Manitoba Business: Canadian Wheat Board / CWB / G3 Canada Limited
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Chief Commissioners | Assistant Chief Commissioners | Commissioners | Secretaries | Sources
Created by the Canadian government in 1935, the Canadian Wheat Board was a grain-marketing entity for western Canadian farmers. It commenced operation on 14 August 1935 with three commissioners (Farland, Smith, and Grant) and a seven-person advisory board consisting of Paul F. Bredt, L. C. Brouillette, Brooks Catton, Lew Hutchinson, Robert McKee, C. H. G. Short, and Sidney T. Smith. On 3 December 1935, all commissioners were replaced and the advisory board was disbanded. A new administrative group was put in place and it oversaw the operations of the Wheat Board through the 20th and early 21st centuries.
The Canadian Wheat Board lost its monopoly on grain marketing in August 2012, becoming a voluntary marketing organization. In 2012, with a name shortened to CWB, it began to convert into a commercial grain company that constructed high-capacity grain terminals at sites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In July 2015, after a majority investment by the G3 Global Grain Group, a joint venture between the Canadian subsidiary of an American firm and a Saudi Arabian agricultural investment company, CWB was rebranded as G3 Canada Limited.
Chief Commissioners (Canadian Wheat Board)
Assistant Chief Commissioners (Canadian Wheat Board)
Commissioners (Canadian Wheat Board)
Commissioner |
Period |
F. L. M. Arnold (?-1948) |
1947-1948 |
Ken Beswick |
1992-1996 |
John Thompson Dallas (1909-1976) |
1958-1960 |
R. M. Esdale |
1969-1975 |
W. Charles Folliott (?-1943) |
1938-1943 |
Charles W. Gibbings |
1969-1982 |
Dr. H. C. Grant |
1935 |
Thomas William Grindley (1901-1969) |
1948-1950 |
Forrest M. Hetland |
1975-1990 |
C. E. Huntting |
1944-1945 |
Daniel Augustus Kane (1886-1961) |
1943-1944 |
Richard H. Klassen |
1988-? |
Ragnar Lawrence “Larry” Kristjanson (1930-2018) |
1965-1975 |
John B. Lawrie |
1961-1965 |
J. L. Leibfried |
1975-1985 |
Gordon P. Machej |
1990-? |
William Craig “Bill Mac” McNamara (1904-1984) |
1945-1947 |
William Riddel |
1950-1958 |
Walter Earle Robertson (1898-1989) |
1953-1964 |
Dean A. M. Shaw |
1935-1938 |
William Henry “Bill” Smith (1937-1992) |
1983-1992 |
D. H. Treleaven |
1965-1969 |
Garson Nathaniel “Gerry” Vogel (1918-1981) |
1964-1965 |
Advisory Committee (Canadian Wheat Board): 1940 to 1998
Committee Member |
Address |
Period |
V. Althouse |
Kelvington, SK |
1974-1979 |
Roy R. Atkinson |
Landis, SK |
1965-1994 |
R. C. Brown |
Pilot Mound |
1942-1955 |
John Edward Brownlee (1883-1961) |
Winnipeg |
1955-1960 |
D. A. Campbell |
Montreal, PQ |
1940-1948 |
John Clair |
Radisson, SK |
1991-1998 |
Fred H. Clendenning |
Vancouver, BC |
1940-1955 |
Dan Cutforth |
Barons, AB |
1987-1998 |
H. A. Dechant |
Fairview, AB |
1979-1987 |
Derek Dewar |
Hazlet, SK |
1991-1998 |
Robert Russell “Russ” Emerson (1894-1987) |
Winnipeg |
1952-1955 |
Lee Erickson |
Donalda, AB |
1991-1994 |
Paul Farnalls |
Halkirk, AB |
1940-1955 |
Ken D. Galloway |
Fort Saskatchewan, AB |
1979-1991 |
C. W. Gibbings |
Regina, SK |
1960-1968 |
J. Harvey Gjesdal |
Birch Hills, SK |
1987-1991 |
A. P. Gleave |
Biggar, SK |
1957-1966 |
Michael G. W. Halyk |
Melville, SK |
1979-1998 |
C. P. Hansen |
Saskatoon, SK |
1955-1957 |
Terry L. Hanson |
Fillmore, SK |
1987-1998 |
Wilfred A. “Butch” Harder |
Lowe Farm |
1987-1998 |
G. L. Harrold |
Lamont, AB |
1957-1979 |
Mrs. E. C. Hartle |
Leroy, SK |
1971-1974 |
Charles Edward “Charlie” Hayles (c1885-1952) |
Winnipeg |
1947-1952 |
C. A. Hookenson |
Kisbey, SK |
1979-1987 |
Lew Hutchinson (?-1955) |
Duhamel, AB |
1940-1955 |
W. Dobson Lea |
Jarvie, AB |
1971-1979 |
Arthur W. Macklin |
Grande Prairie, AB |
1987-1998 |
Larry N. Maguire |
Elgin |
1987-1994 |
R. C. Marler |
Edmonton, AB |
1955-1957 |
J. A. McCowan |
Summerberry, SK |
1940-1955 |
Brad McDonald |
Strathclair |
1983-1987 |
Donald Gordon McKenzie (1887-1963) |
Winnipeg |
1940-1942 |
Ivan McMillan |
Craik, SK |
1971-1974 |
Rosario Messier |
Ottawa, ON |
1940-1943 |
D. Mitchell |
Douglas |
1974-1983 |
S. G. Mitchell |
Dawson Creek, BC |
1971-1974 |
E. Murphy |
Estevan, SK |
1974-1979 |
William Nicholson |
? |
1994-1998 |
J. C. A. Nijdam (?-1959) |
Winnipeg |
1948-1952 |
Lorne Edmund Parker (1927-1990) |
Ste. Agathe |
1971-1987 |
William James Parker (1896-1971) |
Winnipeg |
1955-1970 |
Lorne Pattison |
Marshall, SK |
1991-1998 |
Fred Pettypiece |
Auld, ON |
1940-1955 |
Gary Pike |
Lloydminster, SK |
1987-1991 |
A. W. Platt |
Edmonton, AB |
1957-1960 |
Ben Plumer |
Calgary, AB |
1955-1957 |
Robert Ponto |
? |
1994-1998 |
Kenneth A. “Ken” Powell (1898-1982) |
Winnipeg |
1952-1955 |
O. Reber |
Burdett, AB |
1974-1983 |
Rupert Cambourne Reece (1894-1951) |
Winnipeg |
1940-1946 |
Archibald Cumberland Reid (1889-1974) |
Winnipeg |
1940-1947 |
William Rosher |
? |
1994-1998 |
J. Theo Roy |
Montreal, PQ |
1943-1955 |
Alexander McInnes “Mac” Runciman (1914-2000) |
Winnipeg |
1960-1974 |
Avery K. Sahl |
Mossbank, SK |
1974-1991 |
Charles Gordon Smith (1902-1990) |
Winnipeg |
1946-1948 |
Harold Bertram Sneath (1914-1995) |
Winnipeg |
1970-1974 |
J. I. Stevens |
Morinville, AB |
1960-1972 |
Ted Strain |
North Battleford, SK |
1974-1987 |
C. F. Thurston |
Bow Island, AB |
1983-1987 |
E. K. Turner |
Regina, SK |
1968-1983 |
D. I. Walker |
Toronto, ON |
1948-1954 |
J. H. Wesson |
Regina, SK |
1940-1960 |
H. Yelland |
Purcupine Plain, SK |
1983-1987 |
Secretaries (Canadian Wheat Board)
Period |
Secretary |
1935-1937 |
Thomas William Grindley (1901-1969) |
1937-1950 |
Clive B. Davidson (1902-1974) |
1950-? |
? |
?-1965 |
Charles Edward Gordon Earl (1913-1995) |
1965-? |
Stanley Angus Hornby (1921-1986) |
?-1970 |
? |
1970-? |
John E. McLaughlin |
?-1985 |
? |
1985-1986 |
John William White “Bill” Snell (1922-2010) |
1986-1995 |
Lucille C. Evans |
1995-1998 |
Margaret D. Redmond |
Treasurers (Canadian Wheat Board)
Period |
Treasurer |
1966-1975 |
Peebles Kelly |
c1985-c1990 |
David Olfert |
Executive Directors (Canadian Wheat Board)
Executive Director |
Type |
Period |
H. F. Bjarnason |
? |
c1985-? |
Charles Edward Gordon Earl (1913-1995) |
? |
1965-1975 |
Robert A. Hamilton |
? |
c1990-? |
Gordon P. Machej |
? |
c1985-c1990 |
Adrian Measner |
Marketing |
c1992-2002 |
Brian T. Oleson |
Planning and Communication |
c1986-? |
David Olfert |
Finance and Treasury |
c1990-1995 |
Donald E. Vernon |
? |
1995-? |
Pat A. Wallace |
Human Resources |
1994- |
Presidents & Chief Executive Officers (Canadian Wheat Board / CWB / G3 Canada)
Period |
President & CEO |
1998-2002 |
Gregory S. “Greg” Arason |
2003-2006 |
Adrian Measner |
2006-2008 |
Gregory S. “Greg” Arason |
2008-2015 |
Ian White |
2015-2018 |
Karl Gerrand |
2018-? |
Don Chapman |
Board Chairs (Canadian Wheat Board)
Directors (Canadian Wheat Board / CWB): 1998 to 2013
Director |
Address |
Period |
Dwayne Anderson |
|
2002-2006 |
Gregory S. “Greg” Arason |
|
1998-? |
David Carefoot |
|
2007-2013 |
James Chatenay |
Red Deer, AB |
1998-2008 |
William Cheuk |
|
2005-2007 |
John M. Clair |
Radisson, SK |
1998-2002 |
William Cooper |
Foam Lake, SK |
1998-? |
Bonnie DuPont |
|
2000-2006 |
Glen Findlay |
|
2005-2013 |
Rod Flaman |
|
2000-2011 |
Cam Goff |
|
2009-2011 |
Michael Halyk |
|
1998-2002 |
Terry Hanson |
Fillmore, SK |
1998-1999 |
Wilfred A. “Butch” Harder |
Lowe Farm, MB |
1998-2003 |
Betty-Ann Heggie |
|
1998-2001 |
Larry Hill |
Swift Current, SK |
1998-2010 |
David A. Hilton |
|
1998-2001 |
Bruce Johnson |
|
2005-2012 |
Ross L. Keith |
Regina, SK |
1998-2006 |
Kyle Korneychuk |
|
2006-2011 |
Arthur Macklin |
Grande Prairie, AB |
1998-2006 |
Ian McCreary |
Bladworth, SK |
1998-2008 |
Ken Motiuk |
|
2005-2013 |
William "Bill" Nicholson |
Shoal Lake, MB |
1998-2008 |
Jeff Nielsen |
|
2009-2011 |
Allen Oberg |
|
2002-2010 |
V. Lynne Pearson |
|
2002-2006 |
Kenneth Rapheal “Ken” Ritter (1947-2011) |
Kindersley, SK |
1998-2009 |
John Sandborn |
|
2010-2011 |
James Stanford |
|
1998-1999 |
Bill Toews |
|
2004-2011 |
Henry Vos |
|
2006-2011 |
Stewart Wells |
|
2010-2011 |
Bill Woods |
|
2009-2011 |
Edward Zinger |
|
2002-2005 |
Executives
1998-1999 VPs: Ward Weisensel, Larry Nentwig, Brian White, Bob Harris, Bill Spafford, Jim McDonald, Tami Reynolds, Keith McMahon, Robert Roehle
2002-2003 VPs: Ward Weisensel (Marketing, as of 2003), Laurel Repski (HR), Earl Geddes (Farmer Relations), Gord Menzie (Finance), Margaret Redmond (Corporate Affairs), Deanna Allen (Comm & PR), Susan Wiklund (Country Operations), Graham Paul (Inf Tech Serv), Deborah Harri (Corporate Secretary), Brian White (Commodity Analysis & Risk Mgmt), Victor Jarjour (Strategic Planning & Policy), Brita Chell (Accounting), Jim McLandress (General Counsel), Larry Nentwig (Finance), Barry Horan (Director, Corporate Audit Services), Wendi Thiessen (Treasurer), Bill Spafford (Sales and Market Development), Dennis Portman (Transportation)
2003-2004: Ward Weisensel (COO), Gordon Menzie (CFO), Margaret Redmond (Corporate Services), Laurel Repski (VP, HR), Deanna Allen (VP, Corp Comm), Graham Paul (VP, Info Officer), Deborah Harri (Corp Sec), Victor Jarjour (VP, Strategic Planning & Corporate Policy), Brita Chell (Corporate Controller), Jim McLandress (General Counsel), Wendi Thiessen (Treasurer), William Spafford (VP Marketing), Earl Geddes (VP Farmer Relations & Operations), Gord Flaten (Director, Product Development & Marketing Support)
2005-2006: Ward Weisensel (COO), Brita Chell (CFO), Deanna Allen (VP, Farmer Relations & Public Affairs), Laurel Repski (VP, HR), Graham Paul (Chief Info Officer), Margaret Redmond (Chief Strategic Officer & Head of Corporate Services, left 2006)
2009-2010: Dave Burrows (VP, Comm & Govt Relations), Brita Chell (CFO), Deborah Harri (Corp Sec), Graham Paul (Chief Info Officer & VP Strategic Planning), Jim McLandress (General Counsel), Ward Weisensel (COO), Diane Wiesenthal (VP, People and Organizational Services), Earl Geddes (VP, Farmer Services, to Sep 2009)
2010-2011: Dave Burrows (VP, Farmer Relations & Public Affairs), Brita Chell (CFO), Graham Paul (CIO), Jim McLandress (General Counsel), Ward Weisensel (COO), Diane Wiesenthal (VP, People and Organizational Services), Deborah Harri (Corp Sec, retired Jul 2011)
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canadian Wheat Board Building (423 Main Street, Winnipeg)
Sources:
Canadian Wheat Board, Annual Reports, 1935-2010. [Elizabeth Dafoe Library, University of Manitoba]
Obituary [Thomas William Grindley], Winnipeg Free Press, 19 June 1969, page 33.
“Farmers pick CWB monopoly,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 December 1998, page 24.
“Vocal wheat board opponent elected chairman,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 June 1999, page 3.
Obituary [Charles Edward Gordon Earl], Winnipeg Free Press, 25 July 1999, page 21.
Obituary [John William White Snell], Winnipeg Free Press, 16 December 2010.
Obituary [Kenneth Rapheal Ritter], Kindersley Community Funeral Home & Crematorium.
“G3 Global Grain Group completes investment in CWB,” CWB News Release, 31 July 2015.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 22 April 2022
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