At CANNA we’re excited to share passionate grower stories from across Canada that resonate with our community and inspire us to “grow big or grow home”.
GROWER SPOTLIGHT
Hi, I'm Patrick Pagé, the Director of Cultivation at Great White North Growers. Our facility currently has 1,500 square feet of cultivation, and we also package for about 25 micro-LPs and LPs across Quebec. We’re building a phase two expansion to add an additional 4,000 square feet of cultivation as well as 3,000 square feet for processing.
Tell us about your journey from grower to Director of Cultivation.
My journey in cannabis started about seven years ago. I knew I wanted to get into the industry and do something with cannabis. I was lucky enough to get a job at Aurora Cannabis when they were focused on medical cannabis. I started as a trimmer, became a gardener, and later an irrigation specialist. I eventually ended up in New Brunswick and followed that journey to MTL Cannabis before landing at Great White North Growers.
I've always had a personal relationship with cannabis, and it has helped me throughout my life.
When I entered the industry, I expected a lot of good weed on the market, but what I saw was different. That pushed me to take a bigger role in the industry, aiming to grow flower that I could be proud of and that consumers would enjoy.
What significant challenges have you faced in your role as Master Grower?
There are many challenges, but one of the biggest is staying true to collecting data and following scientific processes, not just trusting grow science blindly. Another challenge is keeping up with the constantly evolving industry—new technology, new studies, and new ways of doing things. It's a constant learning process, but that's also what makes it fun.
Can you share a key turning point in your career?
A significant moment for me was joining Great White North Growers and becoming the Director of Cultivation. One of my milestones was dialing in the Amnesia Haze and bringing a top-quality product to market. That was a big achievement in my career.
What do you look for in a good nutrient?
For us at Great White North Growers, it's about ease of use, quality, and results. We’ve been using CANNA's coco substrate and nutrients, and they’ve been consistently reliable. We don’t have to worry about the nutrient aspect or the medium; we just focus on growing quality cannabis.
What are some major differences in the industry from then till now?
When I first started, if you had a strain that tested above 20% THC and was decent, it sold as long as the price point was right. But that’s not the case anymore. There are a lot of great people producing amazing products, so now, if you want to put something on the market, it really has to be top-tier.
What are your thoughts on Canada’s role in leading the way in legalized cannabis?
We should be proud of being the example. We were the first to legalize, and while it may have been slow and not perfect at the start, we're all going through the challenges together. Other countries are now following our lead, and Canada has become a global leader in the sector.
