Here is an excerpt from Claude Bouvry’s Obituary:

Claude Bouvry beloved husband of Louise Bouvry (Poirier) passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the age of 71 years.

Claude was born in 1951 on his family’s farm in France, where his parents grain farmed and raised cattle. He moved to Canada in 1968 to study at the HEC University of Montreal where he obtained an MBA. His passion for farming and ranching led him to southern Alberta where he built a prosperous agricultural business. He was proud to ship his high-quality Albertan meat back to his home-country and other parts of the world. He was an intelligent, poetic, and philosophical man who left a lasting impression on those who met him. He built strong ties and friendships with many of the people he worked with. Although very often absorbed by his work, he loved to travel and discover other landscapes and cultures. Nonetheless, one of his favourite places to be, was along the Old Man River where he could unwind and admire his animals grazing. Read all »

Gag. That being said, we will let you make your own judgment.

Bouvry Slaughter Plant temporarily shut down

Reporting on 27 February 2022, Food Safety News writes:

Employees of Bouvry Exports Calgary Ltd and Alberta’s cattle ranchers, feeders, livestock producers, and transport companies are waiting for Monday morning to learn if the meat-processing plant at Fort Macleod, Alta will be re-opening after a suspension that has lasted ten days.

Neither the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) nor Bouvry Exports made any new announcements over the weekend. CFIA last Friday said Bouvry’s, Fort Macleod plant was in a suspension that began Feb. 17. CFIA said the Alberta facility failed to comply with regulations related to operational sanitation procedures to prevent cross-contamination of food, and preventative control measures for E coli detection and temperature deviation in carcasses.

CFIA further said there was a risk of injury to the public if the company “continued to conduct the activities identified in its license. The license can be reinstated once the proper corrective measures are taken by Bouvry Exports, or if nothing is done the license can be terminated after 90 days.

A spokesman Friday said the company is going “above and beyond” to get the plant up and running. The spokesman said the company is working closely with CFIA on “corrective actions.”

The license suspension has caused lay-offs of employees from Fort MacLeod, the Blood Reserve, and the Piikani Nation, as well as surrounding areas.

Bouvry last closed its Fort Macleod plant for a week in May 2020 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Global News Canada writes »

The slaughter facility processes several types of meat, including horse, beef, elk and bison. From a producer standpoint, Economic Development Lethbridge CEO Trevor Lewington said the closure could have an impact on products getting to market.

We know the above is not “news” now like it was a month ago. We post it as a lead-in to an upcoming report.

If you are new to this issue, see “Putting Canada’s Horse Meat Industry Out to Pasture,” The Tyee, 6 Nov 2017.

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Featured Image

A butcher selects horsemeat at his horse butchery shop in the old city of Nice, France. National Geographic. Photograph by Eric Gaillard, Reuters, 2013.