Niagara College, Up Cannabis partner to
deliver hands-on experience and research opportunities for
commercial cannabis production students
TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2018 /CNW/ - Students in Niagara
College's one-of-a-kind Commercial Cannabis Production (Graduate
Certificate) program are going beyond theory and getting their
hands dirty, after the program's first cannabis plants arrived at
the College's Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus last week from its
partners, Up Cannabis Inc. ("Up Cannabis").
Fifty plants were donated to the program by licensed producer Up
Cannabis, which operates a flagship greenhouse facility in the
Niagara region and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Newstrike Brands
Ltd. (TSX-V: HIP). Students will gain real-work experience growing
and managing the plants, which are just two weeks old, from the
earliest stages of growth all the way to harvesting and curing. The
plants will also allow students to experiment with nutrition,
environment, lighting, climate control, pest control and cultivar
selection techniques, and conduct small applied research projects
as part of their studies.
Since the program began in September, students have been
learning some of the theory related to the cultivation and growth
of cannabis, in preparation for the arrival of the plants.
"Now that the plants are in, we get to put what we've been taught
into action," said Commercial Cannabis Production student
Elizabeth Foley. "We'll get to see
each stage of the plant's growth right before our eyes, which is
amazing – it's so hands-on. I'm excited to see how they turn
out."
The donation is part of an ongoing partnership between Up
Cannabis and Niagara College that will also see internship and
on-the-job learning opportunities for students at Up Cannabis'
Niagara Facility in Beamsville,
Ontario.
"This partnership and donation illustrates that Up Cannabis is
genuinely invested in our industry—from the ground up," said
Jay Wilgar, CEO of Up Cannabis and
its parent company, Newstrike Brands. "We are pleased to contribute
to the formal education and skills training that has quickly become
critical for the entire cannabis industry. We are going to need
individuals with the skills that this program will produce, and we
are therefore thrilled to play a direct role in this historic new
program."
The plants will be housed in Niagara College's purpose-built
teaching lab at the College's Niagara-on-the-Lake campus. The teaching lab
serves as the home for the Commercial Cannabis Production students,
and replicates the equipment, facilities and practices that modern
licensed producers of cannabis employ in Canada. The lab, which is constructed from
modified shipping containers, also conforms to the strict security
requirements that govern these facilities under Health Canada's
regulations.
"Partnering with industry leaders like Up Cannabis to provide
hands-on experiences for our students is a hallmark of Niagara
College's unique approach to applied learning," said Vivian Kinnaird, NC's Dean of Business,
Hospitality and the Environment. "Ongoing collaboration with key
players in Canada's cannabis
industry has helped ensure our students will graduate job-ready,
with the skills and experience needed to lead Canada's cannabis industry into the
future."
As the College has obtained an exemption licence from Health
Canada for education and research purposes, under its current
regulations, cannabis grown in NC's facility will not be used or
sold. Sample analysis will be conducted in a third-party lab to
assess growing and quality control practices, and the plants will
be destroyed on-campus.
Niagara College's Commercial Cannabis Production (Graduate
Certificate) program, is open to applicants who possess a diploma
or degree in the areas of horticulture, greenhouse technology,
agricultural sciences, plant sciences, biology or a related
discipline. Visit niagaracollege.ca/ccp for more
information.
Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree
and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit,
vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of
specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology,
media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique
learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, horticulture and
esthetics. For more information, visit niagaracollege.ca.
About Newstrike and Up Cannabis
Newstrike is the parent company of Up Cannabis, a licensed
producer of cannabis that is licensed to both cultivate and sell
cannabis in all acceptable forms. Newstrike, through Up Cannabis
and together with select strategic partners, including Canada's iconic musicians The Tragically Hip,
is developing a diverse network of high quality cannabis brands.
For more information,
visit http://www.up.ca or http://www.newstrike.ca
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SOURCE Newstrike Brands Ltd.