Raw Milk Crusader: Timeline

1862

Louis Pasteur invents the pasteurization process in France.

1924

Rudolf Steiner lectures on a farming method termed "biodynamic" in Germany. Michael Schmidt's grandfather is his contemporary.

1938

The Milk Act made the pasteurization of milk compulsory in Canada, in an effort to combat Bovine Tuberculosis.

1983

Michael Schmidt immigrates to Canada from Germany. He and his wife purchase Glencolton Farms, and start a biodynamic farm.

1994

Milk War I --- Schmidt is charged and found guilty of selling and distributing unpasteurized milk. He is placed under probation for 2 years in an effort to stop him from producing and processing any milk. He sells hundreds of acres of the farm in order to pay his legal bills.

November 21, 2006

Milk War II --- 25-armed officers from various ministries of the Ontario government raid Glencolton Farms and confiscate milk, cheese equipment, office files and a computer. Schmidt begins his hunger strike.

December 7, 2006

MPP Bill Murdoch introduces a member's bill in the Ontario Legislature with the intent to form an all-party task force to study raw milk in the province. It is defeated 35 – 7.

December 20, 2006

Schmidt ends his 28-day hunger strike with a rally outside the Ontario Legislature, where he milks a cow.

September, 2008

The Regional Municipality of York v. Schmidt. 3-day trial for contempt of court charge for breach of a court order to stop distributing raw milk in the municipality.

October, 2008

Schmidt found guilty of contempt of court. Currently Schmidt is waiting for the judge to decide on the sentence with possibility of a fine.

January 22, 2009

Date set for Schmidt's trial relating to the numerous charges arising from the Nov '06 raid on his farm. Charges range from producing milk without a license, operating a milk processing plant without a license, selling and distributing raw milk without a license.