CREDIT: ANONYMOUS
Fanshawe's new cannabis applied science program will give students the opportunity to find their footing in the cannabis industry.

With the ever-changing economic landscape of London, so changes the programs made available to prospective students of the future. Next fall Fanshawe will be offering a new science-based program directed towards the growing demands in the cannabis industry that has already made its presence known throughout the city.

The program will be offered as a one-year graduate certificate program, with a diploma or degree requirement in biology, chemistry or biotech. The program will address product quality, research and development and the safety and stability of products, to name a few.

“The driving force was our students,” said Lindsay Engel, associate dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology, when asked what motivated the College to establish a program concentrated on cannabis. “We wanted to provide our students with an educational experience in an emerging field. We have a state-of-the-art lab facility on campus and we wanted to pair our facilities with our industry contacts, in the cannabis field, to provide our students with a unique experience.”


With several cannabis production plants in and around the city, four retail locations and the potential for exponential growth in the industry, London makes sense as a perfect location for industry focused education.

“We had a lot of interest from producers in the cannabis industry. There are a lot of new jobs being created and they need science-based professionals. We are very lucky that a number of scientists in the industry are helping us develop the curriculum for the program as well it helps us keep in close contact with producers in the area to look for partnership opportunities,” said Engel.

London has thrived economically before during the ‘golden years’ of automotive manufacturing, when everyone knew at least one person who worked on an automotive assembly line. After the recession of 2007 to 2008, London experienced a rise in unemployment as a direct result of the recession’s impact on the auto industry.

Many feared that with manufacturing plants leaving, the city wouldn’t survive the departure. While the resurgence of times past is up for argument, trends show that having skin in the cannabis industry may be a great investment to make.

“I don’t know that anything can reproduce the ‘golden years’ of automotive manufacturing, but the agri-food sector, of which cannabis is a part of, is a growing sector within London. Companies like Cargill, Maple Leaf Foods, and the Original Cakerie have brought a significant number of jobs to London, and smaller companies in and around the London area have also contributed to job growth,” said Engel.

Plans to utilize relationships with cannabis industry leaders promises a unique and industry specific learning platform. Always driven by student success, Fanshawe looks to provide an authentic take on the positions that potentially await graduates of the program.

“Students will have the opportunity to work with cannabis directly (we are in the process of applying for a license [currently]). This will marry their technical skills with real world experiences to ensure they are ready to enter the work force upon graduation,” said Engel.

A network of industry leaders to help navigate new terrain, a growing retail industry and soon an educational support system to help feed into and grow the industry further, it looks like the city’s next economic era may be driven by the green and the good old days might be returning again.