New post-secondary facility in Neepawa to train practical nurses, other skilled workers

Neepawa's mayor is hoping a new training facility for post-secondary students will help address the province's rural staffing shortages.

The town announced the grand opening of the Neepawa Training Centre on Monday, a newly renovated building intended to train skilled workers in the region with the help of Brandon-based Assiniboine Community College.

The centre is offeringa two-year practical nursing diploma program through the college, but Mayor Brian Hedley said the centre could offer other programs for other industries facing their own labour shortages.

"While health-related training is our immediate focus, the ultimate goal is to continue to create partnerships with the province and the educational institutions as a long term commitment to actively participate in reducing the impact of labour shortages in Manitoba," he said duringa news conference at the centre on Monday.

The nursing program started on Jan. 8 with 20 students enrolled, Hedley said.It will give students the requirements they need to become licensed practical nurses.

Once students graduate from the program, the centre aims to offer more health-related education, like programs for health-care aids or paramedics, Hedley said.

"Twenty nurses may seem like a small commitment when measured against the bigger picture, but creating this facility, let it be known that Neepawa is prepared to continue partnerships and be part of the solution," he said.

The graduates could help staff the new hospital that is set to open in Neepawa in spring 2026, Hedley added.

Premier Wab Kinew, who attendedMonday's news conference, commended Assiniboine Community College on working with the town to train students in rural areas.

"You're reaching potential nurses who might not otherwise be able to join the front line. You're coming and delivering the training where people are," Kinew said.

Kinew said the province's support for the project "sends a message that help is coming" for health-care staff already working in Manitoba.

The province provided the collegewith $509,000to purchase equipment for the training, and $837,000for programming this year, according to a government spokesperson.

Neepawa spent more than $800,000 on the new training centre, the town's chief administrative officer,Colleen Synchyshyn, said in an interview with CBCNews.

"We've been actually looking to increase the post-secondary education in Neepawa for a long time now," she said.

And with shortages inwater treatment plant operators and other rural workers,Synchyshynechoed Hedley, saying the centre can be used "for any training need we could fit in that building."

"We are going to already be doing our homework in the background to see what else we can bring to Neepawa so that we constantly have some post-secondary education running in that building," Synchyshyn said.