A Crossfield-based cannabis producer presented the Town of Crossfield with a cheque to be allocated to the Town’s recreation programming during the council's final meeting of 2021 on Dec. 21.
Darren Buell, chief financial officer and founding partner of 314 Pure Cannabis, said after the company’s first profitable year, he wanted to give back to the Town following the previous council’s investment in the business.
“It has been a long road and I am here tonight and happy to say this is our first full year of revenue and [we] would like to offer a cheque in the amount of $26,871.11 to the Town of Crossfield,” he said during the meeting.
Buell first co-founded the company in 2018, just prior to the Canadian government’s legalization of recreational marijuana use.
At the time, he and his team were looking for the perfect home for the facility and decided on the town of Crossfield. They said since coming to the town, they have been supporting the local economy through the hiring of Crossfieldians.
“I am a big supporter of Crossfield as I live eight minutes away and a lot of my friends and business partners live in the town,” he said. “Being selfish, I wanted to keep my drive short – I introduced my co-founders to the past council and CAO and the land purchase was made from the Town.
“We are also happy to say that 75 per cent of our workforce resides in Crossfield and surrounding areas,” he added.
Once the Town of Crossfield had invested in the land, Buell said the company wanted to find a way to give back to the municipality and to the community “through an agreement of support and share in the gross revenue of the company.”
Buell said he hopes the Town of Crossfield can see 314 Pure Cannabis' donation as a community investment to help support growth in Crossfield.
“We also would like to say thank you to past council and welcome new council and hope this strong partnership will continue,” he said.
Buell also offered both Mayor Kim Harris and council members a private tour of the cannabis production company’s facility in the new year.
In response to Buell’s presentation, Harris said she is happy to see any contribution and partnership that local businesses can make with the Town to make the community “grow and be better and healthier.”
“On behalf of council, I want to thank you for your generous contribution,” she said during the meeting. “I know that it’s going to go to a good cause.”
Harris added the funds have been allocated towards recreation programming within the town.
“We don’t know what that looks like yet, but we’ll wait until after our recreation needs assessment [is completed],” she said.
Carmen Cundy, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @carmenrcundy
