On this Sunny hot summer’s Monday, with a large attendance both at The Grey Eagle and 27 on zoom, President Linda called the meeting to order at 12 noon. She recognized our guests which included our outbound student exchange Charvi Shah and our new inbound short-term exchange student, Ludovika from Italy In the gallery of visitors we had Charvi’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Shah, Courtney Wilson with the Rotary Employment partnership, and Bonta Galata representing MLA Leela Ahir, who was unable to be with us today. There were also nine guests present at the grey Eagle who were not all introduced by name.

On behalf of Club Foundation Chair Garfield Ganong, President Linda read his message about the Rotary Foundation and its importance in shaping world programs that have made such a great impact. She then called upon Bill Quinney to introduce our guest speaker Art Froehlich.

Bill Quinney highlighted that Art received our club’s citizenship award in 2021 and is heavily engaged with his family, for many years, in Agri- business; he hails from Saskatchewan, has been a strong advocate for engagement by government and business in the agricultural arena.

Guest Speaker: Art Froehlich

Guest Speaker Art Froehlich talks about Agriculture and the food business in Canada. “where there is no food, people go to war…”

Highlights of his presentation included.

Agriculture and food preparation and distribution in Canada is of key importance in providing all Canadians with Food Safety, security, sovereignty and sustainability. He prefaced this comment by talking about the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and how it has had a devastating impact on the availability of grain and food products for millions of people around the world
2% of the population in Canada is engaged in agricultural food production. The government does not, in his opinion, see the value and importance of this very important occupation and they do not consult with agricultural sector food producers in determining policy. This can be quite devastating and needs to be addressed.
He encourages all Canadians to write into the government to ask them to engage, more fully this sector in their planning of this very important sector before we lose the quality, safety, security and sovereignty of our own food production, as is the case in other countries.
Canada enjoys the privilege of sustained food safety, security and sovereignty currently. We have the production; we have the quality, and we have a sustained supply, and all this is on land we own and is controlled by Canadians.
Canada has the second lowest per capita food cost of any nation on this planet (After USA)
In Canada, flour and wheat are becoming more expensive and are diminishing in supply
He talked about the invasion of arable lands in Africa by other nations and fears that the long-term impact of this on Africa may be quite irreversibly damaging. He mentioned that China is stockpiling land in Africa, and grain and oil currently, and this is a trend that one should be concerned about.
The government’s environmental and climate change agenda is adversely affecting food preparation and sustainable supply due to interference in fertilization and such practices both by government and by urban pressure groups. Our government needs to consult with Agricultural food processors when making policies that affect food production.
The urban/rural divide is becoming more prevalent as urbanization sprawls into rural agricultural areas and interferes in their practices. This is a worldwide phenomenon that continues to disrupt agri-business and if unchecked, will have an adverse impact on sustainable food supply.
We need to engage greater technology, and food engineering endeavors to increase food production yields
We need to ensure we have greater infrastructure such as rail and road and sea outlets that can carry our production easily and affordably and on time to the markets
Where there is a shortage of food, people go to war. In order to avert a crisis, we need to be aware and to encourage government dialogue in ensuring our food preparation and agribusiness is helped to provide food safety, security, sovereignty and sustainability.

QUESTION TIME

Can we adopt hothouse methods of grain production like we do with vegetables?
Do we have any water supply issues for agriculture in Canada currently?
What is his position on “organic” growing versus the traditional methods?

Clarence Buckley thanked Art on behalf of the Club. A gift was made to ShelterBox in Art’s name.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Darren Grierson introduced Alex, a gentleman from Ukraine who with his family have received assistance through our Club. Alex delivered some sweets (candy) for the members of this club and expressed his gratitude at the most hospitable way they have been received in Canada. Darren mentioned that Rotary has taken a position of support in assisting the new Ukrainian arrivals.
Bill Lawless still needs a few more helpers for the Casino this month-end. This is the last of our commitment for the Mattamy Rotary Greenway which we committed to support, several years ago. Our casino work helped contribute our $250,000.00 towards this magnificent project. Please join in and be part of this great project through your voluntary efforts.” A few hours go a long way…”
Ron Stoughton, a member of this club who retired and went to live with his family in Ontario, passed away this week at the age of 98. Robyn Braley remembered a story Ron told him about his and his wife Ruth’s engagement in the second world war in France.
Do you have a project that needs funding? Linda encourages you to bring your projects both local and international to our club’s committees for support. This is what Rotary is all about.
(Editorial comment) Attendance at Club meetings is the life blood of successful Rotary meetings. Please attend either in person or on zoom but attend! And when you are on zoom, it would be so nice if we could see you, with your video on! President Linda is strongly urging that all members at least make a point of attending, in person, the last Monday of each month. If can attend all meetings in person, that would great!
The program committee wishes to thank all members for continuing to engage good speakers that wish to talk at our club. All you need to do is let Gerry Meek or Bill Quinney have the name of your contact, and let them determine whether the potential speaker, the topic and the presentation will provide an engaging, informative, entertaining and productive program for us all. We need your engagement but not all speakers may get the opportunity to present.
Thankers and introducers. If you wish to do either of the honours, please let MaryJayne Assaly know of your interest. She needs you help.
“My story” is an opportunity to tell us about you in five minutes or less. For those members that have not shared their story, please reach out to Sa’adat Keshavjee before he reaches out to you. We have openings every week commencing September and will need to hear each member’s story.

NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAM on the Kule refugee program has been organized by Vivian. Please free to invite others to this very interesting program.

President Linda’s Closing Quote: “If at first you do not succeed, then sky-diving is not for you”

The meeting adjourned at 1 p.m.