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By Pattison Media

Wynyard company aquires potash production facility

Mar 4, 2026 | 3:38 PM

Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals (SMMI) has purchased Compass Minerals in Wynyard, Sask., an operating sulphate of potash (SOP) production facility.   

The acquisition marks an important milestone in SMMI’s long term strategy to diversify sulphate-based production.  

The Wynyard facility has been in operation since 1984 and produces SOP for agricultural and industrial customers across North America.  

Under SMMI’s ownership, the facility will operate as part of an integrated sulphate production platform, supported by high-quality sodium sulphate inputs sourced from SMMI’s Chaplin, Sask. operations.  

SMMI Director of Strategic Integration Megz Reynolds said sodium sulfate is one of the important ingredients in making potash.  

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“We’ve always been looking at getting into the SOP market and the Wynyard facility, or Big Quill as we’re going back to that original name, has always been a longtime sodium sulfate customer of ours,” Reynolds said. “When the opportunity came up for us to acquire the Big Quill production facility, it was really the perfect next step in us not only expediting into the SOP market with a really amazing production facility, but being able to purchase an asset that’s been a long time customer of ours as well.”  

The acquisition brings ownership and operational control back to Saskatchewan from the United States. The acquisition doubles SMMI’s current business footprint and accelerates entry into the SOP market by providing an established operating base in Saskatchewan.  

The next phase includes the planned construction of a 50,000 to 100,000-ton sulphate potash production facility at the Chaplin site. 

Reynolds said SOP is also known as potassium sulphate.

“It is a fertilizer that is used on sensitive crops, so your produce, fruits, vegetables, nut trees, but it’s also really important on fields that may also already have high salinity. That could be a field under irrigation or fields that are in severe drought areas,” she said.

Buckley Belanger, secretary of state for rural development and member of Parliament for Desnethe – Missinippi – Churchill River, emphasized the importance of Canadian investment in rural economic growth. 

“For the workers and families in Wynyard, this is about stability and confidence that the next investments are being made right here in Saskatchewan,” Belanger said. “This facility has a long history and pairing it with sodium sulphate inputs from Chaplin helps keep more of the benefits, the paycheques, procurement, and long-term planning in our province’s rural communities.”

SMMI will work with the existing workforce and local partners to support a smooth transition, maintain consistent production, and ensure the continued supply of SOP to customers throughout North America. 

The Wynyard facility will now operate as Saskatchewan Mining and Minerals (Big Quill) Inc. 

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com