Nov 17, 2009

A Daly Tribute

By Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK Ontario Region manager

Bernie Daly
GROWMARK Ontario Region Manager
2004-2009


The opening article in this newsletter used to be called Daly Notes and was filled with the late Bernie Daly’s personal accounts on special events and important topics that he wanted to share with you. He took pride in sending you the Your Ontario Vision newsletter and saw this as a very important tool to keep us all up to speed with what is going on with the GROWMARK Ontario Region, its FS member co-ops, partners and subsidiaries, our youth programs and the co-operative sector. Since the passing of Bernie Daly this spring, so much has happened in the way of keeping his presence alive and honouring all that he stood for in our organizations and communities.
I was honoured to be a part of the recent Ontario Co-operative Association Gala and Spirit Awards and felt especially privileged to have the opportunity to present the Ontario Co-operative Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing Bernie for his 30 years of commitment to the co-operative agriculture sector.
Accepting the Ontario Co-operative Lifetime Achievement Award for the late Bernie Daly are Bernie’s sons and wife, Matt (L), Sandy and Ryan. Claude Gauthier presented the award to the Daly family.

At the On Co-op Gala we were pleased to announce that so far more than $37,000 has been raised towards the development of the Co-operative Young Leaders program through the Bernie Daly Memorial Fund. Youth development was very important to Bernie and one of his goals before he passed was to find a way to help support CYL in a bigger way. The monies collected for the fund will first ensure that every young person that wants to attend camp will have the opportunity to do so. Secondly, funds will be used to enhance the program with new equipment or innovative programs. Thank you to all who contributed and please note that the fund will be ongoing and is always open for donations going forward. Organizations or individuals in all co-op sectors are invited to participate in the Bernie Daly Memorial Fund. Through an arrangement with the Ontario Credit Charitable Foundation, all donations are tax deductible. To download a contribution form, visit http://www.ontario.coop/. For more information, contact Sonja Carriere at On Co-op at 519-763-8271 x29.

This spring we also finished what Bernie had begun by finalizing the transistion of FS PARTNERS and its 22 locations to becoming a division of GROWMARK after the majority of farmer-members of Waterloo-Oxford Co-operative and Inland Co-operative voted to sell substantially all their assets to GROWMARK.

At the same time, GROWMARK saw an opportunity to build on an existing partnership and increased its financial commitment and level of partnership in Great Lakes Grain, including the addition of its FS PARTNERS’ branded grain sites throughout southwestern and central Ontario.

Under this partnership between GROWMARK and AGRIS Co-operative, Great Lakes Grain is now one of the largest grain merchandising companies in Ontario. The new organization has a 60-per-cent increase in capacity and a trade area stretching from Windsor through Toronto and to north of Georgian Bay, offering grain marketing services on a wide range of commodities to area farmers.

These recent moves underline GROWMARK’s commitment and Bernie Daly's dedication to the Ontario co-op system for the long term.

Nov 16, 2009

GROWMARK reports a "Successful year"




GROWMARK officials have reported results for the fiscal year that ended August 31. Senior Vice President of Finance Jeff Solberg announced sales of $6.1 billion for the 2008-09 fiscal year, GROWMARK net income is $96.9 million.

“The 2009 fiscal year has been challenging for many farmers as they attempted to plant a crop with extremely volatile pricing for fuel, fertilizer, and grain,” said Bill Davisson, GROWMARK chief executive officer. “Overall, I believe this has been a successful year on many fronts, and when looked at historically, this is still the third-highest income in our history.”

More than $82 million in patronage refunds will be returned to GROWMARK member co-operatives. Ontario member co-ops will receive 1.4 million of the total patronage issued in the form of stocks and cash.

Denyse Guy, executive director of the Ontario Co-operative Association, was honored with the Friend of GROWMARK Award at annual meeting. “Denyse has a history of supporting GROWMARK and its programs and activities by positioning GROWMARK as a very credible co-operative enterprise in the Ontario community,” said Jim Hoyt, GROWMARK vice president of strategic planning and corporate services. In her role as executive director, Guy serves as a resource and voice for credit unions and co-operatives in Ontario, Canada. On Co-op partners with GROWMARK to enhance awareness about co-operatives and provide programs and services that strengthen, support, and promote the co-operative sector throughout the province.

The Friend of GROWMARK award was established in 1989 to recognize outstanding leadership and commitment to agriculture, and friendship to the GROWMARK System. Since its inception, more than 25 individuals and organizations have been honored.


Denyse Guy, On Co-op executive director receives Friend of GROWMARK Award. On her left is Barry Hannah of GROWMARK Ontario Region and Bruce Betzner, Co-op Young Leader representative on her right.

The youth segment of the annual meeting was changed slightly this year with our young leaders presenting their views to the evening banquet audience the night before the official annual meeting. Bruce Betzner from the Lynden area represented Ontario with pride. He spoke on his involvement with the Co-operative Young Leaders Program and on his approach to fostering new young leaders. Bruce graduated from CYL two years ago and now facilitates at camp. He is also one of six 4-H Ambassadors chosen this year to promote 4-H throughout the province. Each year, six Ontario youth representing Junior Farmers Association of Ontario, CYL and 4-H Ontario travel to Chicago to take part in the three-day event.

Ontario youth representatives at 2009 GROWMARK, Inc. Annual Meeting:
(L-R) Lea-Anne Budge of Bolton and Sarah Hohnstein of Mildmay representing Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario, 4-H Ontario Ambassador Olivia Groniger of Carlsbad Springs, Barry Hannah GROWMARK Ontario Region senior trainer and this year’s youth chaperone, 4-H Ontario Ambassador, Co-operative Young Leader (CYL) representative and annual meeting youth speaker Bruce Betzner of Lynden, 4-H Ontario Ambassador Stephanie Warner of Hastings and Ed Sauve of Woodslee representing CYL.

Top 20% Improvement Award recipients for fiscal 2008 (granted in 2009)

GROWMARK Business Performance Awards went to Madoc Co-operative Association, Peterborough District Co-operative Services, AGRIS Co-operative Ltd., La Co-operative Agricole d’Embrun Ltd., Sunderland Co-operative Ltd. and Wanstead Farmers Co-operative Co. Ltd. with two awards, giving Ontario a total of seven Top 20% Improvement Awards.

Award categories are listed below:





Nov 15, 2009

Ontario school buses are running cleaner thanks to FS PARTNERS


After 14 months of negotiation, FS PARTNERS Energy Division closed a deal with Student Transportation of Canada that provides more than 1,200 school buses with cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel.

Student Transportation of Canada began its transition to biodiesel with FS PARTNERS in 2008 with Simcoe Coach Lines in Sutton and Parkview Transit in Caledon. “Since then, we have been supplying the school bus fleets with high quality biodiesel blends through GROWMARK's distribution channels and expertise,” said Andrew Troyer, FS PARTNERS director of energy. “Biodiesel is a fairly new product to most, but to GROWMARK, biofuels have been a major component of the Energy Division for more than ten years. I guess you could say we are veterans of a new product!”

Over the past two years, STC has continued to expand its cleaner fuel program throughout Ontario. Tom O’Neill, FS PARTNERS energy sales manager says that being involved with STC at the beginning of its push to convert to bio blended fuels gave them the opportunity to get in from the ground up. “What put us ahead of the competition is that we not only provide a quality product, but we also offer flexible services and are available to fuel up anytime of the day or night,” says O’Neill.

Established in 1997, Student Transportation of Canada is the fourth largest provider of school bus transportation services in North America and currently operates 6,300 school vehicles in North America.

This new account with FS PARTNERS will amount to sales of approximately 5.8 million litres delivered each year, resulting in countless reduced emissions and represents a changing mindset and commitment to renewable fuels.



FS PARTNERS Energy division works with Student Transportation of Canada in supplying bio fuels to its school bus fleets in Ontario. From L-R Ken Gill, Student Transportation of Canada Inc. regional maintenance manager, Chris Harwood, STC senior vice president – Canadian Operations, Andrew Troyer, FS PARTNERS director of energy, Tom O'Neill, FS PARTNERS energy sales manager.

In 2008, GROWMARK was recognized by the National Biodiesel Board for its impact on the biodiesel industry with “The Eye on Biodiesel – Impact Award”.

Lookin' Good tour shows postive results





For more than ten years now, a good number of Ontario member co-op facilities have been assessed under the FS Lookin’ Good program. This year, 82 per cent of the locations assessed, received a passing score of more than 75 per cent or higher.

North Wellington Co-operative Services received the overall top mark of 88 per cent for all locations combined.

If you would like to get a copy of this record of achievement for your co-operative, please contact Amy Baillie at 519-895-4259.

New training modules and updates


Submitted by Barry Hannah, GROWMARK senior trainer

Earlier this fall, 23 Ontario FS Co-operative and GROWMARK employees attended a new program offered through GROWMARK’s Career Development called Operations Management Clinic”. This program offers solutions to help branch managers make good, sound business decisions in regards to people, facilities, equipment, inventories and other resources.

The two day program was facilitated by Jim Hoffman, Western Region field trainer and Barry Hannah, Ontario Region senior trainer and is one of many ongoing training opportunities for FS System employees in Ontario.                                        

AGRIS Co-operative and Wanstead Farmers Co-operative are the first in the province to schedule Career Developments newest program for sales personnel PT205-Creating Value Added Proposals. This one-day program supports the two-day session called Successful Selling Clinic. You may book this program directly or it will also be offered to you on a needs basis scheduled for the province.

Other training interests:
Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd. requested a program for all staff on the subject of diversity in the workplace. The program is called Drop by Drop and is now available to other Ontario members that are interested. With the changing work force in the province this program gives staff a better understanding of how to prevent workplace inequities and create a more harmonious work environment.

PS II Empowering Your People will be facilitated on Dec. 9 and 10 at the Kitchener Holiday Inn. Larry Hoyt, GROWMARK corporate leadership development manager will be one of the facilitators for this session. Staff that attended PSI will be automatically enrolled for this program to continue their series of training including PSIII-Improving Employee Job Performance and PSIV-Building Work Groups. Staff are not required to take the programs in sequence and can parachute into any and all of the PS Series at any time. If you wish to enroll in PSII or any of the programs mentioned above, please contact Barry Hannah at 519-895-4231 or inquire on GROWMARK's Eresource site at  http://lifelonglearning.growmark.com/index.asphumanresources

FS Crop Specialists training commitments show positive growth



As part of GROWMARK’s agronomic plans, FS sales staff throughout Ontario and the U.S. are on an ongoing training path to obtaining their CCA (Certified Crop Advisers) and eventually CCS (Certified Crop Specialists) designations.

“In the last couple of years there has been a steady increase in the number of FS Crop Specialists obtaining their CCS status. There is a commitment and focus to have the best agronomy sales force in Ontario,” says Frank Campbell, GROWMARK Ontario Region marketing director.

Currently the FS System has 51 full time crop specialists, 46 CCA’s in Ontario with 25 people scheduled to write their CCA exam in February 2010. Individuals will need to sign up by Dec. 1 to be eligible to write the exam.

Please contact Frank Campbell, Bill Brown or Barry Hannah if you want more information on this topic.

See chart below that lists current CCS status FS Crop Specialists:


FS Agronomy Conference coming soon

FS System Agronomy Conference will be held again in Grand Bend on Feb.17-19 with a somewhat different agenda than in previous years. The theme for this year’s conference will be "The Three W's" (Who are we? What do we do? and Why does it matter?). The agenda is currently being developed and more information will be available closer to the conference.

Nov 14, 2009

GROWMARK/FS Government Relations Strategy moving full speed ahead


Submitted by Audrey Aczel, Ontario Co-operative Association public affairs manager
In October 2008, GROWMARK and the FS Co-operatives, with the guidance of the Ontario Co-operative Association, formed its first ever government relations committee, out of a recognized need to raise the profile of Ontario’s agricultural co-operative sector to the province. Chaired by Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK Ontario Region manager, and four other FS representatives from AGRIS Co-operative Ltd., Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd., Co-operative Regionale de Nipissing Sudbury and Madoc Co-operative Association. Denyse Guy, executive director and Audrey Aczel, public affairs manager, from the Ontario Co-operative Association, round out the committee.
What have we done to date?
Over the past year, the committee has been hard at work getting organized and meeting a number of its deliverables that include:

• Holding four committee meetings, and attending two FS System General Manager meetings and the FS Summit.

• Developing an operational plan as both a guideline and a way to track the progress of the government relations strategy.

• Identifying and mapping out the GROWMARK/FS presence across provincial electoral ridings.

• Creating a statistical and historical overview of the GROWMARK System, to be used as an educational piece when meeting with government officials.

• Identifying and developing briefs on three key issues affecting FS Co-ops, to be used as an advocacy tool when meeting with MPPs and key ministries.

• Developing a government relations toolkit to equip future co-op advocates with the necessary guidance and resources.

• Attending 2009 Queen’s Park reception with 24 MPPs present, and several FS representatives having the opportunity to speak directly with the Minister of Agriculture, Leona Dombrowsky.

• Attending three government meetings to lobby for changes to the Municipal Tax Act and to promote the local food movement, including: Lou Rinaldi (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture), Wayne Arthurs (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance) and Peter Hargreave (former Senior Policy Advisor to Minister of Government Services).

• Drafting and distributing a motion and brief on the 50% Rule, in an effort to achieve a consensus on its removal from the Ontario Co-operative Corporations Act. To date, nine FS co-ops have passed and one co-op has defeated the motion.

• Establishing a SharePoint site where the committee members can easily and efficiently share and access information relevant to the government relations strategy.

What’s planned for the New Year?
In the first quarter of the New Year, the committee is aiming to meet with officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Economic Development and Trade, as well as the Premier’s office, and hoping to participate in a Liberal rural caucus meeting. In addition to building these crucial relationships, they will begin identifying and building up a base of “co-op advocates” in each of the 25 plus electoral ridings where FS co-operatives are located. Their primary role would be to assist the committee members in meeting with and educating their local MPPs on a number of key issues affecting the sector, and to help raise awareness for a provincial Co-operative Secretariat.

What is the ultimate goal?
It is the committee’s hope that through a co-ordinated government relations strategy and implementation of an advocacy campaign specific to the needs of FS co-ops, that they will gain the awareness and support they rightfully deserve from our provincial public policy movers and shakers.

For more information, please contact Audrey Aczel at 519.763.8271 x.24

Nipissing Sudbury Co-op acquires retail bulk fuel business


New growth for Co-opérative Régionale de Nipissing Sudbury Ltd.’s operation took place in mid August with the acquisition of a heating, farming and commercial fuels business, Norstar Petroleum Ltd.

In the greater Sudbury area, Norstar Petroleum provides local customers with much of the same products already offered to Co-opérative Régionale de Nipissing Sudbury customers from its eight branches located throughout the Nipissing, Temiskaming and Algoma regions.

Norstar Petroleum will continue to operate its long haul bulk fuel trucking business under the same name and will manage the heating, farming and commercial business for Co-opérative Régionale.

Nov 13, 2009

NWC turns 65, CCA turns 100

 NWC is 65 years old
Earlier this summer North Wellington Co-operative Services celebrated it 65th anniversary and simultaneously held a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony introducing customers to a new larger and efficient warehouse in Harriston.



Kelly Boyle, general manager of North Wellington Co-op and staff generously cooked up a feast of more than 1,300 barbeque hamburgers served to local residents who dropped by to celebrate the anniversary.

Co-op Advantage Magazine now 10 years old
Co-op Advantage magazine is distributed each year around Co-op Week, to the co-operative sector and features the successes and diversity of co-ops throughout Ontario. There are several stories in this year’s magazine that highlight or reference GROWMARK and the FS Co-operatives and would be of interest to your staff, directors or customers. Contact Mark Ventry at On Co-op to place your order.

CCA turns 100
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. To mark 100 years of an organized Anglophones co-operative movement in Canada, CCA’S 100th Anniversary National Congress took place this summer in Ottawa.

To commemorate this event Canada's prominent co-operative historian, Dr. Ian MacPherson, and the Canadian Co-operative Association proudly presented a fascinating limited edition commemorative account of Canada's first 100 years of co-operative history.

The book, named A Century of Co-operation captures the depth and diversity of co-operation in Canada, reliving its evolution and celebrating its legacy. Woven throughout the book is a rich collection of images from across Canada, illustrating co-operative history from the early days of the 20th century to the present time. The book can be purchased through CCA for $50 or email Tanya Gracie at the Canadian Co-operative Association.

Greatest Canadian Co-operator
Alphonse Desjardins, the father of Canada's caisse populaire movement and founder of Canada's sixth largest financial institution, has been named history's "Greatest Canadian Co-operator" following an online vote by more than 8,000 people across the country.

GROWMARK, Inc. is proud to be a primary sponsor of the Co-operative Development Foundation On-Line Auction. Visit http://www.realauction.ca/cdfc/en/ to  shop for great Christmas ideas and at the same time support local and global communities through the help of CDF.






AGRIS Co-operative sails aboard a Canadian Navy frigate

On Sept. 11, a group of 21 AGRIS Co-operative sales representatives and guests boarded the HMCS Ville de Quebec Canadian Navy frigate that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993.

The experience was made possible by AGRIS Co-operative agronomy specialist Chuck Belanger who has been with AGRIS for six years but also boasts an extraordinary past career as a Petty Officer (2nd Class) with the Canadian Forces.


It was through Belanger’s reconnection with an old navy buddy, Mario Couture, the ship’s underwater warfare director that allowed him to construct his idea of introducing the AGRIS Co-operative sales team to this unique experience.

“This is not your ordinary venue for a team-building exercise,” says Belanger. “But what better place to observe and learn first hand about exceptional leadership, teamwork and communication skills than on board the pride of the Canadian Navy.”

Camaraderie, team work and a sense of family is how Chuck Belanger describes his experience with the Canadian Navy. He was raised on a cash crop farm near Pain Court, Ontario and at the young age of 17, decided to explore a bigger world by joining the Canadian Navy. He spent the next ten years of his life devoted to his ships and his country.

During his navy career, he was on board HMCS Skeena, HMCS Algonquin, CFS Shelburne and was involved in missions that involved NATO task forces, coastal and Cold War deployments. After 9 years, Belanger was promoted to Petty Officer (2nd Class) and led an 11-man team of seamen. Being a family man, he later decided to leave the navy and devote more time to his other family at home.

“Through generous contacts Belanger has with his former shipmates serving aboard the HMCS Ville de Quebec, we were able to be a part of a very special journey that allowed AGRIS staff to observe the skills demonstrated by the crew and take these lessons back to the co-operative enhancing our ability to work with our farm-customers,” says David Malott, president of AGRIS Co-op.

“The captain and crew on board the Ville de Quebec were outstanding,” says Belanger. They spoke about the day-to-day operations with an open and honest approach. Their sense of pride and fulfillment was apparent throughout the day making me feel like I was right back at sea and it gave the group an intimate perspective of what navy life is like.”

Travelling from Sarnia to Windsor, Ontario, the day consisted of many informative tours throughout the ship, networking with the crew and a bbq lunch on deck.

Just after 11 am, a tribute was performed with a commemorative 11 round gun-fire salute to honour those who have suffered or lost their lives on September 11, 2001.


The ceremonial blasts were heard for miles as the HMCS Ville de Quebec travelled down the St. Clair River and approached the monumental Bluewater Bridge that links Michigan and Ontario. Hundreds of supporters gathered along the shores of the riverbank to cheer and share a moment of silence. Transport trucks lined the bridge above, sounding their horns in a way that seemed to harmonize with the voices of the enthusiastic crowds on shore. One crewman commented as he looked out at a crowd of young primary school children cheering on shore that this public relations mission has been a very heartwarming and gratifying journey.

The Ville de Quebec departed from Halifax on August 26 on the 2009 Great Lakes Deployment for a month-long, 11-city tour along Quebec and Ontario shorelines to raise the Canadian Force’s profile and highlight the ship’s national and international contributions, with a focus on bolstering Navy recruitment. “Even from a distance on shore, six miles out in Lake Huron, the HMCS Ville de Quebec-FFH 332 looks intimidating and impressive,” says Terry Stevenson, AGRIS Co-operative communication manager. A Halifax-class frigate, the Ville de Quebec, measuring 134.2 metres in length, a range of 9,500 nautical miles and a regular crew of 228, she is heavily-armed with sophisticated radar controlled weapon systems, equipment and technology. Her most recent mission involved protecting food supply ships from pirates off the coast of Somalia.

Just before docking in Windsor, AGRIS Co-operative showed their gratitude for the day by presenting the Captain and Coxswain of the ship with a plaque. During this brief presentation, Belanger commented half jokingly by saying, I am thinking of re-enlisting!






From R-L
Chuck Belanger, AGRIS Co-operative agronomy specialist, presents a gift to the Ville de Quebec Captain Luc Cassava and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Keith Davidson along with David Malott, AGRIS Co-operative president and Larry Pajot, vice-president.

GROWMARK and UPI Energy proud sponsors 4-H Ontario Ambassadors

This year marks the fourth year for the 4-H Ontario Ambassador Program. Each year the FS System has been proud supporters of the program where five or six senior 4-H members are selected to represent 4-H at a variety of events throughout the province.

In the summer, the Ambassadors participated in on one-day tour of the FS System in Ontario to learn more about their sponsors. On the tour, Ambassadors visited a Swipe & Go fueling station in Alma, North Wellington Co-operative Services in Harriston, a grain facility in Ayr and UPI Energy's bulk plant in Guelph.

Ambassadors are available to speak at special events at your co-operative, so please keep this in mind during the year when planning annual meetings or other prominent events.

From L-R
2009 4-H Ontario Ambassadors:
Olivia Groniger of Carlsbad Springs, Morgan Kluka of Chatham, Cory Ward of Woodstock, Barry Hannah of GROWMARK, Bruce Betzner of Lynden, Asley Pulver of Carrying Place and Stephanie Warner of Hastings.

Nov 12, 2009

FS System in Ontario takes part in province wide CleanFARMS collection program

For three days in late October, farmers were able to bring their obsolete pesticides, unused animal health products and used sharps (needles, syringes and scalpel blades) to a series of 16 collection sites across Ontario for a safe and environmentally responsible disposal system. There was no cost for this service to farmers and all organizations volunteered their time and labour to the success of the program.

FS hosted five drop off locations at GROWMARK’s Ontario Distribution Centre in Kitchener, North Wellington Co-operative Services in Harriston, Huron Bay Co-operative in Dundalk, Vineland Growers Co-operative in Jordon Station, Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies and Co-operative Regional de Nipissing Sudbury in Thornloe.

From all accounts, the program at the FS locations was an overall success:

Dave Rogers, Dundalk branch manager for Huron Bay Co-operative reported an overwhelming response with the allocated canisters overflowing to almost filling a full trailer load. “There was a much larger number of farmers in with obsolete crop protection products than ever projected,” says Rogers.

Scott Wright, Vineland Growers Co-operative purchasing manager and health and safety management co-chair says that they didn’t expect a big response, but he was proven wrong. “During the three days we received product from 101 farms, three other dealers and one government agency. In total we filled 16 totes, six barrels, 13 skids and five boxes of animal health. This could not have been accomplished without the help from several volunteers,” says Wright.



Jeff McCallum, communications and marketing specialist for North Wellington Co-operative Services in Harriston said that farmers were very positive about the program and that almost half of the participants traveled more than 40 kilometers to get there with the furthest coming from about 80 kilometers away.

Ben Postuma, general manager of Thunder Bay Co-operative was impacted greatly. “I commend the chemical companies for their efforts in this program and am totally impressed with the amount of clean up this created in the local area." he says.

Pesticide collection programs have been run in Canada by CropLife Canada since 1998 under the CleanFARMS banner. More than 270,000 kilograms of obsolete product have been collected in Ontario during previous collection campaigns in 2001 and 2005.

This program is co-ordinated by AGCare with financial support from CropLife Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Other project partners include Ontario Farm Animal Council, Canadian Animal Health Institute, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association and Ontario Agri Business Association. For more information, visit www.agcare.org or www.ofac.org .



Frank Galfusz, GROWMARK Ontario Distribution Centre shift supervisor proudly displays the mass of collected obsolete products that he helped compile. The accumulation consisted of three boxes of animal health medication, a box of sharps and 20 skids and three drums of obsolete pesticides. “The oldest product collected was lead arsenic that had a Pesticide Control Products registration number of 19, which suggests that it was the 19th product registered with the Act in Canada,” says Galfusz.

Nov 11, 2009

Rolling out the new 2009/10 fall and winter FS Ontario Uniform Program


The current fall and winter FS Ontario Uniform program has been recently sent to you via email. You can also access it on GROWMARK’s eresource under communications and marketing/ID and Apparel tab.

If you need help in locating a specific item for you or your employees, please don’t hesitate to contact Janice Johnson.

Nov 10, 2009

Claude Gautier featured in ICA newsletter

Claude Gauthier, president of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and Ontario Region manager of GROWMARK, Inc. was the subject of a feature interview in the International Co-operative Alliance's Americas newsletter.

Gauthier, who was elected CCA president last June, deals with a wide range of issues in the interview, including unity between anglophone and francophone co-operators, member participation in co-ops and the impact of the economic crisis on the co-op sector.

Click here to download the newsletter in PDF format.

Cool new logo from the Grain Farmers of Ontario


Taken from Owen Roberts article September 3rd, 2009

The Grain Farmers of Ontario unveiled a new logo, and I find it really impressive. Kim Ratz, production coordinator for the organization’s magazine (and official logo keeper) tells me “the circular shape represents a round table, farmers-helping-farmers approach, encompassing a big-picture view of Ontario’s grains and oilseeds crops. And the patchwork quilt design pays homage to the proud heritage upon which the grain farmers are building.” The logo was developed through the organization’s internal communications committee and its branding firm.