Suncrest College, in partnership with the Yorkton Tribal Council (YTC), has introduced a 12-week program to prepare students for careers in Yorkton’s booming canola crushing industry. Running from January 13 to April 11, 2025, the Introduction to Canola Crushing Careers program aims to equip students with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in the oilseed crushing sector.

The program provides a two-phase curriculum, starting with a general overview of employment in crush plants before advancing to technical topics such as power engineering. “With this foundation, students will be ideal candidates for positions in Canada’s oilseed crushing industry,” said Greg Tomcala, the program instructor and Suncrest College Applied Research Coordinator.

This first intake focuses on Indigenous students, a reflection of the YTC’s commitment to education and economic empowerment. “This initiative represents both a commitment to our community’s empowerment and an affirmation of our sovereignty,” said Tribal Chief Isabel O’Soup.

The program, limited to 12–15 students for its first cohort, is expected to expand to the public in future intakes, paving the way for broader opportunities in this growing agricultural field.