Belleville’s Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday featured a VP for Hexo Corporation.
Pierre Killeen was on hand to discuss the company, which will be opening a cannabis extraction facility at the former Sears plant in the industrial park.
Killeen says one of their large joint ventures is with Molson Coors (Trust Beverages), to make a line of cannabis beverages.
Killeen says there is a whole new wave coming into the cannabis industry. He says it started medically, now recreational, and soon consumer products.
He says two of their main focuses align with government policy, public health and public safety.
Safety is a major priority for the product. Killeen says they are subject to unannounced inspections, and they have video and key card access to all doors. They also track everyone who comes on site.
The VP told the breakfast that everything has to be approved by a third party laboratory before getting released. He says there are 400 quality control touch points in the process of the products, from seed to sale.
Killeen says the future of the cannabis industry is not in smokeable products. He adds that the safety factor of legalized cannabis is critical.
He says they inform the consumer of the THC and CBD levels in the product.
Killeen explains that Hexo has a hub and spokes model. He says that is a major reason the Bay of Quinte region was so attractive to them.
The company is looking at numerous different avenues to take cannabis. Cosmetics, vaping, smoking, edibles, drinks, health and wellness, and food additives. They are looking at making Belleville a cluster for cannabis innovation.
At the end of the meeting, Killeen said he wanted everyone to take one message with them.
Belleville is going to be critical and a major focus for Hexo.
Here is Pierre Killeen’s full presentation to the Belleville Chamber breakfast. (note: a few times he goes off mic)
Pierre Killeen of Hexo Corp. VP, Government Relations and Corporate Communications (Photo: Tim Durkin/ Quinte News)
