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anadian senators don’t exactly have a
tradition of early retirement. So, it came as a bit of a
surprise when Conservative Senator JoAnne Buth
announced in June that she was resigning her post after just
two-and-a-half years in the upper chamber. Buth has returned
to her hometown of Winnipeg in order to take on a new role as
CEO of the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi).
Buth is taking over from Earl Geddes, who served in the
position for the last five years.
“I’m in listening mode,” she explained in August. “This is an
amazing organization. I’m just going through meetings with
each of the staff right now. There’s incredible dedication and
commitment here. It’s just great.”
For Buth, it’s the latest fresh start in a lifetime of fresh starts.
Over the decades, she has moved from one influential position
to the next, usually with an agriculture connection.
“I really believe that when you come into a job you bring a
fresh perspective,” she observed. “And, over the years, you
lose that perspective and your ability to bring a new approach
to things. You have to try to keep your mind fresh.”
Buth can trace her agriculture connection back to a career
aptitude test she completed when she was a high school
student.
“My listing said that I should either go
into the military, be an accountant or be a
farmer,” laughed Buth. “I don’t know what
any of those have in common. Perhaps
it’s discipline and courage? Certainly
nowadays, if you think of the people
involved in farming, it takes a lot of courage
and commitment.”
Buth completed a B.Sc. in botany at the
University of Winnipeg before moving on to
complete a master’s in entomology from the
University of Manitoba.
“I did my master’s on mosquitoes while I
was working for the City of Winnipeg’s insect control branch.
Winnipeg is a good place to do research on mosquitoes,” she
said, smiling.
After about six years with the city, Buth felt ready for her first
big change in professional scenery. She landed a position
as information officer at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s
(AAFC) research station in Winnipeg. The job cemented her
interest in agriculture, said Buth.
“I was working with some of the big-name people who
developed varieties—especially the wheat varieties—that were
grown across the Prairies.”
After AAFC, Buth spent some time with DowElanco Canada.
Then came an eight-year stint with Manitoba Agriculture,
where she progressively moved into management positions
running several different sections, including soil and water, crop
development and weed management.
With her next job, at the Canola Council of Canada (CCC),
Buth began to develop a national profile.
“The VP of crop production came up. I went for it, and got it,”
recalled Buth. “I always wanted to get into an organization and
really make a difference.”
According to all accounts, she succeeded. At the time
she joined the CCC, canola had been steadily declining in
planted acres.
“It was a really good time to come in and take a close look at
the programming and what we were doing,” said Buth. After
serving as VP for eight years—starting with crop production and
later taking on the biotechnology files—Buth took over as CCC
president.
Robert Hunter, currently director of communications at
CropLife International, worked closely with Buth during her time
at the CCC. Hunter gives Buth much of the credit for canola’s
remarkable turnaround.
“Everyone believed in the canola vision for 15 million tonnes
by 2015. But it was really JoAnne who, in the end, gave people
the actual plan to see that realized.”
Years later, Hunter continues to see Buth as a mentor and
role model.
“One of her biggest assets is her ability to bring people
together—to get a bunch of people around
the table, and have them leave their hats at
the door,” he said.
Then, after an unprecedented 13 years
with one organization, Buth got a call from
the Prime Minister’s Office.
“It came right out of the blue,” recalled
Buth. “I was out of town, and my assistant
sent me a note saying that Derek Vanstone
from the PMO had called and wanted me to
call him back—no rush.”
Buth assumed Vanstone was calling for
her ideas for a board, or something of that
nature.
“I forwarded the message to a couple of friends over
the weekend, and said I was going to hold out for a Senate
appointment—just joking. And then, I called him the following
Monday, and he said, ‘The Prime Minister wants to know if you
would be interested in an appointment to the Senate.’ I just
about fell off my chair.”
AWinnipeg reporter asked Buth how she thought she
would do as a senator, considering her total lack of political
experience.
“I told her there’s nothing more political than the grain
industry,” Buth laughed.
Even today, Buth feels awestruck over her Senate
appointment.
“I was number 916 in Canada. I mean, just think about that—
916 since Confederation.”
Despite a steep learning curve, Buth soon realized her
management experience would serve her well.
Fall
2014
Grains
West
44
“I just thought it
was a really great
opportunity to come
back into the ag
industry, and to work
in an organization
that’s a real jewel.”
–JoAnne Buth
C