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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.
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)
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
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
Committee Member
Address
Period
V. Althouse
Kelvington, SK
1974-1979
Roy R. Atkinson
Landis, SK
1965-1994
R. C. Brown
1942-1955
John Edward Brownlee (1883-1961)
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)
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
1987-1998
G. L. Harrold
Lamont, AB
1957-1979
Mrs. E. C. Hartle
Leroy, SK
1971-1974
Charles Edward “Charlie” Hayles (c1885-1952)
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
1987-1994
R. C. Marler
Edmonton, AB
1955-1957
J. A. McCowan
Summerberry, SK
1940-1955
Brad McDonald
1983-1987
Donald Gordon McKenzie (1887-1963)
1940-1942
Ivan McMillan
Craik, SK
1971-1974
Rosario Messier
Ottawa, ON
1940-1943
D. Mitchell
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)
1948-1952
Lorne Edmund Parker (1927-1990)
1971-1987
William James Parker (1896-1971)
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)
1952-1955
O. Reber
Burdett, AB
1974-1983
Rupert Cambourne Reece (1894-1951)
1940-1946
Archibald Cumberland Reid (1889-1974)
1940-1947
William Rosher
?
1994-1998
J. Theo Roy
Montreal, PQ
1943-1955
Alexander McInnes “Mac” Runciman (1914-2000)
1960-1974
Avery K. Sahl
Mossbank, SK
1974-1991
Charles Gordon Smith (1902-1990)
1946-1948
Harold Bertram Sneath (1914-1995)
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
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
Period
Treasurer
1966-1975
Peebles Kelly
c1985-c1990
David Olfert
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-
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
Period
Board Chair
1998-1999
?
1999-2009
Kenneth Rapheal “Ken” Ritter (1947-2011)
2010-2011
Allen Oberg
2013
Bruce Johnson
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
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)
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
