The province’s claims were attached to an affidavit for Tony Ankermann, who was vice-chair of the co-operative, dated Feb. 18.

They include that the co-operative allegedly accepted ineligible feeder members, used guaranteed loan proceeds for improper purposes, provided more advances than allowed and obstructed provincial inspections, among other violations.

Formed in 1991, the Picture Butte Feeder Cooperative is part of the province’s Feeders Association Loan Guarantee (FALG) program, which helps livestock producers get easier access to loans. The FALG program has been in place in Alberta since the 1930s and is intended to provide “relatively easy access to low interest, leveraged financing backed by a government guarantee,” according to the province.

In response to the order, the co-operative sought court approval to appoint a restructuring officer, Alvarez & Marsal, to oversee its operations and work toward lifting the loan suspension.

A number of board members resigned after the order was issued, while the remainder were set to resign upon the appointment of a restructuring officer, according to documents on Alvarez & Marsal’s website.

Alvarez and Marsal consultants are now acting as if they were the PBFC board and staff while they handle business affairs, according to a statement from Alberta Agriculture.

According to information posted on Alvarez & Marshal’s website, PBFC owes a little more than $281 million to its lenders under the credit agreement, which it says is approximately the same amount the PBFC lent to its members.

As of Aug. 31, 2024, the PBFC had a total of 227 active and inactive members, according to Ankermann’s affidavit.

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“This program is a wonderful way to honour John Ware’s remarkable contributions to our province while at the same time connecting newcomer youth with the skills and support they need to lead successful, fulfilling lives here in Alberta. I am delighted to see it move ahead and I thank the Global Village Centre for partnering with us on it,” said Alberta Premier, Jason Kenney.

The pilot program, designed by the Global Village Centre in Brooks, honours the legacy of John Ware – a black rancher who settled in Brooks and was one of the first ranchers in Alberta – by helping youth in rural Alberta develop life and career skills.

John Ware was born into slavery in the United States in the 1800s. After gaining his freedom, he moved north, eventually setting in the area around Brooks. His strength and perseverance in overcoming the challenges he faced is an inspiration to all Albertans.

• Read more: Filmmaker reclaims a piece of Alberta’s ranching history with John Ware film

“This funding has come at a time when the need for support of this kind for young adults is greater than ever – adding to the fact that there have been few resources available to youth during the pandemic. We couldn’t be more grateful for this funding,” said Ahmed Kassem, executive director, Global Village Centre.

Newcomer and visible minority youth in Alberta often face challenges in pursuing life and career goals due to a lack of connections and resources. The John Ware Youth Empowerment pilot program will help address this gap in supports by offering mentorship and scholarships to 60 young people in Brooks. The Global Village Centre is also developing a ‘Train the Trainer’ tool kit so the program can be expanded to other rural communities across Alberta.

“Brooks is home to people from many backgrounds and walks of life, and finding new ways to support newcomers and visible minorities is key to helping the whole community thrive. I’m proud that the John Ware Youth Empowerment Program is being piloted here and helping young people in this city build fulfilling futures,” said Michaela Frey, MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat.

Brooks has the fifth highest percentage of visible minorities in Alberta, making the community an excellent place to launch a pilot project to support visible minority and newcomer youth.

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“Veterinarians and veterinary technologists are critical to the health of Alberta’s animals, the sustainability of Alberta’s communities and to the Alberta economy growing forward. Labour shortages are real, growing and pose a risk to lives and livelihoods. This investment will help address labour gaps and ensure a new generation can pursue quality veterinary education and veterinary careers in Alberta, especially in rural Alberta. Today is a positive step forward for our profession, for all animal owners and for Alberta,” said Dr. Pat Burrage, President, ABVMA.

In April of 2021, the ABVMA published a Veterinary Professional Workforce Study, which highlighted vacancy rates for veterinary professional positions, including veterinarians at 16.7 per cent and veterinary technologists at 18.8% being exponentially higher than the provincial average of 2.6 per cent. Demand for veterinary services is expected to outpace population growth with the current education and training system unable to meet growing demand.

“Innovative veterinary education is integral to building the next generation of economic prowess and community health in Alberta. The Alberta government investment at UCVM is a legacy investment. $59 million in infrastructure money in addition to significant enrolment investment will expand our world class veterinary program allowing more Alberta students to graduate and work in Alberta while also increasing access to international veterinarians.  UCVM is ready and excited at this opportunity to grow and educate a new generation of veterinarians and provide Alberta communities with the support they need,” said Dr. Renate Weller, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary.

Budget 2022 through the Alberta at Work initiative provides direct investment of $59 million over three years to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary (UCVM) for infrastructure expansion. The initiative further provides targeted and needed enrolment expansion for veterinarians and veterinary technologists at UCVM and technical colleges in Alberta. Further investments for targeted immigration attraction streams to rural Alberta will also position Alberta as a place welcoming the best veterinary talent.

Budget 2022 provides a bold and decisive investment in veterinary medicine that will bolster the health and welfare of animals, growth in rural communities and the health of Albertans. Graduates of veterinary medical programs will be in demand for decades. These investments will expand the opportunity for Alberta students to be trained in Alberta and build long-standing careers in the Alberta communities they know best.

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