Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Join Us

Dairy Industry 1827-1900

The first recorded dairy farm in British Columbiawas the Hudson’s Bay Farm near the presenttown of Fort Langley.

In the 1820’s the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)needed to end the company posts’ reliance onexpensive imported goods to compensate forthe waning of the fur trade.

HBC Governor George Simpson directed that“living was to become much plainer and theposts made more self-sufficient”.

Fort Langley was established in 1827 and immediately land clearing foragriculture began. The first cattle arrived in 1829. The main farmingoperation was moved from the Fort to two thousand acres of land onLangley Prairie, between the Salmon and Nicomekl rivers.

Full Article Below:

http://www.bcdairyhistory.ca/PDFs/A+BRIEF+EARLY+HISTORY

Testimonial

For 35 years I have been a Teamster and a Dairyworker, I was a young kid needing a job in tough economic times. I found a place to work and make a living, I learned to work together with others having varying and different backgrounds than my own.

Much has changed for me personally and professionally, I got married to my beautiful wife of almost 25 years and we have raised two amazing children, both of whom are presently studying abroad. Both of my children were recipients of Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Funding.

So much of my success I can credit to having a well paying union job. The Teamsters have been a great union for me, negotiating strong collective agreements that held good wage and benefit packages as well as the cornerstone beliefs of seniority and workers’ rights. The Teamsters gave me a good wage and a voice.

I have always been an active Teamster, and now I sit on Local 464's Executive Board.

There can be a great degree of personal feelings when the word union is mentioned, but so often I look at professional associations and realize the name may be different, but the thought is the same...strength in numbers.

As I get toward the end of my career, I look forward to the thought of receiving the Teamsters Canada Pension Plan, and I am so grateful for the belief others had before me that Teamsters deserved a good and decent retirement...thank you.

Drew


- Drew Speirs

"I was employed for many years at a Teamster company that was shut down due to the economy. Because of my age, I was worried about starting over. Bobby, Bob and Paul not only negotiated a much better severance package than was in the contract, but they also went the extra mile and got me on at one of their other companies with an even better contract.They continued to help me even though it wasn't their job to."

- Armando Borean

"I was there when we brought the Union in. The first-time contract they won for us was unbelievable. It changed the quality of my life. I am now a Shop Steward and enjoy working with my Union and looking after my fellow workers. "

- Paul Landrecht - Shop Steward. Island Farms Dairy.