PERCY SCHMEISER, MONSANTO & ‘SEEDS'

"SEEDS" is the title of a celebrated docu-drama by Anabelle Souter, retelling the true story of the legal battle between a Saskatchewan canola farmer, Percy Schmeiser and international bio-tech giant, Monsanto.

Percy in the 1990s

In the late 1990s, Monsanto Canada accused Schmeiser of patent infringement, planting their genetically modified canola seed without a license. Schmeiser fought back during a four-year legal battle that went to the Canadian Supreme Court. But that is not all that Schmeiser contested. Goliath mistakenly had intimidated David. Monsanto introduced GMO (genetically modified organisms) crops in 1996 in soya, corn, cotton and grapeseed (canola). Percy was a specialist in breeding and growing canola seeds and plants. He farmed his own organic seeds. Monsanto seed blew to his fields from neighbouring fields. Percy didn't desire Monsanto seed. Sure GMO seed came with promises of less chemicals, increased yields and greater nutrition. But Percy learned that GMO seeds required more chemicals and they dominated the fields and killed organic plants. Monsanto wanted a monopoly over the seed industry. Nonetheless Monsanto threatened Percy and was trying to take away his farm. The company succeeded with other farmers. Percy's view was that Monsanto was making a claim to own the seed that blew to his field, in fact to own all seeds. He questioned whether a gene can be patented and who owns life.

Eric Peterson in ‘Seeds'

The play is a Montreal based Porte Parole production. It features Eric Peterson (Corner Gas) as farmer Percy Schmeiser. It has received rave reviews. I want to see it. You should look for it too in your area. Here, locally, it can be see in January.

SEEDS

January 19, 2016 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Various Locations, Vancouver, BC Canada + Google Map

January 19 – 21, 2016 – Kay Meek Centre, West Vancouver

January 23, 2016 –The ACT Arts Centre, Maple Ridge

January 28 and 29, 2016  |  8:00pm
 Main Stage at the Surrey Arts Centre Box Office

Percy speaking at the University of New Mexico

Listen to Another Percy Moment

Another speaking engagement with Percy

Harvard Article on Genetically Modified Organisms

CORNER GAS - THE FINAL EPISODE

A NEW LEARNING
I'm retired. So is this show. Final Episode. That was yesterday, Monday April 13th. In fact, On April 6, 2009, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall signed a proclamation that declared April 13, 2009 (and the same day every year after) "Corner Gas Day" in Saskatchewan. Is that a success or what!

You know how we tend to compartmentalize major events among the trivialities of life? Where were you when man first walked on the moon, or President JFK was assassinated, or when the Challenger shuttle blew up shortly after launch? Okay, my examples demonstrate my seniority. Something more current might be the 9/11 twin towers disaster. Where you and what were were you doing? You get my point. Corner Gas has been such a successful Canadian TV sitcom production that some of us will recall where we were when the final episode aired last night.

We were with friends who didn’t want to miss seeing the last episode. They recently vacationed in Australia and New Zealand, and the show is highly popular there. In fact it is shown in 26 countries. It’s a big success. What an enjoyable half hour of humour Corner Gas has been for the past six seasons. Like Cheers, Seinfeld and Friends, all of which garnered huge audiences at the end of a successful series Corner Gas was celebrated last night. The difference is Corner Gas is an all Canadian achievement. During the six seasons, it averaged one million viewers per episode and it won six Gemini awards. Creator Brent Butt wanted to conclude the series at its peak of popularity and he did.

Saskatchewan born and resident comic Brent Butt created the fictional town of Dog River, Saskatchewan where the only gas station for 60 kilometres in any direction is located. He wrote the concept while reflecting on what his life might have been like had he stayed in his hometown of Tisdale or some other prairie town to pump gas for a living. Brent has starred in the lead role as Brent Leroy, the station proprietor. The station is called Corner Gas and was first owned by Brent’s father Oscar. The station’s convenience store retail assistant is Wanda Dollard performed by actress Nancy Robertson who as a matter of fact, became Brent’s real-life wife on November 19, 2005 following production of the third season. The coffee shop called Ruby’s is owned by Lacy Burrows, played by Gabrielle Miller, and Lacy inherited Ruby’s from her aunt Ruby. Fred Ewaniuk plays Hank Yarbo, Brent’s best friend who is chronically unemployed and in fact finishes the series with a comment made about him never ever having a job. Genuine characters, easily likeable, and understood in any culture and with a gentle pace to dialogue and fun, Brent’s own production company, Prairie Pants scored a big one with this series. Can’t wait for his next venture.

Corner Gas Website