Grand Opening of the Bonny Lea Farm Bulk Mulch Manufacturing Facility

David Outhouse: “Welcome to a celebration marking the completion of the design and construction of our new Bark Mulch Production Facility- a project that began almost 4 years ago when our Board of Directors set out to provide a solution to our manufacturing dilemma in our Bark Mulch production process.  Today marks the culmination of that work along with recognizing the support of a number of partners. 

Today marks the beginning of an exciting venture for us.  A wonderful, new facility allowing our staff and participants to work in a safe, indoor, and healthier environment.  I want to acknowledge the work of our building designer, Larry Honey of Hiltz and Seamone, and the efforts our general contractor, Clattco Construction and Home Design.  Tim Clattenburg and his team were able to take the plans prepared by Larry and bring them to life from a one dimensional sketch of paper to this great building we have here today.  Our bark mulch produce is second to none and is held in high regard within both the gardening and landscaping communities.  This product line represents an opportunity for our participants to work at a job that they enjoy with a variety of tasks to fit many different levels and interests. 

This project is a result of the need indentified by our staff and participants, the vision and commitment of our Board of Directors and their project leader, Joe Stackhouse, and the funding commitments of our government partners, ACOA and the Department of Community Services along with the Bonny Lea Charitable Foundation, and the Order of the Eastern Star. 

We are very much looking forward to this evening’s celebration, but we are so looking forward to ramping up production in this facility so that next year, we can work towards exceeding production and sales of any year yet. 

Congratulations and thank you to everyone for playing a part in making this dream and this project a success.  For those participants who work in the Bark Mulch project and for those who may join this work crew, welcome to your new workplace. 

I am now going to invite, Joe, Senator Dickson, Minister Peterson-Rafuse, Debbie Austin and Joanne Boswell to gather for the official ribbon cutting marking this building, “Open for Business.”