Abattoir moving forward

Members of the Rainy River District Abattoir Board are excited to move ahead with their not-for-profit, community-owned abattoir.
With funding of up to $500,000 just announced from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp, plans now can go ahead.
After submitting an application for funding, the RRDAB waited a few months before receiving the good news that it had been approved.
“It’s the type of project where we have been trying to get support and keep support,” explained board president Steve Loshaw, adding the board has made every effort to keep an open line of communication with the public.
Now, after a lengthy process of public consultation and financial arrangements, Loshaw said construction on the 3,900 sq. ft. facility is expected to begin “as soon as possible” thanks to the provincial funding boost.
And with a site in Emo confirmed, Loshaw is grateful for the ongoing support the board has received from its membership and the community in general.
“We’re quite excited,” he enthused.
A local abattoir will reduce transportation costs since Rainy River District’s livestock producers currently must ship live animals to be slaughtered in either Dryden or Thunder Bay.
An added bonus will be an improvement to the district’s ability to provide more locally-produced food.