Manufacturing Month celebrates made-in-Manitoba products

Oct. 14, 2015 – Did you know Canada Goose jackets are manufactured in Winnipeg? Or that McDonald’s french fries are made in Carberry? The impact of Manitoba’s manufacturing sector is felt around the world, and a new awareness campaign is celebrating that fact throughout October.

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) Manitoba announced the launch of the campaign last week at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology, where 60 high school students from across the province gathered to kick off a scholarship competition that will see them design, manufacture and market their very own hovercrafts.

“With manufactured goods accounting for over 60 per cent of Manitoba’s $13 billion exports, it’s obvious the province’s growth relies on the strength of its innovators and builders,” said Ron Koslowsky, vice president, CME Manitoba. “Not only are their products making a global impact, they’re creating a rippling effect here at home, with every new manufacturing job resulting in 2.6 total new jobs in supporting sectors. Manufacturing Month is our chance to celebrate Manitoba’s position as a manufacturing leader in Canada and the world.”

During the campaign, CME Manitoba will test people’s knowledge of the local origins and impact of made-in-Manitoba products by highlighting them on its website and social-media platforms. Manitobans can also discover local products in person at tours and events happening across the province:

• Reshaping the Future of Manufacturing Month – Manufacturing Month panel hosted by BDO (October 22 in Winnipeg).
• Public tour of the facilities of Prolific Group, Western Canada’s most diverse commercial printing company (October 27 in Winnipeg).
• The Southern Manitoba Manufacturers Summit, featuring tours of Friesens Corporation and Triple E Recreational Vehicles (October 28-29 in Morden).

October 7 also marked the start of CME Manitoba’s annual Discovery Program for high school students interested in learning more about careers in manufacturing. Using supplied parts and minimal instruction, 10 student teams relied on ingenuity to build radio-controlled hovercrafts and accompanying business plans. Along the way, students received mentorship from industry experts as they take their product through the entire manufacturing process — from research and development to testing its performance and marketability. Select teams will move on to the semi-finals in January and finals in March, where they’ll compete for over $30,000 in scholarships and bursaries.