The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is introducing “Grain Handler of the Year” awards to recognize excellence in Canada’s grain-handling industry.
Four facilities are being recognized in the first annual awards. In addition to commemorating service excellence, the recognition program was created to encourage high performance and innovation in the system that moves Prairie farmers’ grain from country elevator to port.
“This program acknowledges superior service, but also seeks to encourage grain-handling efficiencies from all companies that ultimately lead to cost savings for farmers,” said Ian White, CWB President and CEO. “We work with a number of professional, high-quality grain handlers, but it is my honour to acknowledge four who stand out from the crowd.”
The CWB works with companies that ship the wheat, durum and barley grown by western Canadian farmers. In 2008-09, exports totaled 18.4 million tonnes. Effective shipping performance is essential to getting farmers’ grain to customers on time, providing farmers with good service and keeping farmers’ shipping costs as low as possible.
Recipients were selected in four categories for the 2008-09 crop year:
Shipper to a Canadian port: North West Terminal, a farmer-owned facility in Unity, SK.
Shipper to the U.S.: Viterra Assiniboia, a high-capacity elevator in Assiniboia, SK.
Eastern port terminal: Bunge of Canada Ltd., at the Port of Quebec, Quebec City, PQ.
Western port terminal: Prince Rupert Grain, at the Port of Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert, BC.
Inland grain shippers are selected for overall effectiveness and accuracy of shipments. Criteria for ocean port grain terminals included accuracy, timeliness, and the flexibility to adapt to new programs and methods.
