Lakeview Turkeys Limited

April 9, 2022

This article was done in partnership with the Lac du Bonnet & District Historical Society. It appeared in the April 7, 2022 edition of the Lac du Bonnet Clipper. 

Turkeys fascinated Fred Gauer and, even though he knew nothing about the birds, he wanted to raise them. In 1956, after vacationing in Lac du Bonnet for thirty-two years, Gauer decided to make the community his permanent home. He entered into a one-year partnership with a local turkey farmer, who had started his interest in the birds, and purchased 200 acres of land on the east side of the Winnipeg River, near the bridge. Local men cleared the bush and constructed buildings. That first year he raised 1,500 turkeys, a number that doubled annually.

The farm, managed by Gordon McKeown, was a large complex. It had a “laying flock” of 4,000 turkeys, a brooder building with space for 9,000 birds and four growing barns with a combined capacity of 13,000. Each building had modern ventilation systems and water was pumped year-round from the Winnipeg River using underground pipes. Gauer purchased 40,000 bushels of oats and wheat for turkey feed from sixty-two local farmers, though automation processes allowed the farm to operate with only three employees. As his operation grew, the local farmers couldn’t supply enough feed, so Gauer had it shipped out weekly from Winnipeg.

The Gauer Estate was compared to a Hollywood villa, with its swimming pool, duck pond, acres of gardens and manicured lawns, and four miles worth of roads. The “posh layout” drew the attention of airborne tourists and, after many turkeys panicked and died because of low-flying aircraft, the Department of Transport declared the Gauer lands a restricted area.

In addition to his farm, Gauer constructed a processing plant close to the village that was considered “the most modern” poultry plant in North America. At the time of its opening in June 1959, the plant had 35 employees, two government inspectors and could process 450 birds an hour. Once fully operational, Gauer anticipated an annual production of 100,000 birds and employment for sixty people.

Lakeview Turkeys Limited covered the process from egg to packaged, frozen turkey. Gauer had the ability to give customers choice, offering turkeys as small as 6 lbs. and as large as 20 lbs. He also marketed turkey roasts, becoming the first to produce them in Canada.

Though Gauer wasn’t in it for his own profit, his vision was to improve agriculture and business in Lac du Bonnet. He wanted locals to come together to create a turkey industry. His hope was that farmers would raise turkeys, and for those who were already poultry producers, he made it convenient to get their birds to market.

Gauer spent $1,250,000 on his hatchery, raising and processing operations to become Manitoba’s largest turkey producer, but by 1961, his venture failed. Lac du Bonnet farmers weren’t interested in turkeys. The 40,000 turkeys processed at Thanksgiving that year were all his own. In order to keep the plant running, Gauer would have required another $500,000 farm upgrade and a yearly production of 150,000 turkeys. The plan wasn’t feasible, so Gauer shut down the entire operation.

In 1966, Gauer and McKeown started Aquanautics Canada Ltd. in the former plant building. This company operated for a short time, manufacturing the Nordak II, a fibreglass boat driven by a large four-bladed propeller capable of summer and winter use. Afterwards, the building was vacant for two decades. New owners completed extensive renovations and Watertown opened in July 1991. Most of the Gauer Estate is now a cottage subdivision.

References:

“Lac du Bonnet C of C to Hold Agricultural Night.” Springfield Leader (Lac du Bonnet, MB), December 23, 1958.
“Lakeview Turkeys Starts Production.” Springfield Leader, June 2, 1959.
“From 1,500 in ’57 to 100,000.” Springfield Leader, June 9, 1959.
“Summer Vacation Decides Location.” Springfield Leader, June 9, 1959.
“30,000 in ’59. Future Growth 100,000.” Springfield Leader, June 9, 1959.
“$500,000 Turkey Plant.” Springfield Leader, June 9, 1959.
“Awards, Promotions, Appointments.” Winnipeg Tribune, June 20, 1959.
“Canada’s Finest Turkey Plant near Lac du Bonnet.” Winnipeg Free Press, April 26, 1960.
“Farm Sells 100,000 Turkeys a Year.” Winnipeg Free Press, March 28, 1961.
Ted Byfield. “Tale of a Turkey Tycoon.” Winnipeg Free Press, October 7, 1961.
“Turkey Plant to Reopen.” Springfield Leader, May 10, 1966.
“Annual Boat Show Opens Wednesday.” Winnipeg Free Press, March 21, 1967.
“Making it official.” The Leader (Lac du Bonnet, MB), June 4, 1991.