, more control, and better access to affordable, locally produced food.
• A core pillar of the National Food Security Strategy is to process more food closer to where it's grown: new programming delivered by Lethbridge Polytechnic will directly support this goal by providing skills that Alberta workers need to install and maintain reliable equipment used in the agri-food sector.
• As Canada's first publicly funded community college, Lethbridge Polytechnic is a leader in education and innovation. With more than 65 certificate, diploma, degree and apprenticeship programs across health care, public safety, human services, technology, trades and more, students benefit from hands-on, career-ready training preparing them for a meaningful career.

Associated links

• Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
• Lethbridge Polytechnic
• Canada's National Food Security Strategy 
• Canada's Premier Food Corridor 

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SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada