The Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC), Canada, supports the dairy industry in recruiting and training a highly skilled, diverse workforce to meet the current and future needs of Canada’s dairy producing and processing sectors.
That’s why the CDC launched the Workforce Development Initiative (WDI), a 3-year, $5 million investment to support the attraction and education of a qualified workforce in the Canadian dairy industry.
The WDI is composed of four key funding programs:
- Scholarship program—scholarships for graduate students in fields related to the dairy industry.
- Career promotion program—promotion of careers in the dairy industry.
- Education program—creation of government-certified, full-time educational programs to train qualified staff to work in dairy plants.
- Continuing education program—opportunities for continuing education for current dairy plant and farm staff.
Organizations eligible for funding include industry associations and learning institutions.
"When we consulted representatives of the dairy industry, they were quite clear that one of their major challenges now and in the years to come, is to attract and retain qualified workers, especially in the cheese plants. We hope that this initiative will help attract young people into this exciting industry,” says Alistair Johnston, chairman, CDC.
