Jamel
Makanda
The drive to continually improve.
Jamel Makanda came a long way before settling in Western Canada. Now the production supervisor at the Edmonton Fresh products plant, his entry into the dairy industry was a bit of a coincidence. Since then, he has been hooked and continues to evolve.
He left his native Democratic Republic of Congo in 1996 and settled in London, Ontario for studies before moving to Montreal, Québec, where his sister lived. "I wanted to get closer to a French-speaking environment. It was easier to find a job," explained Makanda, whose mother tongue is French and is fluent in four other languages.
After working in a variety of workplaces ranging from warehousing to telecommunications, he decided to explore Alberta to get closer both to nature and opportunities offered by its oil companies. Now based in Edmonton, the drop in oil prices prompted him to reorient once again, this time into the dairy industry. "It was a great opportunity for me. When I was looking for a job, I applied for a part-time job. But I quickly had the opportunity to do more than the scheduled hours," explains Jamel, referring to the sale of Safeway's plants to Agropur in 2015 at the same time as he arrived.
Makanda, who describes himself as dedicated to his work, has since risen to prominence.
Jamel in the words of Cameron Seaton, plant manager:
Jamel is a very focused and committed individual who approaches every day and every situation with positivity. He is able to focus his team to drive for results while keeping the team engaged. His ability to do this has garnered the respect of his colleagues and is a part of why Jamel’s contribution to Agropur is invaluable.”
"I had an open mind to constantly learn. I went from being a day labourer in the warehouse to working on the dairy production line, which was unknown to me. I loved what I was doing and I always wanted to learn more. It allowed me to evolve.”
Before arriving at the Edmonton plant, he had no idea of the size of the co-op, or even that it came from Québec, the province where he had lived for so many years. He discovered a work environment that fosters knowledge and advancement. “The people around were opening doors for me, and it aligned with my interest and my willingness to always try to do more. I embrace all new challenges, and I will always be grateful for those superiors who saw abilities in me that I didn't see,” says Jamel.
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One of the sectors that particularly fascinates him is health and safety. He’s involved in process improvement and makes it an essential point for his team. "It's essential in all manual manufacturing jobs," says Jamel. This is very important in Alberta, and Agropur has always been very committed to it.”
Proof that Jamel has a great appetite for learning, he devotes part of his free time to devouring books on personal development, psychology and history. "I'm passionate about how to create things and how to do them well." He adds that this is what he likes about Agropur's values. "I am very grateful for the learning and growth opportunities I have had. The level of recognition you get is very motivating.”
The Edmonton Fresh Produce Plant at a glance:
- Built in 1958 and acquired in 2015 by Agropur.
- 120 employees.
- 68 million liters of milk processed each year.
- Milk, cream and sour cream come from Natrel and Lucerne brands.
- Agropur operates another plant nearby, the Edmonton ice cream plant, located less than 6 kilometers away.
