Heather Latter
After years of working towards building an abattoir to service area producers, the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir is set to open next month.
An opening ceremony has been scheduled for Jan. 28 to commemorate the new facility and its start of operations.
“It’s been a long time coming so it’s great to see it finally coming together,” said Steve Loshaw, president of Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Inc.
The most recent efforts to establish an abattoir in the district, by the current group of organizers, have been ongoing since early 2006.
And now the $2-million, 3,600 sq. ft. “kill and chill” plant, located at 26 Byng St. in Emo, is nearly ready to open.
It has the capacity for 20 animals a day and is anticipated to run two days a week, slaughtering a total of 40 animals.
Loshaw indicated, however, there’s still a lot that needs to be done within the next month before operations actually begin.
“It’s hectic trying to get everything finalized,” he admitted, noting there are last-minute details that need to be completed and the equipment installed.
In fact, the board of directors is hoping to get some assistance from its members to help with some of the smaller tasks. A work bee was held there this past Sunday.
And the board is expecting a good turnout for the opening ceremony.
“It’s a brand new facility and I think people will want to have a look,” Loshaw noted.
“I think people will be happy with it,” echoed general manager Marg Irvine. “It’s a beautiful facility and we only hope it can grow.”
Invitations for the opening ceremony have been extended to all levels of government, as well as the general public.
Tours of the facility will take place at noon, followed by a brief ceremony at 1 p.m. and then a light lunch.
Irvine, who has been working hard to get things ready at the abattoir, is quite excited for the opening.
“The most exciting day, though, will be our first kill day,” she remarked.
Having been a part of the farming community all her life, Irvine said she’s happy to be a part of the project.
“It’s a huge change for me but I am looking forward to the challenge,” she enthused.
The plant will be provincially-inspected and operate as a not-for-profit business. It will handle beef, pork, bison, elk, sheep, and goats.
Funding assistance for the project has come from FedNor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., and the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association.
There’s a current total of 112 members and about 900 animal commitments (which cost $100 per head to a ceiling of $2,000).
Producers who are members get a discount while those who have made animal commitments receive an additional discount, as well as priority booking.
“We’re hoping more non-members will come forward now and become members,” Irvine said.
Those interested still can become members for a $500 fee.
