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Food News 2006

posted Dec.20 2006

The Milk Debate

From Dufferinpark website editor Jutta Mason:

A notice was sent out by e-mail, that Michael Schmidt had been persuaded to end his hunger strike (see the Glencolton web site), that the case has been taken on by Clayton Ruby, and that some chefs were coming to Queen's Park to stand in front of Mr.Schmidt's blue bus and talk about their support for this cause. So I went to see. Here's the story:

There were about 80 people there, and it was hard to see much at first because there were so many cameras at the front.

But I found park friends Melanie and Martti Lemieux with their two little sons (their family owns part of a Glencolton cow), and we watched together. Melanie and Martti, with Kian and Aiden

There were some young people holding posters, for instance this one: religious freedom

I had to try and get around the cameras to see Jamie Kennedy, who introduced his fellow chefs. Jamie has been a long-time friend of markets in general, as well as our park and the ovens -- one of the first park cooks, Dan DeMatteis, now works for Jamie. The other chefs told stories about what they buy from Mr.Schmidt (lots of variety), and at the end of their presentations, they each drank a glass of milk. (They all own part of a cow.) chefs, Jamie Kennedy in the center, holding the sign Staedlander

cameras   A man from the Landowners' Association spoke (sorry, I don't remember what his name is). He gave me a copy of "Landowner magazine," which says on the masthead that it's "a new and gutsy magazine for people with land." I've put the magazine in the rink house where people can look at it. Landowner

After the talking was done, suddenly a cow came around the corner, led by one of the Glencolton farmhands and surrounded by other people. The cow's name is Amelie, and she looked pretty scared. The security people at the legislature were even more scared, though, and mad. Their boss was walking up and down gesturing toward the cow, and then she and her guards cleared out all the nearby school classes who happened to be sitting on the steps of the Legislature.

Amelie being led in   Things looked a little grim, as though the cow might be a terrorist threat, and there was talk of charges being laid. But the chefs had presented a basket of food to the Durham member of parliament, asking him to take it up to the Premier as an offer of good will. The M.P.P. was standing there with his basket, telling Security that Amelie the Cow is so peaceful that she'd probably just lie down and go to sleep if they didn't take her back to the truck. The Security guy started to smile and the mood got lighter. M.P.P. Murdoch and Security

Amelie with Michael Schmidt, and a glass of milk Security chief, at center, is not pleased kids removed from vicinity of cow

Then Dufferin Grove Park friend Melanie Lemieux went over to Mr.Schmidt to give him two loaves of Dufferin Grove bread, baked in the park ovens. He looked at the bread and said: "This is the first thing I'll eat," and he broke off a bit of bread and drank a glass of milk.

Melanie gives the park oven bread

eat and drink

And after that it was pretty much milling around. M.P.P. Murdoch talked to Mr.Schmidt's son-in-law and to the publicist (who is giving her services for free). Other signs were held up.

right to choose

friendly M.P.P. Murdoch

Judith McGill, whose e-mails on this subject have been forwarded all over the world, talked to a reporter with a big wind sock over his mike. Then the police came, on bikes, and took out their note pads. Everybody talked to them and they began to joke around, and on that note, I went back to the park.

Judith McGill

police

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