Thompson leaving Beef Plant

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

ALBANY – After only coming to P.E.I. four months ago the head of the Borden beef plant has resigned and is moving off-Island.

Atlantic Beef Products John Thompson President is leaving his post to take over as CEO of Enterprise Greater Moncton. It’s the same position he left to come to P.E.I.

“It’s a unique set of circumstances but it comes down to personal reasons,” Thompson said Friday.

The New Brunswick native says he enjoyed the job with the plant for a variety of reasons.

“I enjoyed dealing with the producers, dealing with the retailers, and just being a part of the operation.”

Through it all there were still no shortage of issues – including languishing beef prices for producers and continuous losses for the plant.

“This facility obviously is a challenge and I like challenges.”

He doesn’t think his absence will hinder P.E.I. in dealing with the tough times in the industry.

“Atlantic Beef Products future will not be determined by me leaving or staying.”

Thompson will stay on as president for a couple more weeks before he is replaced.

“I think the government is looking to put an interim person in before they find someone (for president) just like they did with me.”

For his successor, Thompson has some simple advice.

“The biggest thing is you have to continue to work with everyone.”

Thompson was just in the process of buying a home in the Borden-Carleton area when he made the decision to move back to his native province along with his wife and two daughters.

A spokesperson with the Department of Agriculture says Shane Murphy, the current acting Agriculture Director will return to the plant to become interim president. Murphy was interim president of the beef plant until last December when Thompson took over.

Sharing the dream

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

People have a rare opportunity to hear from some very successful horse people Friday night at the Atlantic Harness Racing Symposium, an event organizer says.

Tom Clark is excited to have Dr. Ian Moore (who campaigned Shadow Play to a Little Brown Jug victory in 2008) and some of the connections of World Champion Somebeachsomewhere with co-owner and trainer Brent MacGrath along with co-owner Reg Petipas and O’Brien Award winner Phil Pinkney.

To have the best two horses in North America – Shadow Play and Somebeachsomewhere – coming straight from the Maritimes is unheard of, Clark says.

“To be able to have these gentleman together, in this type of open format, and to be able to allow the general public the ability to listen to the stories behind the success, is a fabulous and rare opportunity.”

He thinks the public isn’t aware of the opportunities available with owning a race horse.

“I think it’s really important that, as an Industry, we try our best to educate the general public, on just how simple – and affordable – it is to become involved in such a thrilling sport.”

People are missing out on the sheer thrill of watching their own horse develop and compete, Clark says.

“With so many people watching their fortunes dwindle in stock markets, and not having any fun, why not encourage these same people to invest in a horse ownership group, share and reduce any possible risks, and think of the possibilities for that next champion.”

The event starts at 7 pm at the Rodd Royalty Inn in Charlottetown and it is free to join in.

The Symposium runs all weekend with meetings regarding the health and future of the harness racing industry.

Hoping opportunity knocks

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

SUMMERSIDE – He just wants something to keep him busy, says a high school student, and it seems he was looking in the right place.

Seventeen-year-old Tyler Arsenault was finding everything he was looking for at the Summerside Job Fair Thursday at Credit Union Place.

“I got an interview and put in four applications,” he said.

There were 44 businesses at the fair – ranging from the RCMP, to McDonald’s Restaurants, to Holland College.

Cory Parsons was just looking and saw lots of opportunities at the fair.

“It’s a wide variety of things really.”

Rosalie Wigmore says she just came to take a look and liked what she saw.

“I just came in to do a fly-by.”

She’s been to the fair before and likes how it’s structured this year.

“Over the past couple years it has gotten a lot better. It’s more easily laid out.”

She’s a mother of two and says it’s a lot harder to get a decent job when juggling kid’s schedules.

“It’s a struggle in everyday life.”

She was looking at careers in the Army reserves, RCMP, or the Canadian Navy and thought it might be a fit for her.

“There’s more opportunity. I just feel like I’d fit in.”

Sergeant Bryan Irving, a recruiter with the Canadian Forces, is just happy some people are looking at careers in the military. He says people have lots of questions about the job.

“A lot of people are looking for information more than anything.”

Regardless of what happens, Wigmore still knows what she wants no matter where she ends up.

“I’m looking for a fun-filled futuristic employment opportunity,” she said with a laugh.

Uncertainty at Summerside Raceway

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

SUMMERSIDE – It has been a long winter and the cold spell and the hard times will continue for Summerside horsemen right through until July but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Terry Murphy, Chief Administrative Officer with the city of Summerside, says enough of the project will be completed for racing to commence July 1.

Racing usually commences in mid-May but the pari-mutuel section and the Judges stand won’t be finished until July 1.

He says even though the future main stabling barn blew down in March he is confident the project is on track. Some of what was left of the building fell down Tuesday morning but Murphy says plans see horsemen moving into that building in mid-June. To clean up the debris and rebuild the barn the city is bringing in extra help starting the end of the week, with insurance covering the costs.

“The discussion we’re having is to get back to the value of where we were at in construction (before the wind storm).”

The ship-in barn/multi-use equine building should be finished by the first of July. This building must be operational in order to conduct live racing, so outside horsemen have a place to put their horses when racing. Currently that building is getting its rafters installed, Murphy says.

Elton Millar, one of the top trainers in Prince County, says his aged horses – the ones who would typically race in Summerside – won’t be able to race until July, meaning an extra two months of no racing and mounting bills for owners.

“I’d sooner have (the SRW) open in May because I have some horses that would be ready that aren’t going to be because the owner’s don’t want to truck to Charlottetown.”

He will still get his younger horses – that are eligible to race for large purses across The Maritimes – ready for May. It will be a dry spell early on but Millar can handle it.

“I’m willing to accept what’s happening to have a new facility. You have to sacrifice somewhere.”

Plans have Lobster Carnival racing going as normal but will be conducted from the current race paddock. The new paddock will be started upon completion of the week. Murphy estimates it will take about 12 weeks to complete that building.

Better get cracking

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

SUMMERSIDE – A search for some Easter surprises is going to lead you right across the city’s downtown core.

A new promotion by Downtown Summerside has 19 businesses participating in an Easter egg hunt with a $600 prize at the end.

Ron Casey, Executive Director of Downtown Summerside, says the hunt is quite simple and should engineer some traffic in the downtown area.

There will be an Easter egg hidden in every participating store starting on Monday, April 6. All you need is to pick up a ballot and write down the store you found the egg in and where you found it in at least five different stores.

The eggs will be left in the store for the whole week with the promotion ending Saturday, April 11.

A draw will then be made for a gift basket valued at $600 comprised of items from each downtown business. The basket will be on display today at the fashion show at the Waterfront Mall.

Casey was introduced to the concept while on a visit to the U.S.

“They had real good success with it in the States with the international downtown,” Casey said. “If (Downtown businesses) have success with it then we’ll make it bigger (next year).”

Dumping on a worthy cause

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

SUMMERSIDE – The days of the Salvation Army hardly being able to open their doors continue but help from the city has arrived to try and make it a bit easier to bear.

Marj Montgomery of the Salvation Army says dumping on the property of the Salvation Army’s Water Street location has been an ongoing problem. The issue has been with people leaving items for the thrift store outside of the building when it isn’t open and those items being ruined by the weather, pilfered by passerby’s, and simply stacking up in front of the door.

“There are days we come in and we can’t even get in the door,” Montgomery said.

The mess left isn’t even always worth going through, she says.

“Some days it is just plain garbage that gets dropped off.”

The Salvation Army is then stuck with the cleanup job and the costs associated – which add up to about $12,000 in the run of a year, she says.

“That doesn’t include the man hours it takes to go through it all.”

The thrift store is supposed to be used to generate revenue and provide people with a valuable service, not to put a thorn in the charity’s side.

“The idea (of the thrift store) is to cover our cost of operation and pay for programs.”

To combat the mounting costs the Salvation Army asked city council for help and they delivered to the tune of $6,000 in the recent budget.

“That will go a long way to help offset the cost of waste removal,” says Montgomery.

Despite all this, Montgomery encourages people to keep giving to keep the Salvation Army operating. There is no drop-off bin at the Summerside location, all donations must be made while the store is open from 8 am to 4 pm on Monday to Friday.

She says the way people have been dropping things off is wasteful and unfortunate, because it is usually ruined before the Salvation Army gets to it.

“(People) are doing all the right things to support us but it’s just at the wrong time of day.”

Montgomery reminds people of ongoing food drives at the Atlantic Super Store in Summerside and the Save Easy in Kensington, saying people coming to the food bank is up while donations have suddenly went down recently.

Simple fix to beef industry not likely: Farmer

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

Island beef farmers are tired of getting pushed around, an O’Leary beef producer says.

Paul Smallman is just trying to keep his 600 cattle operation afloat while consumers are paying more and more for food every day.

According to a report released this week by Statistics Canada consumers paid about four per cent more for store-bought food in 2008, compared to 2007.

With beef producers – and farmers in general – not even making enough to break even Smallman finds it hard to understand why Canadians are paying so much for food.

“Without the farmers there are no groceries,” Smallman said.

Currently the Atlantic Beef Plant in Borden is paying $1.62/lb to producers but it just isn’t enough, Smallman says. Producers need $1.65 just to break even but if the price was at $1.85 farmers could bring in a healthy profit.

“We’re not even getting break even prices so you can see why people are getting out of farming every single day,” Smallman said.

The issue is being caused by an influx of South American beef in our markets, chiefly because there is not enough being produced locally to feed Atlantic Canadians.

Shane Murphy, the Acting Agriculture Director with the provincial government, says the government has seen the same trends develop and is working towards a solution.

The price on P.E.I. is a reflection of the Ontario price (currently at about $1.69) minus the cost of transportation.

“The price in Ontario is the agreed upon price because it’s closer to the markets,” Murphy said.

New markets are being sought for Atlantic beef but the overall situation in Canada is the same as P.E.I.

“A month ago western Alberta beef was getting the Ontario price minus 20 (cents).”

Smallman says if things keep on the same track you’ll be able to count all of the beef producers in West Prince on one hand. The situation is getting worse so he has started up his own meat market in O’Leary. His reason for doing so was simple.

“We were tired of getting raped every time we sold cattle.”

Doggone good to be home for wayward canine

By Nicholas Oakes

Journal Pioneer

 

LOWER FREETOWN – Truda and Edmond Stavert say they are just kids but in the eyes of a Freetown women they are nothing short of heroes.

Susan Marchbank’s dog – Orilley – went missing last Thursday night which was a shock to his owner when she got home late that night.

“We have an invisible fence and he’s 12 so he’s never left before,” Marchbank said.

The trouble was his collar wasn’t in him because she had recently switched it to another one of her three dogs, so she teamed up with her husband and the search began.

“We got our boots on and went looking for him but to no avail.”

She told everyone she knew that Orilley was missing and she began to fear the worst.

“We thought maybe somebody took him because we heard stories of dogs going missing.”

Marchbank then put up a $500 reward for the safe return of her dog but it proved to be unnecessary as Truda, 16, and Edmond, 12, entered the scene Sunday.

“I live on a farm and there were round bales so we decided to look there,” Truda said.

They found Orilley trapped between some round bales sleeping. He was exhausted and didn’t have any room to escape.

“He just couldn’t get enough power to jump out,” Truda said.

Edmond reached down and grabbed the dog and took him back to their house to warm up and get something to eat, she says.

“He was pretty happy to see us, he never stopped wagging his tail.”

The best conclusion Marchbank can come to is that Orilley climbed up on a snowdrift then on to the bales while chasing something. He then fell in to a four-foot-deep hole between the bales and was trapped there Thursday evening, all of Friday and Saturday, and most of Sunday.

Truda is just happy to get her neighbour’s dog back because she knows how much he means to her. She has no intention of taking the $500 reward that Marchbank wants them to take.

“We’re not planning on taking anything from her,” Truda said. “We just went out hoping to find something.”