FoodAbility: Built for Quebec – Ready for Work

Cristian Salazar

Event Presenter

FPSC - Quebec Representative

Cristian Salazar is a recognized advisor in the agri-food industry, supporting companies in optimizing food processing operations, safety standards, and value chain performance. With experience in industrial coaching and strategic planning through CSM Groupe Conseil, he helps organizations integrate productivity, innovation, and sustainability. As a professor at Collège de Maisonneuve, he has trained future industry professionals in food safety, conservation, and quality assurance, ensuring alignment with regulatory and operational best practices. His approach combines technical knowledge, strategic insight, and strong leadership to drive resilient and competitive agri-food systems.

Francine Drisdelle-Mercuri

Event Presenter

HR Specialist - Food Processing Skills Canada

FoodAbility Inclusion Coordinator

Francine Drisdelle-Mercuri is a valued contributor to the Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) team. As a Human Resources professional with over 25 years of experience in leadership, recruitment, learning and development, and employee relations. She excels at designing and implementing innovative HR strategies that align with organizational goals across numerous sectors. Francine demonstrates her HR and inclusion expertise in supporting both English and Francophone employers across Canada

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About this event

Meet FoodAbility: Quebec’s Ability-Focused Workforce Development Strategy

Join FoodAbility Quebec for a timely business conversation about one of the greatest challenges facing Quebec’s food economy: what happens when the people businesses have traditionally relied upon are no longer easily available? From rural plants and seasonal operations to aquaculture, fisheries and remote worksites, Quebec employers need solutions designed for their realities. Presented by industry partner Food Processing Skills Canada, this webinar will explore how recognizing and developing the abilities of Canadians already here can help businesses protect production, strengthen food safety and turn workforce pressure into workforce advantage.

The workforce has changed. The challenge is across all businesses—and so is the opportunity for Quebec to build the solution.

How FoodAbility helps employers build stronger local workforce pipelines by recognizing the talent already present in Quebec communities.
How ability-focused hiring, onboarding and supervision can improve retention, safety, quality and performance without lowering workplace standards.
How FoodAbility connects employers with fully funded training, practical tools and workforce partners to turn hard-to-fill roles into workable talent pathways.

Event Details

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FoodAbility: Built for Quebec – Ready for Work

What you learn:

How FoodAbility helps employers build stronger local workforce pipelines by recognizing the talent already present in Quebec communities.
How ability-focused hiring, onboarding and supervision can improve retention, safety, quality and performance without lowering workplace standards.
How FoodAbility connects employers with fully funded training, practical tools and workforce partners to turn hard-to-fill roles into workable talent pathways.

Business Enablement at the CFIA

What you learn:

Understand the New Directorate: Get a clear overview of the CFIA’s new Business Enablement and Service Improvement Directorate and its activities.
Access New Support Services: Learn about the specific new service the CFIA is providing to help businesses successfully obtain a federal license.

FPSC Information Session & Cocktail Reception

In-person Event

Cocktail Reception

Networking Event

What you learn:

Participants will learn more about FPSC, current labour market information, available programs and resources.
Learn more about opportunities to support workforce development within Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing industry.

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