First potash development for Manitoba
The Manitoba government announced approval for the province’s first potash development, allowing the Potash and Agri-Development Corporation of Manitoba (PADCOM) to start extraction and production near Russell, Man. Premier Heather Stefanson made the announcement at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference on June 14.
“This is a significant step forward in our commitment to establish Manitoban a global leader in sustainable mineral development,” said Stefanson. “Our government is proud to announce PADCOM has received all required approvals to move Manitoba’s first potash mining operation into production. We are working with Indigenous leadership and communities to promote participation in the mineral resource sectors and to ensure communities share in the benefits that result from growth in these sectors.”
Gambler First Nation has also partnered with PADCOM, participating as a 20 per cent equity owner. “We are pleased to partner with PADCOM on this landmark project, which will create jobs and help spark further economic development opportunities in our community,” said Chief David LeDoux, Gambler First Nation.
PADCOM has completed the first part of the project, with two wells drilled near Harrowby to explore the potash resource and determine feasibility. “This operation will use a more environmentally friendly mining process. The physical footprint is small and the process will be using green Manitoba electricity, not fossil fuels,” said Daymon Guillas, president, PADCOM. “We are excited to partner with Gambler First Nation to develop Manitoba’s first potash operation. This initiative will help support Manitoba’s economic recovery and plays a major role in making Manitoba a global leader in mining and mineral development.”
Never Miss Lunch returns to Subway Canada
Subway Canada announced June 13 that commit to $500,000 to child hunger initiatives with its annual Never Miss Lunch ™ donation day on June 22, 2022. One dollar from every footlong sub sold at Subways across Canada will help support child hunger programs in over 190 communities across Canada.
Subway has partnered with Food Banks Canada’s After the Bell™ program, which provides healthy food packs to children during the summer, when they do not have access to school lunch programs.
“We continue to see the price of food soaring in our nation, leaving families in Canada no choice but to pay more for kitchen staples like bread, dairy and fruit and vegetables,” said Kirstin Beardsley, CEO at Food Banks Canada. “This, combined with high housing costs and job losses due to the ongoing pandemic, have forced more people to use food banks. Trusted partners like Subway continue to step up for its community, and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing support.”
“Our local restaurant owners from every corner of the country bring passion, enthusiasm and heart when it comes time to alleviating child hunger within their communities,” said Doug Fry, Country Director, Subway Canada. “We’re committed to delivering high-quality, nutritious and fresh food to communities every year, and we look forward to working with Food Banks Canada to bring healthy food packs to Canadians. It’s been an exciting year as we embark on the fourth iteration of this initiative, following our late-April Eat Fresh Refresh™ launch in Canada.”
There are 126 Subway locations in Manitoba.
Penner Farm Services joins CubicFarm® Systems Corp.
Blumenort-based agriculture company Penner Farm Services has become a new HydroGreen certified dealer for Vancouver’s CubicFarm® Systems Corp. (CubicFarms). The news came the same day as CubicFarms announced a $3.8 million sale to a dairy in Texas.
CubicFarms’ HydroGreen Automated Vertical Pastures provide fresh forage for livestock farmers at a commercial scale while reducing methane emissions and reducing environmental impact. Penner Farm Services has served the agriculture and livestock industry in Manitoba since 1956.
“There is tremendous need for daily consistency and herd health for dairies all over, with particular need in West Texas and other drought areas,” said Dan Schmidt, president of CubicFarms’ HydroGreen division. “Repurposing valuable land and water savings is important with the added labor-saving benefits of automation in a controlled environment. We’re helping more farmers like Cnossen Dairy and Golden Rule Dairy meet their daily nutritional needs and we’re pleased that new HydroGreen Certified Dealers like Dairy Specialists, Advanced Dairy Systems, and Penner Farm Services are helping deliver and support farmers across Canada and the U.S.”
