Canada West Foods has sold its 50 percent share of the lamb, veal and pork processing operation in Innisfail, Alta., to its joint venture partner, Trochu Meat Processors. Canada West Foods will instead concentrate on growing its case-ready meat business from its two processing plants in Chilliwack, B.C., and Winnipeg. “We just strongly believe there’s […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Livestock owner fined $10,000 for neglect
An Alberta man has been fined $10,000 and prevented from owning or caring for animals for 10 years after pleading guilty Nov. 28 to neglecting his animals. Barry Graham of Drumheller, Alta., was given the largest fine in Alberta history for neglecting livestock. It was also the longest time any livestock producer has been prohibited […] Read more
An unforgettable sojourn in Topley – Editorial Notebook
news It’s common knowledge in rural communities that in times of crisis, people’s generosity shines through. I recently had the chance to experience that generosity in the northeastern British Columbia logging village of Topley. I was on the final leg of a two-week assignment when my old reliable car, Goldie, as she was affectionately named […] Read more
Labour deal reached at Prince Rupert port
Prairie grain will continue to flow through the northern British Columbia port of Prince Rupert despite the lockout of grain workers in the Vancouver grain terminals. On Nov. 21 the Prince Rupert Grain terminal management and the Grainworkers Union negotiating committee came to a tentative labour agreement. “The union negotiations committee is unanimously recommending acceptance […] Read more
Winter canola will be rejected
Prairie canola crushers want nothing to do with canola that has laid in swaths under the snow all winter, a crusher manager said last week. “Let’s just say, if it does stay out over winter, we won’t want it,” said Tom Hastie, grains manager for CanAmera Foods in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. “We just have too […] Read more
Prince Rupert out to prove itself
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – Like an understudy in a play who finally gets a chance to perform, Prince Rupert Grain is using the lockout of grain workers in Vancouver to show off its skills. Most west-bound bulk shipments of prairie grain have been diverted through the northern British Columbia port, and Prince Rupert Grain general […] Read more
Farm suicide rate shocks Alta. region
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – The Mistahia Health Region was shocked when it examined its suicide rates for the past 10 years by occupation. Farmers had the third-highest rate of suicide. Workers in trades and industrial jobs had the highest rate and students the second highest. With the large number of oil and gas workers in […] Read more
Women find meeting relieves work grind
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – The longevity of the Peace Region Farm Women’s Conference is a testament to its value for farm women, said organizers of the 25th annual northern Alberta conference. The thought of getting a two-day break from the stress and work of the farm helped Eaglesham farmer Cindy Truedel through a hard harvest […] Read more
Humour, poetry forms welcome bond in difficult year
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. – Rose and Garth Bibby are like rural rock stars. After their two hour performance of singing and poetry about rural life at the Peace Region Farm Women’s Conference, the pair was surrounded by women wanting to buy their books and cassettes and share their own stories. It’s a regular situation with […] Read more
Hay brokers deal in trust
DEBOLT, Alta. – When Shelley and Glenn Moore first started their hay broker business, they were lumped in the same category as used car dealers. People had a sense they could get ripped off. “We were treated like criminals,” said Glenn Moore from his DeBolt home, where they operate their business, called Debco. “The feedback […] Read more
