I was pleased to be invited and attend the formal ribbon cutting of Neepawa’s Training Centre on Jan. 22. It was great to see the incredible transformation of into a new facility that clearly demonstrates the commitment and vision the Town of Neepawa has for the future of rural Manitoba, and a project that has been driven by the community for the community.
Congratulations to all those who have been a part of this effort and the leadership and vision behind it all, including mayor and council, as well as Assiniboine Community College for being the first post-secondary institution to offer the Licensed Practical Nursing program in this new space.
Our community is growing and with it comes growing needs, especially when it comes to healthcare. With this new nursing program, we will be able to train and retain healthcare professionals to care for our community. Having to travel for post-secondary education has always been a barrier for many, and this facility eliminates that barrier, allowing rural Manitobans to train closer to home. We depend on our nurses, and I applaud all of the students who are taking on the program this year.
Across rural Manitoba, we are seeing workforce demands growing across many sectors, and this facility opens the door for future programs to meet local needs and address the chronic labour shortages that many businesses are experiencing. This centre positions Neepawa to be a leader in local training, and will be a resource that serves the surrounding area for years to come.
I would like to welcome and thank Assiniboine Community College for bringing this program to our community and thank the Town of Neepawa for turning vision into reality. I congratulate all those involved in the renovation and re-opening of this new training centre. It was a great day to attend this momentous occasion.
