The contribution will expand upon the association’s existing partnership with the school, Assiniboine Community College (ACC). CWEDA said its partnership is "designed to address the [number one] issue within dealerships, which is the shortage of properly trained technicians."
CWEDA president Gail Halderman said the association recognized the shortage of trained equipment technicians as a major priority for farm equipment dealers throughout the country.
The group’s fundraising subsidiary, the Canada Equipment Dealers Foundation, was established to provide scholarships to employees and trainees of association dealerships.
The foundation will provide funding to several affiliated programs, including the Len Evans Center of Trades and Technology, the foundation’s new agriculture equipment shop, CWEDA said.
Expansion of the shop is ongoing to bring the working space to 135,000 square feet. CWEDA said the goal is to expand its training program from 480 students to close to 1,300 and to hire an additional 25 instructors.
