Dairy Farmers of Canada

The Porter Family – Resiliency and Perseverance in BC

Tue, 11 Jul 2017 09:23:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing British Columbia, the Porter family of Porter’s Dairy Farm, in Chemainus, British Columbia.

Showcasing the contributions of Canadian dairy farmers in the building and growth of our country, the book was created in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Canada. The book traces the emergence of dairy farming in each of Canada’s provinces through the personal stories of a family of dairy farmers who have been farming for many generations.

“Dairy farming has changed so much since my family first started farming, but what remains is a deep love and appreciation of the land and what it’s provided for us,” says Don Porter. “Our family is proud to produce high quality milk for the people of Vancouver Island and Canada.”

Don’s ancestors immigrated to Chemainus from England in 1883 to take up work at the local sawmill. They soon bought some land, built a barn and grew a small milking herd. In 1938, Don’s father Charlie began bottling and selling milk door-to-door, helping him grow his herd to 55 cows and becoming a well-loved member of the Vancouver Island community because of his milk truck. Today, Don and his wife Karen, along with their son Ian and his wife Brianne, run Porter’s Dairy Farm and milk 250 cows on 400 acres of cleared land.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the Porter family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community.”

To read the Porter family and Porter’s Dairy Farm full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

Founded in 1934, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national organization defending the interests of Canadian dairy farmers and striving to create favourable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry. Working within supply management, DFC promotes safe, high quality, sustainable, and nutritious Canadian dairy products made from 100% Canadian milk through various marketing, nutrition, policy, and lobbying initiatives. Driven by a strong sense of community and pride, DFC and Canadian dairy farmers actively support a number of local and national initiatives. Visit dairyfarmers.ca for more information.

-30-

Media Contact:

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Annual General Meeting

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 14:52:25 -0400

The Annual General Meeting for the Dairy Farmers of Canada will take place from July 18 – 19, 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta.

For more information about the Annual General Meeting, or to register, visit: http://www.dfcagm.albertamilk.com/

The Ell Family – Dairy Trailblazers in Western Canada

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 09:24:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Saskatchewan, the Ell family of Ell Dairy Farm, in Kronau, Saskatchewan.

“We are proud to be part of a Canadian dairy family. There is no work more gratifying than taking care of our animals and producing food for Canadians,” says Gord Ell. “It’s a challenging life, but we love what we do and are honoured to be able to maintain our family’s tradition.”

Gord, who farms with his wife Tiffany, is a fifth generation dairy farmer. His ancestors arrived from Germany in 1899, settling in Kronau because there was land to spare and farming was cheap. Soon after, they were milking cows and thus began their dairy legacy. The Ell family are dairy pioneers in Western Canada, building the first milking parlour in Western Canada in the mid-1950s and becoming the first family in Saskatchewan to milk more than a 100 cows by 1970. Today, Gord and Tiffany milk 200 cows on 3,000 acres of land.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the Ell family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community.”

To read the Ell family and Ell Dairy Farms full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact:

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Fuelling Women Champions expands grant program to support amateur female sport

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:17:00 -0400

Canada’s dairy farmers accepting applications for the $150,000 fund

Sports are integral to maintaining health and building confidence, however the vast majority of Canadian females abandon sport as young adults. Canadian dairy farmers are helping break down barriers for amateur female athletes by launching the Champions Fund for the second year, and committing additional funding and grants to help even more young female athletes in 2017. Canada’s dairy farmers are currently accepting applications for the $150,000 fund – up from $100,000 in 2016 – which will be distributed as 30 grants of $5,000 to help young female athletes pursue their sports dreams.

“The response in the first year of the Champions Fund was tremendous and stories that young female athletes shared in their applications highlighted their need for support as they face gender inequalities in their chosen sports,” says Wally Smith, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada. “Canada’s dairy farmers across the country are proud to help support healthy living through the Champions Fund grants and inspire females to achieve all they can in sport through the Fuelling Women Champions initiative.”

In its first year, the Champions Fund received more than 2,500 applications for grants. Many of the first-year grant recipients have already used their funds to achieve more in their sport, including the following:

Team Canada Deaf Women Volleyball subsidized the costs of travel for team members to attend weekend training camps in preparation for the Deaflympics in Turkey this July.
Rower, Carly Zanatta, travelled to Burnaby, BC to compete in the National Rowing Championships and placed first in her age category, allowing her to receive carding for her sport and train at the National Team Centre in London, Ontario this year.
Baseball and hockey player, Brooklyn Childs, attended the National Team Development Camp for hockey in Cuba, which allowed her to excel in her games in Atlantic Canada and win Female Athlete of the year for the City of Corner Brook.

The Champions Fund is a nation-wide program, and an extension of the Fuelling Women Champions movement. In its second year, the fund is being expanded to $150,000 – up from $100,000 in 2016 – and will be distributed as 30 grants of $5,000 to female athletes, teams and organizations across Canada. The top 50-60 applicants are selected based on a scorecard and the merits of their applications. Then, the Champions Fund Committee, a board of 10 individuals comprised of Fuelling Women Champions stakeholders, ambassadors and partners, will select the 30 final grant recipients, who will be announced in October 2017.

According to a 2016 study commissioned by Canada’s dairy farmers, only 59 per cent of girls aged 3-17 and 16 per cent of adult women in Canada participate in sport. The Champions Fund, and the overarching initiative, Fuelling Women Champions, aims to inspire girls and women, regardless of age or ability, in local communities across Canada to realize the universal benefits of sport.

For more information, to apply for the Champions Fund, or to get involved in the initiative, visit www.womenchampions.ca. The application period runs from June 20 to September 20, 2017. Fund recipients will be announced in October 2017. Follow and join the movement online to #ChampionHer.

About Fuelling Women Champions

Fuelling Women Champions is a national, multi-year initiative spearheaded by Canada’s dairy farmers and it is dedicated to the advancement of women in sport. Canada’s dairy farmers are personally committing their time, energy and resources to this cause, and have partnered with several thought-leaders, celebrated athletes, and sports organizations.

-30-

Media requiring further information, please contact:

Sybil Eastman / Paul-Mark Rendon

DDB PR

(416) 972-5844 / (416) 972-7784

sybil.eastman@can.ddbpr.com / paul-mark.rendon@can.ddbpr.com

Resignation of DFC Executive Director

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:26:00 -0400

It is with a mix of sadness for her departure and gratitude for her efforts that the Board of Directors of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) announces that its Executive Director, Caroline Emond, has decided to step down effective July 4, 2017.

Since January 2015, Ms. Emond has played a critical role in several transformational files. Ms. Emond has successfully led Canadian dairy producers to reach an historic agreement in principle with dairy processors.She revamped the organization’s look and feel with the launch of the new visual identity and revised the organization mission, vision and values to bring DFC in the twenty first century. She worked with Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba marketing team to create additional synergies to ensure a better cohesion with the organizations. She also helped minimize the impacts of the TPP on dairy farmers.

In light of her many accomplishments, she has decided to move on.

“Caroline has brought a breath of fresh air to DFC. We are grateful for her legacy, which will contribute to a bright future for the dairy industry. She was instrumental in one of the most challenging times in the history of Canada dairy industry.” Said Wally Smith, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada. We sincerely thank Caroline for her contribution to Dairy Famers of Canada and to the Canadian dairy industry. She has shown to be a well-respected lobbyist and a dedicated leader. We wish her the best for her future projects. Over the next few months, DFC will be conducting a search to find the new Executive Director.

-30-

For information

Isabelle Bouchard

613-513-8879

The Philippot Family – A Dairy Legacy in Manitoba

Mon, 26 Jun 2017 09:18:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Manitoba, the Philippot family of Philippot Farms, in St. Claude, Manitoba.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a dairy farmer – farming is my passion,” says Alain Philippot. “I learned from my father, and he from his father, how to take care of the land and to keep it healthy so it can be passed down from generation to generation.”

Alain, along with his wife Michelle, is a third generation farmer who milks 68 cows at Philippot Farms. The dairy industry developed in St. Claude due to some misfortune in the 1930s, namely the Great Depression and a terrible drought. No crops would grow because of the drought but the grass that grew like weeds turned out to be great for feeding cows. Armed with a new barn purchased before the Depression hit the community hard, Alexis Philippot leveraged the barn and the new grass to invest in cows, and subsequently, dairy. His family has never looked back.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the Philippot family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community.”

To read the Philippot family and Philippot Farms full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact:

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

The Wert Family – A Bright Outlook for Dairy in Canada

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 08:55:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Ontario, the Wert family of Stanlee Farms, in Avonmore, Ontario.

“Our family has been part of the Avonmore community since 1864, and generation after generation, we have proudly produced Canadian quality milk,” says Jim Wert. “The future of Canadian dairy farming is bright because the next generation is combining new technology, new science and the knowledge passed down from the generations before them.”

Jim, along with his wife Nancy, are fourth generation dairy farmers who own Stanlee Farms. What started as a 100 acre parcel of land has grown under supply management into a farming model that is sustainable environmentally, economically and ethically. The farm has survived two World Wars, the Great Depression and an electrical barn fire that almost pushed the family out of dairy. With a passionate and dedicated fifth generation interested in taking over the farm, the future is bright for Stanlee Farms.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the Wert family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community.”

To read the Wert family and Stanlee Farms full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact:

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Canadian dairy farmers celebrate World Milk Day

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 07:21:00 -0400

Today, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is pleased to share how we celebrate the vibrant dairy industry in Canada on World Milk Day.

“World Milk Day is a great time to invite everyone to take a moment and enjoy a glass of milk. We also want to celebrate the dairy industry here in Canada, which is growing and thriving,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “Our unique system of supply management allows us to produce nutritious, wholesome milk for Canadians in a sustainable way, and is the best system in the world. We are grateful for the support that Canadians continue to show our farmers, and on behalf of Canadian dairy farmers, I want to say thank you.”

DFC is teaming up with Chicken Farmers of Canada, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, Egg Farmers of Canada, and Turkey Farmers of Canada to host a unique pop-up diner on Sparks Street in downtown Ottawa to showcase Canadian food and the benefits of supply management. The Downtown Diner is a great occasion for people in downtown Ottawa to enjoy local products and talk to farmers about their farms and supply management. Everyone is welcome to come and taste great Canadian food.

DFC is also hosting Twitter parties in both French and English in honour of World Milk Day and to celebrate here in Canada. Canadians can join in and follow along with #WorldMilkDayCa at 11am Eastern Time for the French Twitter Party and/or 12pm Eastern Time for the English Twitter Party, as DFC hears directly from consumers about their favourite dairy products, and why they love Canadian milk.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media contact

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

The Maranda Family – Keeping the Dairy Tradition Alive in Quebec

Wed, 24 May 2017 09:40:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Quebec, the Maranda family of the Roémax farm, in Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île d’Orléans, in Quebec.

“Our ancestors settled here in 1666 and it is a testament of their perseverance and ingenuity that today we continue to farm and produce milk in a sustainable manner on this same piece of land,” said Éric Maranda. “Dairy farming has evolved over the last few centuries, but our commitment to protecting the environment and taking care of our animals has not wavered. We want to produce the best quality milk in the most efficient way so future generations can continue the dairy tradition established by the first Marandas of Île d’Orléans.”

Éric Maranda recently took over the farm from his father Roger. Along with his young son, three generations of Marandas today live in the ancestral home built in 1749. Éric credits a profound love of farming, an entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance for the farm’s success over such a long period of time. Today, the Marandas milk 35 to 40 head of cattle on 85 hectares of land.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the Maranda family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community.”

To read the Maranda family and Roémax farm’s full story, please visit dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact:

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

The Conroy family – Finding New Life on a Historical Farm

Tue, 02 May 2017 09:19:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing New Brunswick, the Conroy family of Dixon Valleyview Farms in Hoyt, New Brunswick.

“We feel fortunate to have this farm, which has been a part of the Hoyt community for 247 years, and to be a part of its history,” said Kevin Conroy. “Every owner has contributed to the sustainability and growth of this farm and we are proud to continue the tradition of producing quality milk for Canadians in New Brunswick.”

Kevin and his wife Diana fulfilled Kevin’s lifelong dream of owning a dairy farm when they purchased the centuries-old Dixon Valleyview Farms, in 2014. Once the farm was theirs, they then faced the challenge of moving halfway across the country with their four children and had to learn to be dairy farmers. Thankfully, they were quick learners and today, Kevin and Diana are implementing their vision for the farm in the hopes of encouraging others to join the industry. They have ploughed fields, planted crops and cleared ditches and creeks to improve their crop land, to one day produce all the feed for their cows themselves.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the Conroy family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community.”

To read the Conroy family and Dixon Valleyview Farms’ full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact:

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Thank you Canada! Canadians Love Canadian Dairy

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 15:00:00 -0400

Canadian dairy farmers are thrilled by the overwhelming reaction of our fellow Canadians who took time to provide their words of support online and in person in recent weeks. Thank you for continuing to choose Canadian milk and dairy products!

What follows is reprinted with permission from Abacus. The survey below was not commissioned by DFC nor did we discuss the poll before it was done by the firm and published on April 25, 2017
---
By Bruce Anderson & David Coletto:

The large majority of Canadians (92%) are happy with the range and quality of dairy products available in Canada, and two thirds are satisfied with prices. This view that the market is working reasonably well today creates an important context in which the recent statements by President Trump will be received by Canadian voters.

When informed that the US/President Trump has been critical of Canada for not allowing easier access to US dairy products and would like to see Canadian markets open to more imports, Canadians were mostly are unmoved.

By a broad margin (77%) Canadians were inclined to feel that “like the US and other countries, Canada has policies that are designed to support a healthy Canadian dairy farm sector and they work well enough to meet the needs of consumers too”. Only 23% chose the alternative argument that “Canada should change our rules and allow more foreign dairy products to compete in our market because it would mean more products would be available and possibly lower prices for consumers.”

Note – We asked half our sample mentioning President Trump specifically and the other half without attributing the criticism to him specifically. The results were only marginally different – those told that the criticism was leveled by Mr. Trump were four points more likely to say Canada’s policies were fine the way they are.

We then asked people what they felt Canada should do if the US Administration presses Canada on this issue. Almost no one (7%) felt that Canada should simply agree to the changes the US was asking for. Opinion is somewhat divided between those who feel Canada should “stand firm and refuse to make any changes” (43%) and those who say Canada should “negotiate a solution that gets Canada something we would like in exchange for giving the Americans some of what they want in the dairy sector.” (50%)

Respondents who had been informed that it was President Trump who was making the case for opening up our markets were 8 points more likely that other respondents to say that Canada should “stand firm” and 9 points less likely to say we should give something to get something.

In considering the political context for this issue in Canada, it’s important to look at how responses differ by region, political leaning and whether people live in rural or more urban/suburban settings.

In every region of the country, and across rural and urban and all major party lines, a majority is satisfied with the range, quality and price of Canadian dairy products.
More than 70% in every region, among both genders, all age groups, among all major party supporters and across rural and urban Canada believe Canada’s policies are working well enough. Only 23% of Conservative voters believe Canada should open up markets; 24% among Liberal supporters, and 9% among NDP voters.
On the question of what Canada should do if the US presses the matter, no subgroup shows more than 11% interest in simply going along with the US demands. Conservative voters were a bit more inclined to prefer to see a negotiated solution over standing firm (52% to 39%) while Liberals were more drawn to the stand firm (55%) versus a negotiated settlement (38%). NDP voters were evenly split. In Quebec, 55% prefer a “stand firm” position, compared to 37% who favoured negotiation.

THE UPSHOT

According to Abacus Chairman Bruce Anderson:

“The Trudeau government is not alone in facing important challenges in our trading relationship with the US. These results show that most Canadians want Ottawa to show a combination of firmness and pragmatism in dealing with trade irritants, an instinct that probably would extend to other trade challenges beyond dairy as well.

For Canada’s dairy producers the results show that Canadian opinion is more instinctively aligned with them than not – but in a qualified manner. Canadians will consider the overall shape of the relationship with the US and expect their government to mount a strategic defense of Canada’s interests.

That means defending dairy policy if necessary, but not necessarily protecting dairy rules if other strategic interests outweigh that consideration.”

METHODOLOGY

Our survey was conducted online with 1,500 Canadians aged 18 and over from April 21 to 24, 2017. A random sample of panelists was invited to complete the survey from a large representative panel of over 500,000 Canadians.

The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association policy limits statements about margins of sampling error for most online surveys. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of 1,500 is +/- 2.6%, 19 times out of 20.

The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

ABACUS DATA INC.

We offer global research capacity with a strong focus on customer service, attention to detail and value-added insight. Our team combines the experience of our Chairman Bruce Anderson, one of Canada’s leading research executives for two decades, with the energy, creativity and research expertise of CEO David Coletto, Ph.D.

- See more at: http://abacusdata.ca/trade-trump-milk-how-canadians-react-to-tough-talk/

The Burrows family - A love for dairy farming and for their Nova Scotia community

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 13:27:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Nova Scotia, the Burrows family of Clover Crest Farm in Green Oak, Nova Scotia.

“Family dairy farms are integral to feeding Canadians, and are vitally important to the thread and fabric of Canada as a whole,” said Jim Burrows. “Our family has been a part of the Green Oak community for generations, and we are very happy that this will continue with our son Alexander, and farmhand Jason. I’m so proud of the work our family has done to produce milk sustainably over the years, and I am excited to see how our farm will continue to evolve to produce Canadian quality milk.”

Jim and his wife Leslie own Clover Crest Farm, which was established in 1765. The family milks 90 cows, and they are in the process of transitioning the farm to the next generation. Son Alexander, a veterinarian and the farm’s resident cow expert, and Jason Nelson, the farmhand who will become a co-owner with Alexander when the time comes, have gradually started to take on more and more responsibility as they look to the future. Still, Jim continues to work tirelessly to ensure that his cows are happy and well looked after, such as ensuring the best diet possible for the cows through working with crop and cow nutritionists.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. I am honoured to introduce the Burrows family, whose story shows a great love for dairy farming, and a deep sense of community.”

To read the Burrows family and Clover Crest Farm’s full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

The MacInnis Family-Dairy Farming on Prince Edward Island for Centuries

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 13:19:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Prince Edward Island, the MacInnis family, who have been farming on the Island for over 200 hundred years.

“The continued fertility of our land, which we have farmed on for over two centuries, speaks to our commitment to producing milk in an environmentally sustainable way,” said Ronnie MacInnis. “Dairy farming has changed since our ancestors first came here, but one thing that has stayed the same is our passion for our animals, the environment, and our community. I am excited for the future of dairy farming, and proud of our past.”

The fifth generation MacInnis Brothers Farm is owned by Ronnie and his wife Karen, and is run with the help of one of their four sons. Tragedy, war, and technology, coupled with determination and perseverance, has shaped the farm’s rich history. Today, they MacInnises milk 50 cows in picturesque St. Peter’s Bay.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the MacInnis family, whose story exemplifies what it means to be a dairy farmer-dedicated, hard-working, a great love for the environment and for animals, and a sense of pride in feeding Canadians.”

To read the MacInnis family and MacInnis Brothers Farm’s full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact

Ashlee Smith

613-240-3881

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Celebrating Newfoundland and Labrador’s dairy history

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:45:00 -0400

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future, which features, representing Newfoundland and Labrador, the Walsh family of Glenview Farms in Kilbride, NL.

“Our family has been proudly producing milk for our neighbours and fellow Newfoundlanders for more than 150 years because we have a passion for farming and for our community,” said Robert Walsh. “We are so happy to have had the opportunity to represent Newfoundland and Labrador in this project, and hope that all Canadians will enjoy not only our family’s history, but the history and evolution of dairy in our beautiful province.”

Robert, Denise and David Walsh own Glenview Farms, which has been passed down from generation to generation since John Walsh bought 30 acres of land between 1830 and 1850. Today, the farm is home to 450 cows, on 560 acres of land. Uniquely located in a developed neighbourhood, the Walsh family continually reaches out to their neighbours and views the proximity to members of their community as an opportunity to talk about food production and educate consumers about dairy farming.

“By feeding the country in a sustainable way, Canadian dairy farmers have withstood the test of time, from even before Confederation, to produce Canadian quality milk,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “I am honoured to introduce the Walsh family, whose story shows a great love for the environment and for animals, and a sense of pride in feeding Canadians.”

To read the Walsh family and Glenview Farms’ full story, please visit www.dairyfarmers.ca for a PDF version of the book.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada

-30-

Media Contact

Ashlee Smith

Ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Dairy Farmers of Canada have reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in support of underprivileged children

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 14:15:00 -0500

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is proud to announce that Pierre Lampron, representing all Canadian dairy farmers, reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds in support of the more than 20,000 underprivileged children and youth who benefit from Tim Horton Children’s Foundation (THCF).

Pierre, a dairy farmer and member of DFC’s Board of Directors, took on the THCF Kilimanjaro Summit Climb on behalf of DFC and reached the summit on February 24, along with 25 other Canadian climbers, who have together raised $595,000 for THCF.

"I was honoured to participate in the Kilimanjaro Summit Climb in support of the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation on behalf of all Canadian dairy farmers," said Pierre Lampron. "As dairy farmers, we are always looking to give back to our communities, and this was a great opportunity to do so. By completing this challenge, we are giving children and youth the opportunity to have a brighter future, and for that I could not be more proud."

Founded in 1974, the THCF has served over 250,000 children and youth from low-income families across North America, where one in six youth live in poverty. A Tim Horton Children’s Foundation camp experience is designed to provide underprivileged youth with the opportunity to build lasting strengths and life skills, which allow them to thrive at school, succeed in their future workplaces, and become positive, contributing members of their communities.

"We are proud to partner with the THCF, which gives Canadian youth an extraordinary experience that will stay with them all their life," said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. "On behalf of our organization, I want to thank Pierre for representing us and taking on this enormous challenge. I want to congratulate Pierre and the climbers for their achievement and commend all of them on their dedication to our youth."
Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa and one of the largest volcanoes in the world. The climbers started their adventure in the rainforests of Lemosho Glades on February 18 and climbed 2,800 meters on the first day. They trekked through five different eco-systems on their way to the 5895 meters high summit. Pierre is now back in Canada and he is looking forward to sharing stories of his adventure.

Visit www.thcfkiliclimb.com to learn more about the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation Kilimanjaro Summit Climb.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada
Founded in 1934, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national organization defending the interests of Canadian dairy farmers and striving to create favourable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry. Working within supply management, DFC promotes safe, high quality, sustainable, and nutritious Canadian dairy products made from 100% Canadian milk through various marketing, nutrition, policy, and lobbying initiatives. Driven by a strong sense of community and pride, DFC and Canadian dairy farmers actively support a number of local and national initiatives. Visit dairyfarmers.ca for more information.

Media Contact
Ashlee Smith
Dairy Farmers of Canada
613-240-3881
ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Dairy Farmers of Canada to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Support of Underprivileged Children

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 12:08:00 -0500

Farmers of Canada (DFC) has partnered with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation (THCF) to present the THCF Kilimanjaro Summit Climb, to raise funds in support of the more than 20,000 children and youth who benefit from THCF programs every year.

Pierre Lampron, member of DFC’s Board of Directors, will embark on the grueling task of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, beginning February 16, 2017. Pierre will be joined by twenty-five climbers from five provinces across Canada who are participating in the Summit Climb and to date, together they have raised more than $500,000.

‘’I am honoured to represent Canadian dairy farmers at the Kilimanjaro Summit Climb with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation,‘’ said Pierre Lampron. ‘’As a dairy farmer, tackling new challenges is something that goes with the job, and I am very pleased to take this on to help underprivileged Canadian youth. Dairy farmers are always looking for ways to help improve the quality of life for Canadians, and the work done by THCF gives Canada’s children and youth something vitally important-the opportunity to develop life skills so they can grow into accomplished adults.’’

“We are proud to partner with the THCF, which gives Canadian youth an extraordinary experience that will stay with them all their life,” said Wally Smith, DFC’s President. “On behalf of our organization, I want to thank Pierre for representing us and taking on this enormous challenge. I want to wish all the climbers the very best, and commend all of them on their dedication to our youth.”

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa and one of the largest volcanoes in the world. Starting in the rainforests of Lemosho Glades, climbers will trek through five different eco-systems on their way to the 5895 meters high summit.

Visit thcfkiliclimb.com to learn more about the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation Kilamanjaro Summit Climb, presented by The Dairy Farmers of Canada, and to support Pierre Lampron’s climb.

Media Contact
Ashlee Smith
Dairy Farmers of Canada
613-240-3881
ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Dairy Farmers of Canada partners with the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 13:39:00 -0500

To support and promote youth in sports as part of a healthy lifestyle, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is pleased to announce its sponsorship as a national partner and signature sponsor of the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

Through this sponsorship, DFC is the proud presenting sponsor of athletics, which includes track and field sports such as long jump, hurdles, shotput, short and long distance running, as well as many others.

“The health and well-being of Canadians is one of the reasons dairy farmers are so passionate about what they do, which is producing safe, nutritious, Canadian quality milk for consumers,” said Wally Smith, President of DFC. “We are so proud to partner with the Canada Games, which gives our youth an extraordinary experience that will stay with them all their life. As a dairy farmer, I look forward to seeing the athletes work and compete together, as teamwork is a value that all dairy farmers share with the Game’s participants.”

The Games will take place from July 28 to August 13, 2017 in Winnipeg, with approximately 4,000 athletes and coaches, and some 20,000 anticipated visitors. On average, 40% of Team Canada’s roster at the Olympics comprises of Canada Games alumni. DFC is also looking forward to working closely with Dairy Farmers of Manitoba during the Games to support the young competitors and highlight the benefits of Canadian quality milk.

“We are very excited to be part of the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg through DFC’s sponsorship, and I know that all of those who attend, whether as an athlete, coach, volunteer, or visitor, will have a wonderful time in Manitoba this summer,” said David Wiens, Chair of the Board of Dairy Farmers of Manitoba and member of DFC’s Board of Directors. “Dairy farmers all across the country are proud of the positive contributions we make to the Canadian economy, and to the overall emotional and physical health of Canadians. We believe in the power of dairy to give Canadians a healthy future, especially for our young athletes.”

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Dairy Farmers of Canada, a recognized brand that aligns well with our objectives of promoting health and sport in Canada,” said Tom Quinn, Chairman of the Canada Games Council. “Dairy Famers of Canada’s passion towards promoting the benefits of milk to youth and athletes and the Canada Games’ passion towards developing our next generation of national, International and Olympic champions certainly go hand-in-hand. We look forward to seeing this dynamic partnership grow as we continue the promotion of healthy living across Canada.”

The announcement of DFC’s sponsorship of the Games comes just after DFC’s annual Lobby Day, which saw hundreds of dairy farmers from across the country come to Ottawa to meet with Parliamentarians. Additionally, the Games’ mascot Niibin attended the Lobby Day reception to the delight of Members of Parliament, farmers and stakeholders who attended.

About the Canada Games
Held once every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games represent the highest level of national competition for up-and-coming Canadian athletes.

The Games have been hosted in every province at least once since their inception in Quebec City during Canada’s Centennial in 1967. The Games are proud of their contribution to Canada’s sport development system in addition to their lasting legacy of sport facilities, community pride and national unity.

The 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg are the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games and will be held from July 28th to August 13th, 2017. The 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer will be held from February 15th to March 3rd, 2019.

The organization of the Canada Games is made possible thanks to the contribution and support of the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities and the Canada Games Council.

Media Contact:
Ashlee Smith
Dairy Farmers of Canada
613-240-3881
ashlee.smith@dfc-plc.ca

Dairy Farmers of Canada is proud to present the book Dairy Farmers, Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future.

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 14:29:00 -0500

Download PDF

Innovative new virtual reality website goes live FarmFood360° now online

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 09:58:00 -0500

Canadians looking for the real story about their food can get it directly from the source online with virtual visits to farms and processing plants. Farm & Food Care is proud to present its latest national outreach initiative – FarmFood360°.

Using 360 cameras and virtual reality technology, the new FarmFood360° website gives Canadians the chance to tour real, working farms and food processing plants, all without putting on boots. It’s the latest version of the highly successful Virtual Farm Tours initiative, which was first launched in 2007.

“Canadians want to know more about their food, but they are also increasingly removed from its production,” says Ian McKillop, Chair of Farm & Food Care Canada. “Changing technology also means they are looking for and finding information in different ways.

“FarmFood360° keeps pace with both these factors; it uses modern technology to immerse them right in the process, and address their questions in the most compelling way possible.”

Farm & Food Care partnered with Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. and Dairy Farmers of Canada to add three new tours to the FarmFood360° website – a dairy farm with a Voluntary Milking System™, as well as two individual milk and cheese processing facilities. Visitors can access these tours on tablets and desktop computers, as well as through mobile phones and VR (Virtual Reality) viewers. Interviews with the farmers and plant employees involved in each business have also been added.

Both dairy processing facility tours were created in partnership with Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. Steve Dolson, Chair of Gay Lea Foods, says “Farm & Food Care has created an accessible and practical way for us to open the doors to two of our processing facilities – locations that are usually restricted to ensure food safety and quality.”

“Gay Lea Foods is pleased to provide this unique opportunity for Canadians to see how milk from family farms is transformed into the milk, cream and cheese they know and love.”

Michael Barrett, President and CEO of Gay Lea Foods, added “we are tremendously proud of our employees and happy to highlight the passion, care and dedication that goes into the wholesome products our company is known for.”

As an original partner in the first Virtual Farm Tours project, Dairy Farmers of Canada again worked with Farm & Food Care to film a dairy farm using Voluntary Milking System™ in Prince Edward Island. These tours compliment the two dairy farm tours already on the site – featuring farms that use both free stall and tie stall milking technologies.

“Using new technology to bring farm life to Canadians is both exciting and a critical part of food production,” says Wally Smith, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada. “This modern platform is a great way of doing just that. These immersive tours open barn doors to show the passion and care our farmers put into the food they produce.”

This national initiative is being launched with a newly rebranded and interactive website, www.FarmFood360.ca. The site features all 23 farms originally featured on the Virtual Farm Tour platform plus the three new virtual reality tours. Additional tours will be added later in 2017.

Farm & Food Care is a coalition of farmers, agriculture and food partners proactively working together to earn public trust and confidence in food and farming. Find out more at www.FarmFoodCare.org.

For more information:

Kelly Daynard, Communications Manager,
Farm & Food Care;
kelly@farmfoodcare.org;
519-837-1326, extension 224

Robin Redstone, Communications Manager,
Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited;
rredstone@gayleafoods.com;
(905) 399-0403

Ashlee Smith, Assistant Director,
Internal Communications, Dairy Farmers of Canada;
Ashlee.Smith@dfc-plc.ca;
613 236-9997 ext 2749

Female athletes get a $100K boost this holiday from Fuelling Women Champions

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:24:00 -0500

Canada’s dairy farmers announce recipients of inaugural Champions Fund initiative

What started as a call to female athletes nation-wide, seeking stories of perseverance to pursue their passion for sport, has today culminated with the unveiling of 20 recipients of the inaugural Champions Fund, a new $100,000 grant program introduced by Canada’s dairy farmers designed to support girls and women across the country in achieving sports excellence.

The Champions Fund, unveiled in May 2016, saw an impressive 2,537 applications from female athletes across Canada, who submitted stories detailing their love of sport and their need of financial assistance to achieve their goals—all within the context of addressing the inequalities Canadian female athletes face versus their male counterparts. Among the applications are tales of amazing athletes struggling to make their sports dreams reality, with many telling the Champions Fund of their dire need for the basics: equipment, tournament fees, and access to training facilities. Financial assistance from the Champions Fund will help all recipients start 2017 on better footing, allowing them to focus on staying in the game.

“We are delighted to announce the recipients of the inaugural Champions Fund, which empowers the female athletic community,” says Caroline Emond, Executive Director, Dairy Farmers of Canada. “We are extremely proud to be able to support Canada’s female athletes as they pursue excellence through their love of sport. On behalf of DFC, I want to extend my best wishes to our recipients and hope that this national grant serves as encouragement for even more women and girls to get involved in sports.”

The Champions Fund is being distributed as 20 grants of $5,000 to youth sports teams, individual athletes and grassroots women’s and girls’ sports organizers across Canada. The process saw a shortlist of applicants selected based on a scorecard and the merits of their applications. Then, the Champions Fund Committee, a board of 11 individuals comprised of dairy farmers and Fuelling Women Champions stakeholders, ambassadors and partners, selected the 20 final grant recipients this month.

The list of 20 recipients includes athletes from all corners of the country, across a range of sports. Among their stories:

Speed skating phenom Wren Acorn, who plans to use her grant to access more races outside of her hometown Yellowknife, NWT. The Champions Fund now means she can travel to Edmonton for competition by air, instead of the 20-hour drive she usually has to endure.

Fourteen-year-old competitive swimmer and 2020 Olympic hopeful Mahaylia Datars, of Caledon, ON, whose mother, a single parent, has had to work two jobs to pay for her training.

The Team Canada Deaf Women Volleyball team, who have qualified to compete for Canada at the 2017 Deaflympics in Turkey. Assistance from the Champions Fund now allows them to compete for their country without the financial stress of paying for training and travel to the games.

The full list of 2016 Champions Fund recipients below:

Name	Sport	Location
Wren Acorn	Speed Skating	Yellowknife, NWT
Brooklyn Childs	Hockey, Baseball	Corner Brook, NFLD and Labrador
Erin Cope	Skiing	Kamloops, BC
Mahaylia Datars	Swimming	Caledon, ON
Egale Action	Multi-sport	Montreal, QC
Nagad Elmi, EMBA	Basketball	Edmonton, AB
Mariya Frolova	Synchronized Swimming	Laval, QC
Kaila Gavel	Volleyball	Prince Albert, SK
Halifax Xplosion Women’s Tackle Football Team	Football	Halifax, NS
Emeliah Harvie	Road Cycling	Banff, AB
Kamloops Triathlon Club	Triathlon	Kamloops, BC
KVGSA	Softball	Kennebecasis Valley, NB
LAWS	Multi-sport	Windsor, ON
Erica Navarro	Soccer	Edmonton, AB
Newcomer Sport & Multi-Sport Academy	Multi-sport	Winnipeg, MB
Northern Nishnawbe Education Council	Basketball	Thunder Bay, ON
Caroline Ouellette	Hockey	Montreal, QC
Alysia Rissling	Bobsleigh	Calgary, AB
Team Canada Deaf Women Volleyball	Volleyball	Montreal, QC
Carly Zanatta	Rowing	Fort Erie, ON

“Every single one of these athletes and organizations is a shining example of girls and women who possess a love of sport that fuels a dedication to excellence,” says Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO,, Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS). “We congratulate them and all female athletes across the country who have stayed in the game, despite all the obstacles in their way.”

The need for this type of national grant program is crucial. According to a recent research publication entitled Women in Sport — Fuelling a Lifetime of Participation, which was commissioned by Canada’s dairy farmers, there is severe gender inequality for Canadian girls and women in sport. Among many negative implications, this ultimately results in a significant decline in female sport participation, especially as girls transition into adolescence. Among the research publication’s key findings: 41 per cent of girls between the ages of 3-17 years do not participate in sport — and this jumps to 84 per cent in adult women.

The Champions Fund, and the overarching initiative, Fuelling Women Champions, aims to inspire girls and women, regardless of age or ability, in local communities across Canada to realize the universal benefits of sport.

For more information, and to see the recipients’ profiles, visit www.womenchampions.ca/stories

Follow and join the movement online by using the hashtag #ChampionHer

About Fuelling Women Champions

Media requiring further information, please contact:

PM Rendon / Victoria Lord
DDB Public Relations
(416) 972-7784 / (416) 972-7725
paul-mark.rendon@can.ddbpr.com / victoria.lord@can.ddbpr.com