I was shocked and saddened to learn that Reg Schellenberg died suddenly in December. He seemed to me like a man who had plenty of time ahead of him. While talking about Reg with a colleague, we wondered whether people fully appreciate how much people like him give to the industry through the boards they’ve […] Read more
Comment: Remembering Reg Schellenberg
Comment: Memories
Perhaps this is because I’m a writer, but sometimes I like to think about the stories we tell ourselves. The stories we tell about our own lives, our families or even big, public events often hinge on our memories (which are subjective). Even our interpretation of other people’s stories may be coloured by our own […] Read more
Comment: CFIA needs to recognize research on long hauls
I am not sure how the folks at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) looked at the recent research on rest stops for long-haul trips and concluded it supported the changes to transportation regulations, but they’ve done it. “The study summary on the BCRC’s website supports the current maximum allowed interval without feed, water and […] Read more
No trespass: The public good
This is the final story in a five-part series. Read the first, second, third and fourth stories here. There is not enough time in the day to talk about all the things Tyler Mann loves about hunting. It’s not just about taking home game. It’s about being outside, seeing the sunrise, deciphering waterfowl behaviour and even convincing the […] Read more
Comment: A lighted place
The way that democracy, consensus and justice works is very hard-come-by. And all through the history of our country, we have lunged and lurched, sprinted and sauntered through a forest of ignorance, hatred and bigotry and yet hacked out for ourselves a path towards a clearing, a lighted place, which — make no mistake — […] Read more
No trespass: Rebuilding treaty relationships
This is the fourth story in a five-part series. Read the first, second and third stories here. [Updated Oct. 18, 2022] There is a forest meadow on my family’s lease land that changes constantly through the growing season. It’s one of my favourite places. After the spring rains, lush green grass soon overtakes last year’s […] Read more
No trespass: Cutting wire
This is the third story in a multi-part series. Read the first and second stories here. One of the most infuriating groups of trespassers are the people who travel with wire cutters. It’s something Judy Wilkinson and I chat about before our on-the-record interview. Part of me is always astounded by the nerve of it, […] Read more
No trespass: High stakes
This is the second in a multi-part series. Read the first story here. It started out much like any other winter day, as Phil hauled in wood to heat his home. But then he heard the rumble of snowmobiles. He could tell they were on his land, even though it was posted with “No-Trespassing” signs. […] Read more
Comment: Respect
You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: Don’t feed the trolls. Or, more specifically to our industry: Don’t bother arguing with animal rights activists online. I thought of this while checking out the Facebook comments on one of our features (Auction marts grapple with a shrinking herd and changing industry). Somehow the animal […] Read more
No trespass: Snarls of barbed wire
If you’ve ever been to court day in small-town Saskatchewan, you quickly learn it bears little resemblance to Law and Order. I found this out for myself several years ago when I was called to testify. Court day was held at the Legion Hall in St. Walburg, a town of around 700 people in northwestern […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
