June 28, 2018

Protein Industries Canada Supercluster Update

Work continues on the development of Protein Industries Canada's organizational structure and the funding agreement with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The following are highlights from the past month:

Industry Consultations complete
Industry consultations were held in Saskatoon on June 15th, Edmonton on June 18th, and Winnipeg on June 19th, all facilitated by Kim McConnell. There is a great deal of interest and support across all three provinces, and around 80 to 90 people attended each session. The presentation is posted on the Protein Industries Canada website. We would like to thank Abdul Jalil and his team at Western Economic Diversification Canada for the help in executing these consultations.

Thought Leaders Conference
The kick-off event for Protein Industries Canada, the “Thought Leaders Conference” is being organized for October 3-4, 2018 in Winnipeg. A program is under development, and a sponsorship drive for the conference is underway.

CEO search
An executive search consultant is now engaged and has started the search process for a permanent CEO. We plan to have a candidate hired by early September. We welcome candidate suggestions - please send to the email address listed below.

Contribution Agreement
I have been working with ISED to complete all the materials necessary for due diligence on the $153 M funding. Everything should be completed by early July in preparation for an expected mid-August Federal Treasury Board deadline. Protein Industries Canada’s financial ask for the current year will be provided, along with an indication of fund draw-downs for the following years.

Venture Fund
We have met with all three provincial governments on the Venture Fund; follow-up to come.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada alignment
We have been working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on aligning Protein Industries Canada with the National Agri-Food Strategy Roundtable, chaired by Murad Al-Katib.

Membership Agreement
A membership agreement is being drafted. More information on this to come.

Administrative Office
An administrative office has been set up at Innovation Place in Regina, with Rhonda Ekstrom helping to coordinate Protein Industries Canada activities.

Office hours are 7:30 to 11:30 am Monday through Thursday.

#150K – 2 Research Drive
Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 7H9
Tel: (306) 949-0049

Visit proteinindustriescanada.ca for more information about Protein Industries Canada.

Please contact me or Rhonda if you have questions that are not addressed here.
Rhonda Ekstrom: protein@sasktel.net
Frank Hart: Frank.Hart@greystone.ca

I wish everyone a restful long weekend. Happy Canada Day!

Frank Hart
Interim Chair,
Protein Industries Canada Board of Directors