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1980 – 1989
The early 1980s were not necessarily the best of
times for Co-op Atlantic. The Fredericton feed mill burned down in 1981 and, in
December 1982, Wesley McEwen, one of the most important figures in the early
development of Co-op Atlantic, passed away in Sidney, B.C. There were also
mounting concerns that consumers and producers could not be adequately served
under the same umbrella.
Yet it wasn't all bad news for Co-op Atlantic during this time. A change in
management in 1982 saw Nestor Charuk assume the position of general manager and,
in 1983, Newfoundland got its first distribution centre. Previously, the Sydney
Distribution Centre served the province's co-ops, and the demand was so strong
that the 30,000 square-foot warehouse - built in Gander - underwent a 23,000
square-foot expansion just six years later.
Gander Distribution Centre
As the decade that gave the world skinny ties and gravity-defying hairstyles
progressed, several initiatives launched in the 1960s and 1970s truly came into
their own. Atlantic Peoples Housing Ltd. began to expand with a series of
seniors' complexes, while exploring forward-thinking ideas such as
energy-efficient homes. The number of direct charge co-ops continued to grow
sharply and the success of the concept was well established.
But the 1980s also proved, as usual, that you could take the managers out of the
organization, but you couldn't take the organization out of the former managers.
Many an employee can recall how retired assistant GM Roy Grant frequently
visited Co-op Atlantic's offices to offer advice on operational issues during
this time.
There were also exciting changes taking place
in the overall shape and operation of the organization. The Agricultural
Marketing and Development Division was created and, under the guidance of
Keith Russell, began looking for new markets for Atlantic Canadian
agricultural products, such as marketing locally produced hay to the United
States. Management Information Meetings were established as an opportunity
for Co-op Atlantic's Executive Management team to meet with management
personnel and provide them with ongoing information on the organization's
direction. The Enterprise Plan was introduced to the delegate body at the AGM
for the first time in 1983, and the Corporate Services Division, which was
responsible for member relations and communications, was formed the following
year. Gilles Menard headed up this new division in addition to his
responsibilities as corporate secretary at the time.
Aside from these changes, Co-op Atlantic also completed several
construction projects in the mid-1980s, such as the opening of the Henri
Durant Distribution Centre in 1985 and the Produce Wholesale Operation in
Moncton in 1986. The facility marked Co-op Atlantic's first venture into
produce. A grain storage facility was also built the same year in New Minas.
Fredericton Feed Mill
Looking to ensure that the organization was continuing to meet the needs of
co-ops throughout the region, Co-op Atlantic unveiled the Co-ops in the
Marketplace Study in 1986, which examined the relevancy of co-ops. The following
year, the organization celebrated its 60th anniversary in part by purchasing
outright the Henri Durant warehouse and incorporating the Atlantic Co-operatives
Development Fund. With this milestone and these initiatives behind them, Co-op
Atlantic closed out the decade with the Gander expansion and a three-floor
expansion to the McEwen Centre to accommodate the organization's ever-growing
workforce. The next decade would see Co-op Atlantic taking stock and making
preparations for doing business in the fast-approaching 21st century.
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1980s
- 1980 - René Levesque holds, and narrowly loses, a referendum
on Quebec independence.
- 1980 - Nearly 80 per cent of all U.S. households tune in to
Dallas to find out who shot J.R. Ewing.
- 1980 - John Lennon is killed by a fan outside his home in New
York City.
- 1981 - Diana Spencer marries Prince Charles, becoming
Princess of Wales.
- 1982 - Canada's constitutional powers at last transferred
from Britain.
- 1982 - Cheers debuts.
- 1983 - The largest audience ever to watch a single television
program tunes in for the series finale of M*A*S*H.
- 1986 - Space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after lift
off, killing all on board.
- 1988 - Prince Edward Islanders vote by a margin of 60% to 40%
in favour of exploring the building of a fixed link to the mainland.
- 1989 - The Mount Cashel sex scandal breaks.
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