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SWPP+ Webinar: Big Impact, Small Business: The Power of Co-op Students for Small Food and Beverage Businesses

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Jennefer Griffith

Event Moderator
Executive Director - Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC)

A true driving force in Canada's food and beverage sector, Jennefer Griffith is widely recognized for her visionary leadership in workforce development. As Executive Director of Food Processing Skills Canada, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives, consistently empowering businesses with cutting-edge programs and providing individuals with the essential resources to not just advance, but truly excel in their careers.

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Camille Paultre

Event Host
SWPP+ Program Manager - FPSC

Camille Paultre orchestrates the national delivery of SWPP+ — a proven Food Processing Skills Canada program that connects employers with top student talent through Canada’s post-secondary institutions. Camille ensures funding effectively supports these critical partnerships, strengthening the industry's future workforce and student career development.

Headshot Daniel Restrepo

Daniel Restrepo

Panelist
Employer Relationship Developer – Social Science & BMOS Co-op Program - Western University

Daniel Restrepo is an Employer Relationship Developer at Western University, where he co-leads the Social Science and BMOS Co-op program. With over five years of experience connecting employers with student talent, Daniel is a passionate advocate for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and its role in helping students gain meaningful experience.

At Western, he has collaborated with hundreds of employers, many of whom have successfully accessed SWPP funding to support student placements. Daniel’s work focuses on building sustainable partnerships that benefit both students and organizations.

Andrea Kikuchi

Andrea Kikuchi

Panelist
Co-op & Experiential Learning Assistant, Faculty of Business - University of New Brunswick

Andrea Kikuchi is the Co-op & Experiential Learning Assistant at UNB Saint John. For over twenty years, Andrea has worked with students in Career Education, Academic Advising, and Event Management. She has guided hundreds of students through their career and academic journeys, working closely with them in both teaching and coordination roles. A strong advocate for enhancing the student experience, Andrea believes that proactive, personalized advising is essential to student retention and ensuring successful work placements.

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Holly Klann

Panelist
Experiential Learning & Co-op Education Coordinator - University of Manitoba

Holly Klann is a graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business, where she earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree in Marketing and Human Resource Management. She also holds a Career Development Practitioner Certificate from the University of Winnipeg. Throughout her career, Holly has focused on supporting both job seekers and employers through roles with Manitoba Start, the Asper Co-op Program, and, for the past three years, as the Experiential Learning & Co-op Education Coordinator in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

About this event

Are you a small business owner looking to grow your team and access government funding—but not sure where to start? Join us on December 15th at 1:00 PM (EST) for an engaging and practical webinar designed to educate and inspire small and micro businesses on the value of hiring Co-op students, accessing funding, and creating a positive, productive experience for both students and employers.

Learn how to strengthen your team, bring in fresh thinking, and access up to $7,000 in wage subsidies per placement—all while building your future talent pipeline.

Hear from the SWPP+ team on how to access funding and gain insights from a national panel of co-op program leaders as they discuss the practical steps needed for small businesses to have successful Co-op placements.

The challenges faced by small businesses are unique. FPSC is here to help bridge the gap through our HR Toolkit, designed to help smaller businesses build the HR framework for success. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how student hiring can benefit your business—and how SWPP+ can help make it happen.

You’ll leave with practical steps and resources to start benefiting right away—plus answers to your specific questions during our live Q&A.

Who Should Attend:

Employers in the food and beverage industry, HR professionals, hiring managers, and anyone interested in tapping into Canada’s emerging talent pool.

At this event, you'll learn:

  • How Co-op students can help support your specific business goals
  • The requirements for hosting a Co-op Placement
  • Learn how to hire students and interns with SWPP+ wage subsidies
  • How to navigate the application process with confidence
  • How FPSC can support your small business through our established Resources

Event Details

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SWPP+ Webinar: Big Impact, Small Business: The Power of Co-op Students for Small Food and Beverage Businesses Agenda

December 15, 2025 1:00 pm

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