Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER MARCH 2019 FEATURES 23 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT Learning all about cannabis Colleges, institutes offering range of courses to meet growing demand By Denise Amyot O n Oct. 17, 2018, Canada embarked on a historic journey as it became the second country in the world to fully legalize the sale and con- sumption of cannabis. With this legalization, the government unleashed a new industry with ripple effects for almost all as- pects of Canadian society. In just a few months, an entirely new supply chain of producers and retailers had to be created to bring the legalized product to custom- ers in a safe and tightly regulated market that is projected to add $8 billion to Canada's economy. For the many businesses look- ing to get in on the action, one of the most significant challenges has been recruiting workers with the right skills to build this market from scratch, when recognized credentials for their qualifica- tions are in short supply. Many employers turned to local colleges or institutes, which quickly mobi- lized resources to meet employer demand by developing new pro- grams adapted to their needs. e launch of a new industry was a historic moment for Can- ada. Canada's colleges and insti- tutes have an important role to play, not just in supporting train- ing for a well-functioning work- force, but also in ensuring the gov- ernment's objectives are met and students are equipped for the new landscape — both professionally and socially. Training across Canada At Niagara College in Ontario, a new program in commercial can- nabis production was launched to provide training in all aspects of cannabis production, including plant nutrition, environment and pest control, as well as cannabis facilities management, staffing and security. is includes: •complying with all regulatory and trade requirements for the safe and legal production and packaging of cannabis • planning and overseeing the al- location of staffing and space to support the execution of produc- tion plans • complying with and executing appropriate security protocols to ensure the safety and security of staff and crop. Meanwhile, a Cannabis Indus- try Specialization Certificate at Durham College in Oshawa, Ont., created both in-class and interac- tive online training to prepare professionals with prior business experience in the fundamentals of the industry — including reg- ulatory considerations, ethical issues and quality control. It in- cludes the course "Medical can- nabis fundamentals for business professionals." Many others, including Col- lège Communautaire du Nou- veau-Brunswick, Olds College in Alberta, Kwantlen Polytechnic in Surrey, B.C., and Loyalist College in Belleville, Ont., also launched similar programs just in time for the legalization deadline. These post-secondary insti- tutions all recognized there are many transferable skills involved in growing and distributing can- nabis, from crop production to sales, but there are also many specificities to consider. From regulation to market- ing and quality control, there is enough novelty to represent a significant challenge for even the more experienced companies al- ready involved in the medical can- nabis business. Working with colleges and in- stitutes has proven an efficient way to build bridges. Gaining credibility ere is also the matter of legiti- macy and credibility as, for many Canadians, the cannabis industry still brings to mind dubious grow- ops and questionable characters. To dispel these connotations and gain the trust of the public, canna- bis producers and retailers must be irreproachable in their profes- sionalism. is extends to their workforce, which must be trained and qualified. The legalization of cannabis also has numerous implications for other sectors that may not be immediately associated with the new industry. Health-care and law enforce- ment professionals, for example, will need instruction relevant to the legislative changes as well as recognition of impairment. is has been the focus of a partnership between Holland College and the Canadian Police Knowledge Network — both in Charlottetown — to create an on- line training portal on all aspects of legalization for law enforce- ment officers. When edible cannabis products become legalized later in 2019, another new area of training will emerge, integrated into existing culinary courses and continuing education. In addition to cooking with edibles, private citizens may be interested in growing their own cannabis plants at home but will need an expert to guide them through the initial stages. As the industry continues to grow and change, colleges and in- stitutes will need to be responsive to the demands of the industry and their local community to en- sure training needs are met. Exploring new research e legalization of cannabis is ex- pected to stimulate new research projects to better understand its effects, and see new consumer products developed. Since canna- bis cultivation existed previously as an underground operation, an- ecdotal advice is available about growing conditions and the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in particular strains; however, none of the previous work is scientifi- cally documented. The legal industry can learn from existing greenhouse opera- tors and academic horticultural- ists about managing large-scale production while maintaining quality and growing product with consistent results. Colleges and institutes have already started working with the industry as producers fine-tune the cultivation of cannabis and of- fer research to better understand necessary growing conditions. Both Loyalist College's Ap- plied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis in Belleville, Ont., and Biopterre, the College Centre for Technol- ogy Transfer (CCTT) in Quebec City, affiliated with Cégep de La Pocatière, have been among the first post-secondary institutions in Canada to receive licences from Health Canada to produce and cultivate cannabis for research purposes. And who knows what will come next? Legalizing cannabis will have an impact across many more sectors than people may realize at first glance. From entrepreneurship to cu- linary arts and drug detection, or mental health and addictions counselling, there are many disci- plines that will be affected. Education will need to be a part of the solution, and colleges and institutes will have a critical role to play in meeting those new chal- lenges head on. Denise Amyot is president and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada in Ottawa. For more information, visit www.collegeinstitutes.ca. Credit: Carlos Osorio (Reuters) Students taking the commercial cannabis production program at Niagara College stand inside the marijuana lab in Niagara- on-the-Lake, Ont., on Oct. 9, 2018.

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