The Canada Seed Company was formed in 1913 by Mr. R. C. (Clark) Steele at Hagersville, Ontario with the intent to process and export farm seeds. However, in later years, the company branched out into the Garden Seed business. Early in the 1930's, R. C. Steele merged his company with the Steele Briggs Seed Co., which was owned by his brother Walter D. Steele. Following the deaths of W. D. Steele and E. F. Crossland, R. C. Steele was elected President of Steele Briggs.
A few years later, Vancouver interests took over the seed companies under Steele Briggs, including the Canada Seed Company. At this time, R. C. Steele retired from the company to form Steele Robertson Co., headquartered in Edmonton. W. D. Dack was appointed President of Steele Briggs. In June 1951, W. D. Dack took control of company operations from the Vancouver interests and, in 1961, the Steele Briggs Seed Co. purchased the Rennie Seed Co.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
This sub-series contains the resignation of A.J. Maruca as an officer and director of
Canada Seeds Ltd. and a report on operating results for the nine-month period ending
February 28,1967. The remainder of the records in this sub-series are financial
statements prepared by Meyers Norris Penny & Co.
The sub sub series is divided into two sub sub sub series, including: (1) Financial; and (2) Miscellaneous.
Historical information regarding Canada Seeds Ltd. is located in Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 2 (J. Lasby Lowes), Historical Topics file 10 (Tape 23) and file 11 (Tape 24) of the A.E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd. fonds.
In 1971, A. E. McKenzie Seeds Co. Ltd. acquired Brett-Young Seeds. Based out of Winnipeg, Brett-Young dealt exclusively in Field seeds. The price of the company was based on 75% of the booked pre-tax profit for a five-year period starting in 1972, with a minimum price of 1.3 million. In 1975, the company was sold to Manitoba Pool Elevators for 1.76 million plus inventory. However, while McKenzie Seeds owned the company, it generated 2.3 million in profits, 75% of which was paid to the previous shareholders.
Custodial History
See fonds level description of custodial history of A. E. McKenzie Seed Co. Ltd.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of financial statements, board minutes and documents, including return of information and particulars under the Companies Act of Manitoba and notices of the change of directors. Correspondence in the sub-series deals largely with the resignation of the directors of Brett-Young Seeds. Records dealing with the sale of Brett-Young Seeds to Manitoba Pool Elevators are also included. The sub-series also includes one file of documents relating to the Sabetha Seed Co.
The sub-series is divided into two sub sub series, including: (1) Correspondence; and (2) Financial.
Storage Location
RG 3 A.E. McKenzie Company fonds
McS 3 Acquisitions
Related Material
One document relating to Brett-Young Seeds and McKenzie Seeds is
located in Series 1 (Board of Directors), sub-series 1 (Documents).
Historical information regarding Brett-Young Seeds is located in Series 2
(Office of the President/GM), sub-series 2 (J. Lasby Lowes), Historical Topics file 11 (Tape 24).
The 1974 catalogue for Brett-Young Seeds is located in Series 2 (Office of the President/GM), sub-series 4 (Marketing).
Sales literature and catalogues for Brett-Young Seeds are located in Series 5 (Miscellaneous), sub-series (Centennial Exhibition) in the file entitled Acquisitions Booklet.
As the Manitoba Pool Elevators grew as a co-operative organizations and later a corporation, it aquired subsidiary companies and became involved with other co-operative organizations. These various companies were usually acquired or formed to either reach out to other types of producers in Manitoba or to assist Pool members. MPE was also involved with larger umbrella or subsidiary co-operative organizations.
See also fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
This series has been divided into nine sub-series, including: (1) Border Fertilizer Ltd., (2) Co-enerco, (3) CSP Foods, (4) Co-op Farm Implements, (5) Co-operative Life Insurance Co. & Pool Insurance Ltd., (6) Livestock Co-operative Division, (7) Poultry and Dairy Pools, (8) The Wasagaming Foundation, (9) North Cypress-Langford Weed Control Districts
See fonds level description of RG 4 for history/bio of MPE
Scope and Content
This artificially created sub-series contains a variety of legal and official documents related to the operation of the Manitoba Wheat Pool and MPE. Records include the following:
1. Agreements, General By-laws, and Contracts 1924-1972
2. General By-laws
3. Incorporations and Dissolutions
4. Operating Agreements, Agreements for Sale 1940-67
5. MPE Complete Legislation
6. Miscellaneous Documents
7. Elevator Policy, Agreements, Incorporation Certificates / Indebtedness
8. Quantitative Appraisal of Wheat Pool Building (left in original binding)
9. 9th Victory Loan Souvenir: A Portfolio of Reproductions of the Documents of Surrender
10a. Federal Agreement 1972 p.1-126
10b. Federal Agreement 1972
11a. Terminal Expansion 1961 – 1963
11b. Terminal Expansion 1961 – 1963
12. By-Laws and Constitutions
13. MPE & Connaught Laboratories Agreements 1964-66
14. MPE & Connaught Laboratories Agreements 1964-66
15. “Pool Pac” Trade Mark 1964, 1971, 1979
16. Patent #501894 Dust Control Apparatus 1954
17. MPE Agreement w/ Daniel Augustus Kane (General Superintendent appointment) 1928, 1933
18. Manitoba Co-operative Wheat Producers Ltd. Agreement w/ Richard M. Mahoney (Manager) 1924, 1925, 1928
19. MPE Acts
20. MPE Acts
21. Party & Supplementary Agreements 1931-1936
22a. Historical Documents of the Manitoba Wheat Pool 1924 - 1927
22b. Historical Documents of the Manitoba Wheat Pool 1927 - 1930
23a. Miscellaneous Documents 1925 -1996
23b. Miscellaneous Documents 1979 -1998
24. Association Documents 1940 - 1966
25. Deed of Trust and Mortage August 2 1928
26. Wheat and Coarse Grains Overpayments 1929-1930
