'It's farmers helping farmers': B.C. farmers get aid from Ontario counterparts
It’s one day at a time for the people of Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford where almost 600 properties remain under an evacuation order because of historic floods. Forty-eight of them are dairy farms.
“You wake up and you just put your foot down and you start working,” explained Grant Bouwman, a second-generation dairy farmer.
His family has spent days cleaning the mess left behind by flooding as they prepare to bring back their herd in the coming days.
“We moved out three weeks ago today,” Bouwman said.
“It was emotional in a lot of ways. You see your childhood home flooded. You see your hard work under water...and there’s nothing you can do. You’re helpless.”
One of the losses for farmers is feed like hay bales, which can be seen strewn about Sumas Prairie. Grain was also lost.
But dairy farmers on the other side of the country are stepping up to help.
“What we’re doing today is bringing out a lot of the milk replacer for the B.C. flood relief donated by Gay Lea foods and Grober Nutrition out of Ontario,” explained Gerry DeGroot.
“In layman’s terms, it’s like a baby formula for the calves,” said DeGroot who is with Dairy-Crop Solutions, which is delivering the feed for free.
“It’s farmers helping farmers.”
Twenty-four thousand kilograms of milk replacer has been donated. The product is worth about $100,000, DeGroot said.
It will help feed more than 1,000 calves on dozens of farms for the next 60 to 70 days.
Bouwman said he’s grateful for the gift.
“It blows you away because you don’t always think you deserve the help and that’s kind of maybe a silly thing to say but we’re a proud bunch of people. We work hard and we don’t always expect those kind of things,” said Bouwman.
“So when other farmers jump in and do things like that and make big donations like that, it’s huge,” he explained.
Across Sumas Prairie, clean-up efforts continue. Volunteers, friends and neighbours are helping gut damaged homes.
“We’re taking out any of the drywall that got wet by the floods. We’re taking out the insulation, which could rot and cause problems. Some floor is getting taken out as well,” said Drayvin Whitney, who serves with Mormon Helping Hands.
He is part of one of a number of groups and individuals who have been donating their time to help with restoration.
“It is a huge mess. It’s a really big job but with lots of hands, it makes light work,” said Whitney.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.