Greenhouse operation. (Photo courtesy Mastronardi Produce)Greenhouse operation. (Photo courtesy Mastronardi Produce)
Windsor

Chamber Envisioning Greenhouse School In Leamington

Leamington's Chamber of Commerce is looking into the creation of a post-secondary school, focusing on the greenhouse industry.

It's getting $75,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to complete a year-long study.

Dave Campbell with the chamber's board of directors says the idea came up after a labour market study on the closure of Heinz.

"As we went through and talked to producers and greenhouse people, we found that this was a concern -- trying to find trained people, in all areas, to work in the greenhouse industry," he describes. "So we approached [the Ontario Trillium Foundation] and they bought into it."

Campbell believes the majority of people think working in a greenhouse means simply picking and packaging vegetables, but he says there are many skilled positions which require training. He adds that the demand for those trained workers is very high.

The chamber of commerce envisions a school or "centre of excellence" eventually being built in Leamington, being paid for collaboratively by private businesses and all levels of government.

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