“As our companies are growing, they’re finding that they’re really constrained by access to talent in the IT sector. So, we’re working with some colleges to bring a certification program to town to complement that need and pair it up with job placements, as well. We’re also working on a new program, supported by the federal government, to support production worker training in town with essential shop floor skills such as forklift operation, first aid, and WHIMIS certification to name a few. So, we’re really excited about that. That program will come online early 2025.” THE HOUSING CHALLENGE Meanwhile, Morden has to overcome one particularly thorny challenge as it aims to grow the workforce population with which to supply its growing industrial base: it has a shortage of affordable housing units and is restricted from building many more. “The province has limited residential development in the city,” explains Mayor Nancy Penner,“because we are at our maximum now in our wastewater system, which means we’re approving new developments, but we’re restricted on how many homes developers 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 11 MORDEN, MB
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