Roquette Canada partners in new oat-protein project
Protein Industries Canada announced an investment on Mar. 22 for a project between Oat Canada and Portage la Prairie-based Roquette Canada. This $4.1 million project will see the development of novel oat ingredients and oat-based food and beverage products.
The project will see Roquette develop Canada’s first oat-protein ingredient. Oat Canada will test the ingredient in its current line of products as well as in several new products.
“Roquette excels at innovation and research on plant-based ingredients, it’s at the heart of our work with food innovators like Oat Canada,” said Leon Zhou, head of research and development for Roquette Americas at the announcement. “Through our partnership with Oat Canada and the support of Protein Industries Canada, we are well positioned to continue our innovation and research on oat protein with the goal of meeting consumer demand for new and exciting plant-based food options.”
Ubisoft Winnipeg announces expansion
On Mar. 18, 2022, Ubisoft Winnipeg announced the company will expand its presence in Manitoba, adding 200 more jobs to its current operation. Ubisoft will invest $139 million in the province, with plans to have 300 jobs at its Winnipeg office by 2030.
“The first three years of Ubisoft Winnipeg have already been an exceptional success. The city has proved to be a hidden gem of techno-creative talent, and an environment that is right for growth thanks to the leadership of Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg. We look forward to continuing to grow the industry by attracting national and international talent to the city, and investing in the development of innovation & the next generation of talent locally,” said Michael Henderson, managing director at Ubisoft Winnipeg.
Ubisoft’s investment into Manitoba will total $264 million by 2030.
Manitoba’s Top Employers announced
The list of Manitoba’s Top Employers was made public on Mar. 15, 2022 by Mediacorp Canada Inc., which organizes the annual Canada’s Top 100 Employers project.
This year’s Manitoba Top Employers include:
- Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc.
- Access Credit Union Limited
- Arctic Co-operatives Limited
- Artis REIT
- Assiniboine Credit Union Limited
- Bold Commerce
- Caisse Financial Group / Caisse Groupe Financier
- Canada Life Assurance Company
- Canadian Canola Growers Association
- Fusion Credit Union Limited
- IG Wealth Management
- Johnston Group Inc.
- Magellan Aerospace, Winnipeg
- Manitoba Blue Cross
- Manitoba Public Insurance
- Payworks Inc.
- Red River College
- Red River Co-op
- Roquette Canada Ltd.
- RTDS Technologies Inc.
- SkipTheDishes
- St. Amant Inc.
- St. Boniface Hospital
- St. John’s-Ravenscourt School
- True North Sports + Entertainment
- University of Manitoba
- Vidir Solutions, Inc.
- Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co.
- Winnipeg Airports Authority
- Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
Published annually since 2006, Manitoba’s Top Employers is a special designation that recognizes Manitoba employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.
1911 Gold Corporation appoints new president and CEO
1911 Gold Corporation announced the appointment of Shaun Heinrichs as the company’s new president, CEO and director on Mar. 15, 2022. Heinrichs served as chief financial officer of 1911 Gold prior to his appointment, joining the company in 2018. Ron Clayton, 1911 Gold’s previous president and CEO will remain as a director and advisor during the transition.
“The Board of 1911 Gold is excited for Shaun to be leading the Company forward and feel his background and experience will deliver value for our shareholders. We wish to thank Ron Clayton for his leadership during the past few years and we are pleased that he will be remaining as a director of 1911 Gold,” said Mike Hoffman, 1911 Gold’s chair.
1911 Gold is a junior explorer with holdings in and near the Archean Rice Lake greenstone belt in Manitoba, and owns the True North mine and mill complex at Bissett, Man.The company also owns the Apex project near Snow Lake, Man. and the Tully and Denton-Keefer projects near Timmins, Ont.
WestJet increases flights to and from Manitoba
WestJet has announced its summer schedule for the province, returning service to near pre-pandemic levels. Winnipeg will see added non-stop routes with 10 domestic destinations and one transborder option to Las Vegas. The schedule includes six daily flights to Calgary, three daily flights to Vancouver, four daily flights to Toronto and one daily flight from Brandon to Calgary.
“Since day one, WestJet has been a great partner for Winnipeg Richardson International Airport,” said Nick Hays, Winnipeg Airports Authority president and CEO. “We’re excited to see our longstanding relationship deepen and thank WestJet for their continued confidence in this market. Today’s commitment to restore pre-pandemic routes will enhance connectivity from the airport as well as help our region’s social and economic recovery.”
WestJet’s Swoop subsidiary previously announced expansion plans which sees departures from Winnipeg to Edmonton, Hamilton, Kelowna, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto, Abbotsford and Halifax (via Ottawa).
“Revitalized air links are key to the recovery of Manitoba’s tourism industry”, said Colin Ferguson, president and CEO of Travel Manitoba. “WestJet’s return to a pre-pandemic number of flights is a positive sign that a return to near normal conditions is imminent, and that Manitoba’s tourism industry will once again play a central role in the province’s future economic success.”
Winnipeg Airports Authority welcomes new president and CEO
On Feb. 22, 2022, Nick Hays officially began his role at the Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) as president and CEO. His appointment to the position was announced on Feb. 1, 2022.
Hays joins the WAA from Vanderlande Industries, a leader in airport logistic process automation. He served as Vanderlande’s vice president for Canada, based in Vancouver. Prior to his role at Vanderlande, he worked at Cathay Pacific Airways and its parent company, The Swire Group, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, it’s my pleasure to welcome Nick to Winnipeg and the WAA team,” said Brita Chell, chair of the board of directors. “Nick is a values-driven leader with extensive experience in the aviation industry that will be essential in helping lead WAA’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Hays succeeds former WAA president and CEO Barry Rempel, who announced his retirement in September 2021 and departed at the end of 2021. Rempel spent 19 years in the role, joining the WAA in 2002 and led the organization through major redevelopment at the airport campus including the new air terminal building which opened in October 2011.