Manitoba Business: Canadian Wheat Board / CWB / G3 Canada Limited

Link to:
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)

Period	Chief Commissioner
1935	John I. Farland
1935-1937	James Richard Murray (1885-1963)
1937-1958	George Harold McIvor (1894-1991)
1958-1969	William Craig “Bill Mac” McNamara (1904-1984)
1969-1977	Garson Nathaniel “Gerry” Vogel (1918-1981)
1977-1990	William Esmond Jarvis (1931-2004)
1990-1998	Lorne Frederick John Hehn (1936-2015)

Assistant Chief Commissioners (Canadian Wheat Board)

Period	Assistant Chief Commissioner
1935	D. L. Smith
1935-1937	George Harold McIvor (1894-1991)
1937-1939	R. C. Findlay
1939-1944	Charles Gordon Smith (1902-1990)
1944-1945	Daniel Augustus Kane (1886-1961)
1945-1947	C. E. Huntting
1947-1958	William Craig “Bill Mac” McNamara (1904-1984)
1958-1965	William Riddel
1965-1969	John B. Lawrie
1969	Garson Nathaniel “Gerry” Vogel (1918-1981)
1969-1975	D. H. Treleaven
1975-1990	Ragnar Lawrence “Larry” Kristjanson (1930-2018)
1990-1998	Forrest M. Hetland

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)

Period	Board Chair
1998-1999	?
1999-2009	Kenneth Rapheal “Ken” Ritter (1947-2011)
2010-2011	Allen Oberg
2013	Bruce Johnson

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