'A miracle fibre': Shearing season kicks off local wool harvest
Thousands of sheep across Ontario are being prepped for their annual haircut, as spring marks the unofficial start of shearing season.
On Friday, Chassagne Farm in Puslinch collected around 360 pounds of wool from about 90 sheep. The farm was also hosting Campaign for Wool in Canada, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and promotion of the wool industry.
“Wool is a miracle fibre. It’s natural, renewable, and biodegradable,” explained Matthew Rowe, the CEO for Campaign for Wool in Canada. “You can use it to make everything from clothing, to carpets, to upholstery.”
The annual Shearing Day event brought the organization’s partners from the wool industry to Puslinch for an inside look at this year’s harvest.
“It’s an art to take off the fleece in one whole pelt,” Chassagne Farm owner Carole Precious told CTV News.
Spectators watched the shearing process and took part in cleaning and collecting the wool.
“It’s incredibly important to see what goes into making these products from start to finish,” added Paulina Marcinkowski, a supporter of Campaign for Wool in Canada.
The non-profit said the event offers a unique perspective on how some of their favourite products are made.
“I think most people don’t really know where their clothes come from so this is a chance to come right to the source,” Rowe said.
According to Campaign for Wool, Canada produces three million pounds of wool per year, with southern Ontario housing more sheep than any other part of the country. Despite the large supply, the group said one of its biggest challenges is keeping the wool here in Canada.
“We were only keeping about 10 per cent of our clip in the country, and about 90 per cent was being sold off on commodities markets,” Rowe explained. “What we want to do is deliver more value to the farmer and have more of that wool stay here as 100 per cent Canadian wool product.”
Precious said the sheep at Chassagne Farm supply around four pounds of wool and the best fleeces will be made available to local spinners looking to turn the wool into yarn.
“It’s just getting a haircut. They just sort of sit there,” Rowe said. “It’s about health and safety too. It’s all part of keeping the sheep safe and happy and healthy.”
The sheep at Chassagne Farm won’t be sheared again until next spring.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
BREAKING NEWS Serious boat crash kills 3, injures 5 on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake: OPP
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
'It's pure joy!': B.C. pilot takes 96-year-old grandma on meaningful flight
“Good to see you,” Ryan Godard says before giving his 96-year-old grandma a big hug and walking her towards the small airplane. “Let’s get you prepped.”
Robbers made off with 'several million euros' of jewels in armed heist at Harry Winston store in Paris
Armed robbers who used a motorbike as a battering ram made off with 'several million euros' worth of valuables in a heist of the luxury Paris boutique of self-declared 'Jeweler to the Stars' Harry Winston, the French prosecutor’s office overseeing the police probe said.
Residents evacuated after threats made to residence in Fall River, N.S.
Nova Scotia RCMP are warning the public to avoid the area around Canterbury Lane in Fall River after a threat was made at a residence.
Five things to know about the NHL playoffs
Today is an off day for the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers as they prepare for Monday's winner-take-all Game 7 showdown at Rogers Arena.