Written By Olena Riznyk
PARKHILL – Blue Lakes Premium Meats officially opened its new federally inspected beef and lamb processing facility on July 15, becoming the first new federally inspected beef and lamb processing facility to open in Canada in more than 20 years.
The opening brought together local officials, farmers, business partners and industry leaders to celebrate a project expected to create jobs, strengthen Ontario’s beef industry and expand meat processing capacity in the province.
For company president and CEO Yaser Al Qayem, the project started with a personal challenge. “When we started the business 10 years ago, it was more of a personal challenge because there was not enough halal meat in the market. But it wasn’t only about halal. It was also about providing local, high-quality meat. So, I took it as a mission,” he said.
The company started as a small provincially licensed operation. Building the new federally inspected facility took about five years. “It has been a long journey with many challenges, but what kept us going was that we believed in the vision,” Al Qayem said. “We knew there was demand, and we knew that we were not only doing business, but also serving farmers, consumers and the community.”
He said Parkhill was the natural location for the project because of the area’s rich farmland and strong beef, lamb and corn production.
The facility currently employs about 35 people, and Al Qayem said he expects that number to grow to about 60 within the next two years.
Becoming federally inspected was a key step because it allows Blue Lakes to sell its products across Canada and reach international markets. “Our value proposition in the marketplace is that we want to ensure the highest standards of food safety,” he said. “It opens the doors for us. We have demand for Ontario corn-fed halal beef from the Middle East, as well as from customers across Canada.”
North Middlesex Mayor Brian Ropp said the investment will help create jobs and keep more of the agricultural value chain in the community.
MPP Steve Pinsonneault said the new facility will also benefit Ontario’s livestock sector. “Projects like this create opportunities for local livestock producers,” Pinsonneault said. “They help strengthen the food supply chain, increase market opportunities for Ontario-raised products, and they bring good-paying jobs right here in these communities.”
Representatives from Ontario’s beef industry said the additional processing capacity will give farmers more opportunities to market Ontario-raised cattle while helping meet the growing demand for locally produced beef.
Although the opening marked a major milestone, Al Qayem said the project is only the beginning. “This facility represents the completion of one chapter, but more importantly, it’s the beginning of a new era,” he said. “We set out to create an operation that would shape the future of local premium meat processing in Ontario.”
