District abattoir officially opens

By Peggy Revell
Staff writer

There were plenty of cheers, applause and a long list of “thank-yous” as over 200 residents from across the district gathered on January 28 for the long-awaited opening ceremony of the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir.
Many took a tour of $2-million, 3,600 sq. ft. facility, located at 26 Byng St. in Emo.
“It has been a long haul,” stated George Emes, chair of the RRFDC, as he congratulated all involved with the abattoir—which district farmers have been fighting for in some form for over a decade. “We’ve been involved with this since the first abattoir meeting back in 1997 and the opening of this facility represents a real positive move towards the development of the economy in the Rainy River District.”
“I would really encourage every producer of livestock in the Rainy River District to support this facility to ensure that it does have a future.”
While not operating just yet as some equipment still has to arrive and be set up, the abattoir will have the capacity for 20 animals a day and is anticipated to run two days a week, slaughtering a total of 40 animals.
“It’s been four years this April since we came together and started this project, and it’s only because of a strong board of directors that we were able to continue and see today,” stated Steve Loshaw, president of the Rainy River District Abattoir, Inc., to the crowd which packed the new facilities. “Not only the board of directors but the 90 or so members that we started with initially in 2006, which has grown to 113 today.”
“It’s the members who put their trust and support in us. We went through a lot of trial and tribulation in getting here—and it’s the members who stood there and gave us the support to go ahead. So I want to acknowledge the membership for giving us that support.”
Provincial funding for the Abattoir included $1 million from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, as well as $365,000 through the provinces Abattoir expansion program.
Half a million dollars also came from Industry Canada through FedNor.
Representatives from all levels of government were on hand to speak during the opening ceremony.
“I’d really like to commend everyone here today involved with the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir, for your diligence in really making this facility a reality,” stated Tammy Law, on behalf of Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and NOHFC chair, Michael Gravelle.
Highlighting the province’s investment of $1 million for the abattoir, as well as more than $191,000 for Emo to upgrade municipal services to the industrial park, Law said this investment is “supporting the growth of local agricultural infrastructure that will create new value added opportunities in mean processing.”
Bringing remarks from Tony Clement, Minister of Industry Canada and for FedNor, was Kathryn Duchnicky.
“On behalf of the government of Canada and everyone at FedNor, I would like to say congratulations to the members of the Rainy River District Abattoir on their grand opening of this facility,” said Duchnicky, reading Clement’s statement.
“Through our contribution through the Northern Ontario Development program of $500,000 the government of Canada is helping to increase market options and decrease process handling costs for cattle producers in the Rainy River District,” she continued, highlighting the funding’s alignment with the federal government’s Economic Action Plan, and how the abattoir will contribute to “long term health and viability” of the district’s agricultural community, employment and the strengthening of Northern Ontario’s economy.
As a provincially-inspected site, the abattoir will operate as a not-for-profit business and be able to handle beef, pork, bison, elk, sheep, and goats.