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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 50
Drayton, Ontario
Gingerbread fun - The Drayton Santa Claus Parade lit up the downtown with numerous glowing floats and entries on Dec. 6. The Peel Maryborough Mutual Insurance float featured a gingerbread house and a fire safety message. More parade photos on page 6. T&J Studios photo
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Rein-goats on parade - These young parade participants and their “rein-goats” were a big hit at the Moorefield Optimists Santa Claus parade, which travelled through downtown Moorefield to the delight of hundreds of spectators on Dec. 7. After the parade, Santa set up shop beside K.A. Hammond’s to meet local youngsters. More parade photos on pages 7 and 8. photo by Patrick Raftis
Jury finds Galbraith guilty of fraud in Pigeon King International scheme by Chris Daponte KITCHENER - Pigeon King International (PKI) owner Arlan Galbraith has been found guilty of fraud in connection with a pigeon breeding scheme that bilked area farmers out of millions of dollars. Galbraith was placed in jail following the Dec. 6 jury decision and will return to court, likely next month, for sentencing. Prosecutors are seeking a nine-year prison term.
Galbraith, 66, was expected back in court on Dec. 12 to set a date for sentencing and to possibly argue for his release on bail until the sentencing (the result of the appearance was not known by press deadline). Former PKI salesman Bill Top declined to comment on the guilty verdict when reached by the Community News on Dec. 9. “I’m not giving interviews,” said Top, a former
by Meagan Leonard MAPLETON - Funding capital projects in the coming year may be difficult due to additional cutbacks from the province, Mapleton council heard on Nov. 26. CAO Patty Sinnamon told council to expect a reduction of $189,000 in funding through the province’s Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), which may result in a reduction in the service level the township is able to provide. The cuts are in addition to an $85,000 cut in OMPF funding to the municipality in 2013, bringing Mapleton’s anticipated share of the OMPF allocation for 2014 down to $1,049,900.
Public works update Four bridges in Mapleton Township received muchneeded structural repairs in 2013, public works director Larry Lynch told council on Nov. 26. He also recommended guardrails be constructed on two additional bridges located on Wellington Road 11 due to dangerous drops on either side of the road. Lynch said the 100m of guardrail required could easily be installed this year, increasing safety during the winter driving season. The initial bridge repair project was completed $155,000 under budget. Council received the proposal for information, but has
Mapleton Township resident who resigned from the company in 2006. Now living in Alberta, Top was one of several former employees to testify against PKI and Galbraith during the four-week trial. Top testified that he quit Pigeon King amid concern that there was no end market for the pigeons being sold by the company to customers throughout Canada and the U.S.
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yet to decide if the surplus will be spent on further restoration or be added to the 2014 budget. Wind Turbine Construction of a single 0.5 megawatt turbine wind farm may soon be given the go ahead Mapleton council heard on Nov 26. The closest neighbour to the planning site at Lot 2, Concession 13 is 700 metres away, well beyond the required distance, said CAO Patty Sinnamon. A final draft agreement will be presented to council following the creation of a development and road access agreement with the township and final approval from the Ministry of Environment, she said.
CTV reported that during cross examination Top told Galbraith, who represented himself in the case, that PKI was “a corrupt business” and Top “did the right thing by stepping down.” PKI, which employed about 50 people and had offices in Moorefield and Waterloo, declared bankruptcy in 2008, leaving hundreds of thousands of pigeons in limbo (the province spent at least $100,000 for the gassing of about 175,000 pigeons) and some inves tors wondering if they would lose their farms. PKI had several holding barns throughout central and northern Wellington County, and would charge independent breeders up to $500 for a pair of breeding pigeons in return for a guarantee to buy back all their offspring for five or 10 years at about $50 each. Mapleton’s Ron Bults, whose wife Christine testified against Galbraith and PKI, also declined to comment when reached by the Community News on Dec. 9. Metro News reported Christine Bults testified on Nov. 12 that she and her husband got a loan in 2005 for $125,000 to buy breeding pigeons from Galbraith and
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to renovate a barn on their Drayton-area farm. When the business collapsed in 2008, the Bults’ still owed about $86,000 and were left with 3,000 pigeons, Metro News reported. Many PKI investors reported similar stories of buying 200 pairs of pigeons or more at a time, for a total investment upwards of $100,000, and transforming parts of their farm operation in order to breed pigeons. Bankruptcy documents filed by PKI indicated seven of 12 Canadian barns rented by PKI were located within Wellington County, as were the homes of at least 12 employees. The documents showed total PKI liabilities based in the county (for breeders and rented barns) were over $1.3-million. Overall, the PKI bankruptcy left hundreds of farmers in Canada and the U.S. with estimated losses of upwards of $20 million - not to mention flocks of worthless pigeons. A forensic accountant examined contracts after the bankruptcy and estimated PKI had $357 million in obligations to existing breeders. In an email to the Community News, Crime Busters Now president David
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Thornton said he felt his website had to act in 2006 to stop Galbraith and PKI. “I could see that at the rate Galbraith was going and the support he had behind him, he could easily destroy not only the North American farm community, but Europe and Asia as well, where he was planning to go next in his dream to become the world’s largest pigeon producer,” wrote Thornton, who was among the first to warn others of the alleged pyramid or Ponzi scheme. Galbraith originally offered pigeons for racing but later changed his business model. He often claimed, as he did on the PKI website, the goal was to “offer quality squab at a very affordable price on a massive scale,” which he said had never been done before. When PKI filed for bankruptcy in 2008 Galbraith sent a letter to breeders claiming the move was motivated by several economic factors and a “spiteful campaign” organized by his critics. Galbraith took the latter claim to new heights during the trial, during which he was repeatedly advised by a judge to get a lawyer. Yet Galbraith continued on Continued on page 2
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