HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-09-21, Page 3Wednesday, September 21, 2016 • News Record 3
Sun Country Retail plants in Clinton according to founder's roots
Justine Alkema
Clinton News Record
Sun Country Retail is gear-
ing up in Clinton at their
new location on 325 Victoria
Street. They quietly opened
on July 27, but are hoping to
have a more official grand
opening in the fall.
The new store sells pre-
mium bird seed and supplies
such as birdfeeders, all made
with renewable power.
This is the first retail loca-
tion for the large company,
Sun Country Farms, which is
based in Saskatchewan and
sells to wholesalers.
Kent Ruthwell, the Founder
and President of the Sun
Country, grew up in Clinton.
"We wanted to come back
to Ontario and put the first
retail location in my home
town because we wanted to
give something back," said
Ruthwell. "Other places
might economically be bet-
ter, but that's not what moti-
vates us."
According to their website,
Sun County Farms is "the
world's most economically,
environmentally and socially
sustainable birdseed com-
Sun Country Retail is at 325 Victoria Street.
pany in the world:'
They are known interna-
tionally and have won a
number of awards including
the greenest manufacturer
award in Canada.
Sun Country Farms also
installs electric vehicle
charging stations. They have
electrified the entire trans -
Canada highway and many
other places in Canada.
"Today you can basically
travel all of Canada [in an
electric vehicle] for free due
to Sun Country," said
Ruthwell.
"Clinton is where it all
began. You become who you
are by the people you've
been surrounded by. [...]
These national and interna-
tional awards aren't about
me but the people I've come
across in my life. I was in
Clinton for the first few dec-
ades of my life. Really put
ting a store in Clinton is pay-
ing homage to the roots of
where this has all started."
C.H.S.S. graduate awarded $40,000 scholarship
Jefferson House
Special to the News Record
C.H.S.S. grad Sean Mitchell
will no longer have to worry
about how he will fund his uni-
versity education. The recent
graduate of Central Huron Sec-
ondary School was awarded
the $40,000 Chancellor's Schol-
arship from the University of
Guelph where he started his
fust year this month.
Mitchell, who is studying
environmental mechanics,
grew up on a farm just west of
Walton. Even at a very young
age, he became involved with
many activities around his ele-
mentary school and all over his
community.
Mitchell's involvement
ranged from band to various
sport clubs. He was also the
president for a Brussels club for
youth that focused on fundrais-
ing for the community.
During Mitchell's presidency
of this club, a big project took
place - the refurbishing of the
tennis courts in Brussels. By
hosting multiple fundraisers,
the goal of $1200 dollars was
reached and a new tennis court
was built
Mitchell says that it is impor-
tant to have support with you
every step of the way as well as
to give back to the community
Contributed photo
Sean Mitchell receiving the Chancellor's Scholarship from Dr.
Malcolm Campbell, the Vice President of Research for the University
of Guelph at an awards luncheon held Friday, September 6, 2016.
in anyway that you can. He did
this many ways, including vol-
unteering each week for ten
hours.
The Chancellor's Scholarship
is $40,000 in value, specifically
$8000 annually for four years of
study plus $8000 for a summer
research assistantship.
Applicants must have an
average of at least 90% upon
arrival to the University of
Guelph, plus they must dem-
onstrate "superior leadership
ability'
Applicants apply online by
January 25. Once each appli-
cant has been reviewed, short-
listed students are then invited
to the campus for an interview.
The scholarship is eligible to
only one student each year,
meaning the competition is
high.
After the long, hopeful pro-
cess of waiting for an answer,
Mitchell was greeted with a call
explaining he had won the
scholarship. He was thrilled to
hear the news, and as for how
school is going, Mitchell com-
mented, "So far I'm enjoying it"
Photos by Justine Alkema Clinton News Record
Controller Charlene Smith and Sales Associate Katie Jurjens pose in Sun Country Retail on Victoria
Street.