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Introduction

Acknowledgments

Red River College Polytechnic is committed to ensuring that First Nations, Métis and Inuit knowledge, cultures and traditions are embraced and reflected in the pursuit of its mission, and to a renewed relationship and dialogue with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples based on mutual trust, respect, and reciprocity.


An acknowledgement of these lands that we are on today, and of the RRC Polytech commitment to Indigenous peoples and communities, now forms part of the foundational statements that define the College.

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the original lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Red River Métis Nation. The water we use is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. Our electricity comes from Manitoba Hydro, which has a presence on Treaty 1, Treaty 2, Treaty 3, Treaty 4, and Treaty 5 lands.

Prairie Research Kitchen commits to honouring and supporting Indigenous communities while we build relationships through the celebration of food with ingredients from these lands, and while drawing upon energy and resources from territories across Western Canada. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, and we commit to work in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.

We gratefully acknowledge the following funding:

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan, formerly Western Economic Diversification Canada) – $2 million (2013)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Innovation Enhancement (IE) – $2.3 million over 5 years (2016)
Canadian Foundation for Innovation – $1.3 million for infrastructure and operations (2018)
Research Manitoba – $1 million (2018)
NSERC Technology Access Centre (TAC) – $1.75 million over 5 years (2019)


Prairie Research Kitchen acknowledges our funders and supporters for their generosity over the past eight years. Without these grants, the development of this vibrant culinary research program would not have been possible. To date, we have helped hundreds of food-based companies across Western Canada achieve their innovation goals and have introduced hundreds of students to career possibilities in applied research, food product development, and entrepreneurship.

A special thank-you to NSERC for additional support that helped us operate throughout COVID-19, and kept students employed who might not otherwise have found work experience opportunities they needed to complete their academic programs.

Companies we’ve worked with have also been supported by several provincial and federal funding initiatives related to innovation and growth to offset the risks associated with research. Support from programs such as the National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), NSERC Engage and Applied Research and Development (ARD), Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), and Protein Industry Canada (PIC) help these companies work with organizations such as Prairie Research Kitchen to further their growth through research.

We also wish to thank RRC Polytech for supporting our research as part of its strategic priorities and commitments through access to infrastructure, staff, and financial contributions over the past eight years.