GrowForce, a new Canadian cannabis company, will open its flagship cannabis cultivation facility in Winnipeg as part of its nationwide expansion plans. This is the third GrowForce facility in Canada.
The company will turn a 120,000 sq. ft. facility on 13-acres of land located in the St. Boniface Industrial Park into an ACMPR-compliant cannabis production facility. GrowForce expects the facility will employ 150 to 200 people by the time it is fully operational.
The facility renovations have begun and will be completed in phases over the next 18 months. The company expects to begin growing its first ACMPR-licensed crop by Fall 2018, and shipping to medical and retail purchasers in 2019.
GrowForce team Brett Kennedy, James Lowe, Jeannette Harkin, Pat Witcher, Rishi Gautam, Bob Silver, and Councillor Matt Allard cut the ribbon at GrowForce’s new flagship cannabis facility on May 15, 2018.
“We looked at several cities before selecting Winnipeg. We were impressed by the entrepreneurial culture we found here alongside a large skilled workforce, strong universities and colleges as well as relatively low hydroelectricity rates,” said Rishi Gautam, GrowForce Holdings Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We want to source locally as much as is feasible, partner with the community and create jobs in every area including operations, research and development, and pharmacy. We look forward to setting down roots here and growing into a national leader in our industry.”
GrowForce has already purchased two facilities: including ACMPR-licensed WILL Cannabis in Brampton, Ontario and GrowForce GRO in Dunnville, Ontario which is a late stage Health Canada applicant. WILL Cannabis’ license allows GrowForce to operate other ACMPR-licensed sites, including the new Winnipeg facility.
The company has entered into an exclusive turnkey management agreement with MJardin Group, North America’s largest legal cannabis operator, to operate its facilities in Canada, including its new Winnipeg operation. MJardin will share its intellectual property with GrowForce including access to its industry-leading education and training methods. Based on MJardin’s research-backed and historically-proven production abilities, GrowForce anticipates it will be producing over 900 kg per month once the Winnipeg facility is at full capacity.
“Our goal is to become one of the premium licensed cannabis producers in Canada and other federally legal markets worldwide,” said Jeanette Harkin, GrowForce’s Vice President of Corporate Development. “MJardin has proven cannabis operating expertise, and is supporting GrowForce’s plan to invest in building our capacity here in Canada through partnerships with First Nations, universities and colleges.”
GrowForce is fully-financed with commitments of over $75 million to date from a number of sources including Bridging Finance. Through an established infrastructure fund, GrowForce plans to build a vertically integrated cannabis operation across Canada.
For more information:
GrowForce
47 Colborne Street
Suite 301
Toronto
Ontario M5E 1P8
www.growforce.ca
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