Northern Ont. bison farm celebrates 50 years on the range
It started with one female bison and now, a family-run farm in Earlton, Ont., is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Nestled along a quiet road a short drive north of Temiskaming Shores, the shaggy creatures graze at Bison du Nord, a farm that was started by Pierre Belanger and his father Laurent.
"My father had been dreaming about this," Belanger said.
"We had one bison cow. They were hard to find back then. It was the beginning of the industry and it took us years to find one bull for the cow."
The farm is one of the pioneer commercial bison herds in Canada.
Belanger’s herd of 400 bison roam in large, open pastures year-round.
The meat is available at select butcher shops and is used to make bison burgers, sausage, meat pies and tacos.
In 1967, Laurent received a letter the Canadian government that was advertising the sale of live bison for ranching purposes. It opened the door to private ranching in Canada and kick-started the dream.
The Belangers welcomed their first bison on the land, that was also home to the Coopérative des artistes du Nouvel-Ontario (CANO), in 1972. Six bulls would follow in 1973 and the herd was born.
Over the years, Belanger helped establish the Canadian Bison Association and the Ontario Bison Association, serving as president for both organizations.
Along with many others from across the country, Bison du Nord took part in the development of infrastructure for the bison industry from animal handling protocols to developing markets for bison products.
"My children have joined me in the ranch operations. So now we’re really growing it," he said.
"We ship meat all over the province with refrigerated trucks and now we have a good-sized commercial operation."
In 2019, the farm began to expand activities to offer our farm tours for students and families, so they could get up close to the animals and learn more about them and the production.
A bison cow and its calf at Bison du Nord in Earlton, Ont. Sept. 21/22 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
To celebrate its 50 years, Bison du Nord was selected to host the Ontario Bison Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) with bison farmers from Ontario and Quebec visiting for tours of the farm along with seminars with keynote speaker Wes Olson, a former farmer and bison expert.
Olson recently published his book 'The Ecological Buffalo.'
"They’re a wonderful animal. Everyone should experience bison sometime," he said.
Olson finds that most bison farmers are actually conservationists at the same time, bringing the animal back from near extinction to a healthy population.
He estimates there are between 350,000-400,000 bison in Canada and the U.S.
"Bison occupied North America for 130,000 years from the Gulf Coast to the east and the west coast," Olson said. "Also all the way up into Alaska. They interact with every species that exists in that landscape."
Bison du Nord supports the local food scene on both sides of the border, participating in the North on Tap Craft Beer Festival and recently wrapped up in serving more than 2,500 bison tacos at the 20th edition of the Foire gourmande de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-Est ontarien.
The farm is now prepping for a fall release of a new item:bison summer sausages.
"The future does look bright for the bison industry. We still have new producers getting in," said Les Kroeger, the Canadian Bison Association president.
"After COVID, the markets are opening up again."
With 50 years under his belt, Belanger has no intentions of slowing down just yet.
Pierre Belanger started Bison du Nord with his father, Laurent. Sept. 21/22 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
"I’m good for another 25 (years). After that, I think it’ll go to my children," he said. "They’ve got the momentum."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
BREAKING Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Murder charges filed against U.S. woman who crashed into building hosting birthday party, killing 2 kids
A Michigan woman was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder and other crimes after prosecutors say she drunkenly smashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a birthday party, killing two young siblings and injuring several other people.