The genesis of Prairie Pulp and Paper Co. began more than two years ago.
Jeff Golfman, a young business leader lauded in Winnipeg for his business acumen and environmental concern, had turned his attention to industrial hemp.
Golfman, a graduate of the business administration program at the University of Western Manitoba, had profitably started and run Winnipeg’s first curbside recycling program until the city took over the service.
In 1996, Golfman started Dolly Ventures, named after his pet. By 1997, he was general manager of Western Wadding, a family-run business.
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Western Wadding uses recycled cotton to make futon mattresses, among other things.
Its Winnipeg factory was listed as the first address for now-defunct hemp company Consolidated Growers and Processors Inc.
Golfman also launched an environmental education charity for kids.
His biography on the charity’s website speaks of his interest in hemp, and his work as a promoter with environmental luminaries like Jane Goodall, David Suzuki, former Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief Phil Fontaine and anti-meat activist Howard Lyman.
Golfman and fellow Western business grads Bruce Froebe and Brent Smith approached Clayton Manness about their interest in hemp about two and half years ago, said Manness in an interview.
Froebe worked briefly for Consolidated Growers and Processors Inc., according to an April 23, 1998 story from the Manitoba Co-operator, before becoming new crops specialist with Manitoba Agriculture that summer.
Manness said he wasn’t too interested in hemp, but was intrigued by agriculture fibre processing.
Manness runs Man Agra Capital, a venture capital company that has successfully helped start a flour mill at Elie, Man., and flax processing venture near Portage la Prairie.
He is a former Tory finance minister and now co-chairs the Canadian Alliance party.
The group chose to investigate pulping because “we had to start somewhere,” said Manness.
In January 1998, according to provincial business records, Manness formed a numbered company with Golfman, Froebe, Smith, Oak Bluff, Man., farmer Mark Anseeuw, and Joe Hickey of Lexington, Kentucky.
Manness said Hickey is involved with Tierra Madre, Woody Harrelson’s company.
