The challenge of integrating historical research with archival images is in letting the pictures tell the story and in keeping the text brief, to the point and (hopefully) interesting. While a daunting task, placing a site such as this on the internet has given the public access to a vast and invaluable collection of documents and images. Every attempt has been made to use as much of the collection as possible, both textual and visual, in this telling of the Pool's history.
This site's main purpose is to display the archival collection and, as such, some historical events are, unfortunately, not included in the gallery because few or no images were available to complement their historical telling. For example, a page was not given to the loss of the Crow Benefit because very few images were found that could support the historical text. The chronology of events located at the end of the site is meant to supplement the gallery by filling in these kinds of gaps, but it is by no means comprehensive and the researcher assumes full responsibility for its many oversights.
The people involved in the organization, evolution and survival of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool are many and varied. In hindsight, it would have been better to have mentioned none than to have made such an incomplete and sporadic attempt at mentioning a few. Apologies to those who were ignored on this site; a complete list of Pool leaders is one that should include the names of each member, through the years, whose hard work and dedication helped build the organization.
It is hoped that the combination of history and pictures presented on this site have given fair weight to both sides of the issues that have faced grain growers in western Canada since its settlement. Many issues remain to challenge the producer, and the Pool in particular. In 1994, the board and management of the Pool took a controversial proposal to its delegate body and membership. The proposal was to transform the Pool from a solely member-owned co-operative into a co-operative offering two types of ownership: voting farmer-shares and public non-voting shares. Passed by 80% of Pool delegates in July of 1994, the change has created divisions amongst Pool membership.
“I didn’t leave the Pool. The Pool left me.”
— Opinions, The Western Producer, 30 January 2003.
There are many reasons for the restructuring of the Pool: deregulation of rail and grain industries through loss of the Crow and rail-line abandonment are just a few. The fact that, in 1995, 46% of Pool membership was imminently expected to retire and cash out on investments was a large contributor. Going public seemed, to some, a solution to cash-flow difficulties but, after a few years of moderate gain, losses have gone from $12.9 million in 1999 to a startling $92.1 million in 2002.
In fiscal 2002, the Pool sold interests in Heartland Livestock Services; Western Producer Publications; CSP Foods Division; CanAmera Foods as well as other properties and, early in 2003, narrowly escaped bankruptcy. By focussing its attention on its elevator system, the Pool is returning to what it knows best and remains the most modern grain-handling system in Canada.
This site pays proportionately less attention to the "modern" history of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. It is hoped that, by illustrating a few of the challenges of the past, the more recent obstacles facing growers can be put into perspective. The adversity facing producers is not new, only different. Time will tell what will result from the latest in what is a series of seemingly insurmountable odds. Such is the history of the Pool. |
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