The Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce held their Annual General Meeting on Thursday, which saw a look at their 2022 financial statement, the swearing-in of new president Ryan Hrechka, and approving new board members.  

In addition, the Chamber held a panel with guest speakers Kristen Craig Associate Dean at Sask Polytech, Jim Dixon, Economic Development Manager with the City of Moose Jaw, and Scott Greenough, Director of NFTC Operations for CAE Inc. They were asked questions regarding ways to grow Moose Jaw’s economy.  

Below are the results of the Q&A: 

Question #1 – How important is the growth of existing businesses in driving our economy? Jim Dixon, Economic Development Manager with the City of Moose Jaw 

“At least 70 per cent of your job creation and the new economy is based on the expansion of existing companies and businesses within your community. It’s critical that we ensure a healthy business climate so our existing businesses are expanding and creating new jobs. 

“You’re seeing right now, you’re Canadian Tire doubled their capacity, and you see the development around Canadian Tire. As well, Donalds Fine Foods, the pork plant is expanding into the old XL Beef plant, there will 100 new jobs there.” 

Question #2 – What are the benefits of having a Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus located in Moose Jaw? Kristen Craig Associate Dean at Sask Polytech 

“Sask Polytech employs over 250 people just on the Moose Jaw campus alone. Every year in Moose Jaw we have approximately 2,600 students studying. You’ve probably seen the diversity in our student population out in Moose Jaw. We have a lot of international students that come to Moose Jaw and they eventually make Moose Jaw of Saskatchewan their home.

“94 per cent of our graduates stay in Saskatchewan, so they’re contributing to the Saskatchewan economy. Sask Polytech and our alumni contribute about $2.2 billion to the Saskatchewan economy each year. On the Moose Jaw campus, we have a significant upgrade that’s happening particularly with our trade programs and our new Ag and Food Diploma and there’s $15.6 million earmarked for that project.”  

Question #3 – Scott, can you tell us a little bit about CAE and the services your team provides at 15 Wing Moose Jaw? Scott Greenough, Director of NFTC Operations for CAE Inc. 

“CAE is a Canadian company based out of Montreal. Often, we get the question of what CAE stands for, well back in the Second World War era it stood for Canadian Aviation Electronics, but we don’t use that anymore because we long ago expanded out of just the aviation electronic business. 

“It is a full-tier aerospace company, with three main business units, the defence and security sector and the healthcare sector. It employs about 13,000 people globally, 5,000 of which are in Canada. For us here locally, the CAE’s Military Aviation Training Organization is about 220 people, of which just under 200 are here in Moose Jaw.” 

Question #4 – Jim, how do developments like the Sask Power Gas Plant and Donald’s Fine Foods Pork Plant drive the local economy? 

“The impact on the economy is terrific. They need accommodations, they need restaurants, and they need services of all different sorts. The impact is really impressive. You have cranes on the horizons in Moose Jaw and we don’t always see that, just the activity that’s going on around that. We also had an opportunity to tour Donald’s Fine Foods in the old XL Beef plant. Various contractors that are working there and some of which weren’t able to secure contractors locally within the province and are coming from out of province, so again we’re bringing new money into the community.” 

Question #5 – Kristen, what jobs are Sask Polytech training students for at the Moose Jaw Campus? 

“We have over 20 programs running out of the Moose Jaw campus. They range from anything to do with business, trades, architecture and technology, and engineering programs, so we have a wide variety of programs at the Moose Jaw campus. We are adding new programs yearly to meet the demand of the industry. We’re always looking at the Saskatchewan Growth Plan and ensuring we are contributing to over the 100,000 jobs that we need by 2030.  

“Some of the programs that have been implemented in Moose Jaw over the past couple of years are programs in the supply chain, project management, and financial services and I think that just speaks to us meeting the industry demand.” 

Question #6 – Scott, CAE has been an active partner in Moose Jaw for a number of years, but as a company, you’re celebrating 75 years of business. What has contributed to the longevity of your company? 

“The company was started in 1947, an ex-RCAF officer in the Second World War recognizing there is a boom in aircraft production globally and there was an opportunity there that all these new airplanes will need electronics. That is how it started in a World War II hanger in Montreal. Then it just spawned from there into the simulator business and has grown over 75 years. It’s a globally known brand. Just a solid product, solid reputation, trust in the company, and delivering all the time.” 

Question #7 – Jim, what do you see as an economic opportunity area for our city and region? 

“It’s not just about Moose Jaw, we have a lot of opportunities and it's exciting times for our city. We have an Agro-Food Industrial Park that we’ve annexed 3,800 acres, so for the long term we’re sitting very well and we know that’s an asset in terms of agriculture-based processing. We made a commitment to Sask Polytech to provide land at the Agro-Food industrial park.” 

Question #8 – Kristen, what new programs are offered at the Moose Jaw campus this fall? 

“The one that we’re most excited about is the new Ag and Food Production Diploma, which is only available on the Moose Jaw campus. The students will be able to work, apply research, and (take part in) projects using the land that the city has provided. That program will allow students to go into the ag industry in many areas. Looking at anything from farm management, ag machinery, ag technology, crop production, and livestock production. To have a program like that in Moose Jaw speaks volumes about the community and the belief in Sask Polytech in Moose Jaw.” 

Question #9 – Scott, what makes CAE stand out among your competitors? 

“In the types of businesses that we’re engaged with there’s a certain level of trust that you need to have, you have to deliver and you have to do what you’re saying you’re going to do and when you don’t, you have to be transparent, open and honest about that and figure out ways to fix the problems. With what we’re doing out at the base, we have a great relationship with our military partner. We tackle the challenges together and we keep open and honest communication. We do that in our businesses as well.”