We’re proud to present a special spotlight series celebrating the remarkable women leading manufacturing operations at our Courtneypark site.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Women’s Impact Network (WIN) and Women in Manufacturing (WIM) are proudly launching a spotlight series honouring the incredible women powering our manufacturing operations. This ongoing series will continue throughout the year, sharing stories that inspire and reflect the strength, contributions, and impact of women across Maple Leaf Foods. Each quarter, we’ll shine a light on more plants and the talented women who make a difference every day.
Alongside these spotlights, today we will take a brief look at our own journey — showcasing how the role of women in manufacturing has evolved over time. From humble beginnings to today’s diverse and inclusive workforce, we celebrate the progress made and the future we are building together.
The evolution of women in manufacturing
At Maple Leaf Foods, our greatest transformation isn’t just in what we create, it’s the incredible people who bring it to life. Our plants have always been the soul of our business, and today they reflect a vibrant, diverse workforce. One of the most powerful shifts has been the rise of women shaping the future of manufacturing across all levels.
Despite contributing to 48% of Canada's total workforce, only 29% of women contribute to Canada's manufacturing industry. As of August 2025, 77% of salaried Team Members at our Courtneypark plant are women, reflecting strong female representation in leadership and professional roles at this site.
Courtneypark is the home of delicious chicken products — like stuffed chicken, battered and breaded chicken — as well as pork and turkey products. The plant is around 110,000 square feet and produces 14 million kgs of finished product per year for food service and our retail customers. There are more than 300 Team Members here, and many of those are women. In this first feature, we’re highlighting three outstanding women — Joan Black, Justyna Paz, and Daljit Jhand — while recognizing that there are many more whose contributions make a meaningful impact every day.
Joan Black
Joan Black is a Maintenance Supervisor who has been in manufacturing since her early days of high school, initially starting as a part-time job while in school, and flourished into a full-time opportunity. Day-to-day, Joan says she could best be described as a firefighter dispatcher. “When an issue arises, or we must troubleshoot, we must repair it, of course!” That’s where Joan comes in. She helps dispatch calls for repairs and proactively maintains equipment to ensure it’s working properly.
“It’s exciting to see so many women thriving in leadership here – 10 of our 11 salaried supervisors are women,” says Joan. “It’s a reflection of the talent and dedication they bring to the job every day.”
Breaking down gender barriers in manufacturing is a family tradition, as Joan explains that her daughter works with her at Courtneypark as a Maintenance, Repair and Operations coordinator. It’s a place that provides challenges but also offers a wonderful opportunity for women to grow and flourish.
In her supervisor role, Joan has been sent for breading and pick up education, as well as racking training. “The breading and pick up experience provided clarity and insight, providing me the ability to run lines efficiently and effectively.” As for the racking training, that gave Joan the capability to rate damaged racking and keep our people and storage safe.”
“I found that the best environment for me and the best support that I receive is when the company invests in you,” says Joan. “Knowing that Maple Leaf is willing to invest in me inspires me to work harder and do the best job possible.”
Justyna Paz
Justyna Paz joined the Courtneypark plant in 2000, before it became part of Maple Leaf Foods through Schneider’s acquisition in 2004.
Today, Justyna is a Supply Chain and Logistics Manager, a role she proudly stepped into in 2023. Justyna is responsible for the planning, purchasing, and shipping departments.
We mean it when we say that women in manufacturing really does run in the family! Like Joan, Justyna explains that her mother inspired her to join Maple Leaf Foods two decades ago, following a successful career working at the Courtneypark plant.
"A few days after joining the company, I immediately knew I wanted to and could do more," says Justyna. "I was genuinely curious about how everything worked, how teams moved, how products flowed. I started asking questions, making suggestions, and sharing ideas with the team about how we could streamline specific tasks or improve workflow."
It didn't take long for one of her supervisors to notice. "She saw how committed I was, not just to my duties, but to understanding the bigger picture. I was always eager to learn and wasn't afraid to speak up when I saw an opportunity to improve something. Whether it was reorganizing a station to reduce downtime or suggesting improvements to the inspection process to detect defects faster, I was constantly thinking about how we could work smarter."
Justyna says that what she loves most about working with women at Courtneypark is feeling like she’s part of a strong community. “You feel the support and freedom to speak openly without fear of judgment. We can share everything in our professional and personal lives. I feel comfortable having women on the team and even having them here as a friend. The women here have lots of patience, are very responsible, and have very strong leadership skills.”
Daljit Jhand
Daljit Jhand has been with Maple Leaf Foods since 2001 when she first came to Canada. Originally starting in a general labour role, Daljit eventually progressed to her current position as Production Supervisor. In her role, Daljit runs production and labour on the line, processes orders, and approves hours.
With more than two decades of experience with our organization, Daljit says she has always been encouraged by her manager to grow and evolve her responsibilities, along with support and encouragement from her family.
Daljit echoes Justyna’s love for working with strong women who support each other at Courtneypark. “We have so many women working in manufacturing and it's a great team. I love how everyone helps one another, and we’re proud of what we achieve together. This industry needs more women leaders,” exclaims Daljit. “As a woman, I know that we can achieve anything when we are helping each other. The future is bright for women in this field.”
Her advice for young women aspiring to enter the manufacturing industry? Believe in yourself — trust that you have the skills and resilience to succeed. Don’t be afraid to take risks, embrace new challenges, and step outside of your comfort zone. Every experience is a learning opportunity.
Keep pushing forward with determination, stay consistent in your efforts, and keep your eyes on your goals. Your perseverance and commitment will lead to open doors with opportunities beyond what you can imagine.
