Pictured: (Left) The new Training Centre opened on April 4th, 2019. (Right) From Left to right: Beth Millard-Hales (Vice-President, HR), Grand Chief Garrison Settee (Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak), Edward Kennedy (President & CEO NWC) and Abraham Simon (Director, NWC Training Centre) at the ribbon cutting ceremony. 

The North West Company (NWC) has opened a new training centre in Winnipeg, MB that will include cultural awareness courses and a stimulated store, to help prepare new management for store operations in Canada’s north.

The North West Company Training Centre at 657 Century St. features 11,000 square feet of space, and will be used to provide a comprehensive four-week training course. With many stores in northern Canada, the training will initially focus on retail managers at Northern and NorthMart stores, and eventually will incorporate other NWC banners.

Pictured: The mock store includes shelf and fridge displays, a post office, checkouts and more.

The program is directed at Department Managers in Training (DMIT) and Managers in Training (MIT) in northern Canada and includes courses on retail operations, store systems and leadership. As part of their training, managers will also earn health and safety certifications. The simulated store will also include grocery and general merchandise displays to replicate a store in northern Canada.

Pictured: New staff learn how to operate NorthMart and Northern stores in a classroom at the new NWC Training Centre.

“We’re thrilled to open the Training Centre,” says Alex Yeo, President of Canadian Retail at The North West Company. “We’re pleased to continue to invest in our people and to develop their skills in order to excel in the communities we serve.”