Fur Farmers Ontario

BROADWAY FUR FARM - R.R. 3, Newmarket. (William Foote.) Bill Foote is one of the ranchers who has made considerable success from a city backyard beginning. His original ranch was established on Broadview Avenue in the heart of Toronto and produced there a surprising number of animals every year. His ranch eventually grew too big for the city and he is now in his new location at Newmarket.

CARR'S FUR FARM - R.R. 3, Cookstown. (Earl Carr.) Established in 1939. Mr Carr was previously engaged in general farming. He is married and has two girls. He is chiefly interested in hunting, fishing and trapping; also softball.

CHUQUIMATA CHINCHILLA RANCH - R.R. 4, Hamilton. (Eric D. Gunter and D. R. Luff.) Mr Gunter was born May 30th, 1912, and the present ranch was established in 1946. He was married in 1941 and has two boys. Acting as Inspector for the National Chinchilla Breeders of Canada, he has judged at practically all the chinchilla shows in Canada. He was one of the judges at the first International Chinchilla Show held in Denver, Colorado, and also judged with Harry LaDue at the Michigan Chinchilla Show held at Detroit.

DALEWOOD - R.R. 2, Gormley. (G. H. Temple, B.Sc.) Mr Temple was born in Ottawa, Ontario. He was in the air force for six years. On being discharged he spent over two years working at Clairval Limited in Quebec to learn, first-hand, the secrets of successful mink ranching. He was married in 1943 and has one boy. The Dalewood ranch specializes in the Clairval type of Standard and Pastel.

DUVAL FUR FARMS - Wingham, (Mentie and Reg DuVal.) The DuVals have been interested in fur farming for many years, producing both mink and fox. They have taken a very active part in all the provincial doings of both branches of the industry, Reg had been an active member of the Ontario Fur Breeders? Association for many years. Mrs DuVal is probably more widely known in the fur farming field than her husband, through her regular column "The Woman's Point of View" in Fur Trade Journal. In addition to her regular column, she has covered several important meetings for the Journal where she has met ranchers from coast to coast. As well as her Journal work Mrs DuVal is well-known as a poetess and song-writer of considerable merit.

ERIEVIEW FUR FARM - R.R. 5, Simcoe. (Bonnie and Howard Bollert.) The Bollert name has long been associated with the fur farming industry in Canada, the original ranch having been established by Clarence Bollert. Later the son, Howard, and his wife, Bonnie, started on their own in the raising of foxes and also mink. One of the outstanding events, on the Erieview ranch, was the production of the new type blond fox which is still creating a considerable sensation wherever seen.

FERGUS FUR FARMS - Fergus - (T. C. Richardson.) Cam Richardson started ranching 'way back in 1926. He trapped mink in Labrador where he also had a ranch but has now moved completely to Fergus. Together with his mink ranch, he has a fine farm of 400 acres, raising mainly beef cattle and Karakul sheep. His Association activities include being Vice-President of Waterloo Fur. Breeders' Association and President of the newly formed Associated Fur Breeders' Co-op. He is married and has two boys and one girl. His spare time is spent at his favourite sport, hunting and fishing.

FREEBORN CHINCHILLA RANCH - 1812 Lawrence Avenue W., Weston. (Wally Freeborn.) The Freeborn ranch was established in the autumn of 1945. Wally Freeborn got interested in raising chinchillas as a machinist. He made a couple of pens for a chap who was raising chinchillas and then, being interested in seeing how the pens worked, the first thing he knew he was sold on the chinchilla industry. However, he has never regretted going into the raising of these little animals. He is a director of the National Chinchilla Breeders of Canada.

GLENAFTON FUR FARM - Alliston - (John J. E. McCague.) Mr McCague was born at Victoria Square, Ontario, and attended Richmond Hill High School, Woodstock Boys' College and Ontario Agricultural College, where he secured his B.S.A. degree. He commenced fur farming in 1933 but had been a farmer and breeder of Holstein-Friesian cattle for many years. He was formerly agricultural representative for his district. He has judged cattle at the National Show in Chile, South America, and also judged swine, sheep and cattle at Canadian shows, including Canadian National Exhibition, Royal Winter Fair, also Ottawa and London. Mr McCague is a director of the Bank of Toronto, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada, Past President Ontario Fur Breeders' Association, Past President Canadian National Silver Fox Breeders' Association, Past President Canadian Swine Breeders' Association, Past President Holstein-Friesian Association of Canada, Past Chairman Canadian Livestock Record Committee. He was married in 1928 and has five children.

HUMBERVIEW CHINCHILLA RANCH - 124 Windermere Ave., Toronto • 3. (Richard Baxter.) Mr Baxter's chinchilla ranch is beautifully situated overlooking the Humber Valley. He became interested in chinchillas through his connections in his work at The Steel Company of Canada. He is now operating a very successful ranch and takes a very active part in Association work. He is married and has one charming little daughter, whose photograph appears in his advertisement.

HURON MINK RANCH - Alliston - (C. A. Bisbee.) Since Cliff Bisbee established his ranch in 1932, he has made Huron mink quite famous in all parts of the country, with his prize-winnings and the type of animals which he produces. Previous to going into the mink industry, Cliff was in the banking business. He has three children. He is a hockey and baseball fan, and when he has time does some trapping.

KAWARTHA CHINCHILLA RANCH - 369 Mark Street, Peterborough. (G. R. Schwab). Mr Schwab was born in Switzerland in 1898. He came to Canada and carried on in the jewellery business. He is an electrical engineer by profession. His ranch was established in 1942. He was married in 1932 and has one son. His chief hobbies are hunting and fishing and studying biology. He is a director of the National Chinchilla Breeders' Association of Canada and author of "Raising Chinchillas for Profit".

KEDRAY CHINCHILLA RANCH - Water down. (Ed Ray.) Ed Ray, who started chinchilla ranching in 1947 under the name of Kedray Chinchilla Ranch, will be moving to an ultra-modern ranch this fall. Ed worked in the steel business for over sixteen years but has now retired. He is well established in the chinchilla business. He is married and has four children, two boys and two girls. His wife, Kay, has just retired from a very successful career as Supervisor of St. Elizabeth's Visiting Nurses in Hamilton. Ed is a member of the Hamilton Yacht Club. He also considers that he is one of the largest ranchers in Canada, with approximately 125 animals of his own.

KILMORIE CHINCHILLA RANCH - Appleton - (John D. W. Clarke.) Mr Clarke was born on November 8th, 1917. He took his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Toronto. He joined the army in 1941 and was in it until 1945 after which he served with the War Assets Corps for nearly two years. Early in 1946, he established the Kilmorie Chinchilla Ranch just after being married on February 23rd. MrMr Clarke is the Secretary of the National Chinchilla Breeders of Canada and is also the editor of the excellent magazine dealing_ with chinchillas published by this Association. At present, in addition to the above duties, he is engaged exclusively in the raising of chinchillas and has carried off quite several prizes at the shows.

LAKESIDE FUR RANCH - Shallow Lake - (Percy V. Noble.) Percy needs no introduction to Canadian ranchers. He started ranching in 1929 and has one of the largest ranches in Canada. It is situated on Shallow Lake on the site of Canada's first cement works. He took over as President of the Ontario Fur Breeders' Association on the death of 0. W. Thompson and has been Director on and off since then. Percy was Reeve of Shallow Lake in 1946 and was responsible as Chairman of the Recreation Committee for building a $25,000.00 community centre. He is also the coach of his baseball team, the "Noble Ranchers", who are now playing in the intermediate league of the W.O.A.A. They have lost only one match this season. He is married and has four boys and four girls. He still finds some spare time for his favourite sports, hunting and fishing.

LEROY CHINCHILLA RANCH - 81 LeRoy Avenue, Toronto. (H. Rudin.) The ranch was established in 1947. Mr Rudin has had considerable experience in livestock raising through working and living in northern British Columbia for many years.

NIAGARA CHINCHILLA RANCHERS Stoney Creek. This is a partnership ranch operated by Oscar E. McKee and W. H. Fribance. Mr McKee, with his two brothers, operates McKee's Garage at Stoney Creek. At the time of writing, they are building a large new modern garage which will be ready this fall. Mr McKee was born in Saskatchewan, is married and has a son and a daughter. W. H. Fribance puts in his full time in the chinchilla business. He was born in England and came to Alberta in 1904. He served in the first war and was in France for three years. He was an inspector for the General Insurance Company of Canada for 20 years in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. In 1947 he started in the chinchilla business as a hobby and gave up his position in 1948 to devote all his time to it. He was the first Secretary-Treasurer of the Hamilton branch of the N.C.B.C. and in 1950 was President. He is still a director. Mr Fribance is married and has three daughters.

NUTANA CHINCHILLA RANCH - 21 Maple Avenue, Toronto. (Mrs. Mildred Hugginson.) Mrs Hugginson originally came from Regina, Sask. She taught school at Saskatoon and later graduated from Saskatchewan University. She moved east in 1941. At present, in addition to looking after her chinchillas, she is an investigator for the Department of Public Welfare. In 1947 she became interested in chinchillas and finding it a very profitable business she has been active in the business ever since she is the publicity agent of the Central Ontario branch of the N.C.B.C.

PARKINSON'S FUR FARM - R.R. 4, Guelph. (Archie Parkinson.) This ranch was established in 1930 by Mr Parkinson, a carpenter by trade, who now devotes all his time to fur farming. He is married and has one daughter. His favourite sports are hunting foxes and coon, trout fishing, as well as mink trapping.

PINE DRIVE MINK RANCH - R.R. 2, Alliston. (Bernard Swenson.) This the ranch was formerly operated by Bill Ruthven. Benny was born in Morsil, Sweden, thirty-four years ago. After farming in Saskatchewan, and four years with the R.C.A.F., Benny came to Ontario where he worked with Bill Ruthven. He has now taken over this ranch completely, together with supplying most Alliston ranchers with animal feed. Benny is married and has two children, a boy of six and a girl of three. In his spare time, he follows his favourite sports, hockey, baseball and lacrosse.

PINE GROVE FUR FARM - R.R. 2, Breslau. (E. V. Bettridge.) Ed Bettridge started mink ranching and working with Dave Stevens in 1934. In 1940 he started on his own in St. Marys with forty feu wales and had an average of five in the first production. Ed also helps to maintain the nine-hole golf course in St. Marys which quite a few of the St. Marys ranchers use. He moved to his present address in 1949 and has achieved success to the extent of a ranch of 1,125. Ed is married and his wife, Vera, teaches school in Breslau Since moving to St. Mary's good luck has followed him.

PINE RITCH FUR FARM - Elmvale. (Al Ritchie.) Al Ritchie became interested in mink when he worked in the gold mines at Young Davison Gold Mines in Matachewan. He moved his ten females to the present address in 1945 and has now a ranch of approximately 700. Al is married and has two boys and two girls. He farms 100 acres and is building up a fine Jersey herd together with his ranch.

POGUE FUR FARM - J. & A., Sunni-dale Rd., R.R. 2, Barrie. Jack Pogue comes from Peterborough, is married and has two boys and one girl. He became interested in mink ranching when he lived in Alliston. He has now built up a fine ranch after five years' work. Jack's wife takes a very active interest in the ranch which they run as a joint business. He is treasurer of the Georgian Bay Mink Breeders' Association and is employed as a parts manager for Morrison Motors, Barrie.

PREMIER CHINCHILLA RANCH - R.R. 3, St. Catharines. (H. Earl Wills.) This ranch was established in 1946 and raises chinchillas exclusively. Mr Wills was formerly engaged in the lumber and dairy business and fruit farming, but now devotes all his time to raising chinchillas, and owns one of the largest herds in this part of the country. His special training in bacteriology at Guelph will serve him well in this field. Mr Wills was married in 1932 and has one daughter. He is a member of the Commercial Travellers, Odd-fellows and Canadian Order of Foresters.

SPRING BROOK FUR FARM - Bridgeport. (G. R. Oswald.) Bob has been ranching for some twenty-two years, having trapped wild mink in the Bridgeport area. He is married and has five children, three girls and two boys. He worked continually with the Ontario Hydro Commission until January of this year but is now retired devoting all his time to his excellent ranch. Bob is a member of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Fur Breeders' Association and is president of the Waterloo Fur Breeders' Association.

STONEHOUSE CHINCHILLA RANCH - 111 Haddington Avenue, Toronto. (Ross Charles Stonehouse.) Mr Stonehouse was born in Scarborough Township on August 11th, 1912. He established his ranch in 1949. He is engaged in the manufacture of furniture under the name of Juvenile Furniture Company and also worked for some time for Canadian Kodak Company. During the last war, he was with the R.C.A.F. He was married in 1942 and has two children, Wallace, 6, and Marsha, 2. He is Secretary-Treasurer of the Central Ontario Branch of the N.C.B.C.

STUS CHINCHILLA RANCH - 87 Holmesdale Road, Toronto 10. (Michael Stus.) in addition to raising chinchillas Mike is a waiter at the Times Square at the King Edward Hotel, Toronto. Usually, when one goes to the Times Square he goes for other reasons than talking fur-raising, but now the two can be easily combined. Mike has had exceptional results in producing chinchillas.

THAMES CREST FUR FARM - Box 927, St. Marys. (Earle J. Hooper.) Earle started ranching with Dagre Stevens. Five years ago he started up his own ranch and has now built up one of the foremost ranches in St. Marys. He has been in the dairy business for twenty years with an excellent. Holstein herd which won him renown when he had the female champion at the Royal Winter Fair. Earle is married, has one boy and one girl. He is a Rotarian and was a member of St. Marys Council for five years and also a member of the Ontario Board of Directors.

WYEBRIDGE MINK RANCH - Wyebridge. (Edward McWatters.) Establishing his ranch in 1936 Mr McWatters is engaged exclusively in the raising of mink. His chief hobbies are hockey and lacrosse. The ranch he is now on was purchased with the rehabilitation grant received on being discharged from the R.C.N.V.R.