Published August 2024

"What do I love about this business? Well, you’re a part of somebody’s life every day.” 

This sentiment from owner and plant manager of Mountain View Poultry, Jonathan Kielstra, sets the tone perfectly for the story on which we are about to embark.

Chicken has been a pillar of family dinners across the globe for generations. In fact, following pork, poultry is the second most widely consumed meat in the world. Versatile, lean and full of protein, there’s a reason so many people choose to enjoy it as part of their regular diet. 

Back in May, Sunterra began an exciting new partnership with Mountain View Poultry; an Alberta-based, family-owned chicken producer with a decades-long history in humanely raising high quality chickens. We had the privilege of sitting down with Jonathan, a third-generation member of this family business. Sitting down in the boardroom, we readied ourselves to learn more about their operations and the offerings our customers can now enjoy across our markets.

The origins of the Kielstra family business date back over 50 years ago. Jonathan’s grandmother and grandfather emigrated from Holland in 1952, settling in Abbotsford, B.C. In 1969, after the death of his grandfather, Jonathan’s father and his five brothers established what would become a multigenerational legacy of farming and further processing, beginning with a dairy farm. 

With the whole family now involved in the business operations, the desire to expand and diversify was a natural next step.

In the 1970s, Jonathan’s father moved to Southern Alberta to expand into crop and dairy farming. Another Uncle soon followed suit in 1979 with the purchase of a poultry farm and processing plant in Okotoks.

This wasn’t just any poultry farm, either. Many Calgarians and regular city visitors are familiar with the iconic fried chicken joint Chicken on the Way, but even loyal patrons may not know that this Kensington institution was first created to be a storefront for Mountain View Poultry! 

“We’re still their exclusive supplier to this day,” says Jonathan, confirming their ongoing partnership.

After moving to Okotoks in 1991, Jonathan’s personal involvement in the family business began in bakery manufacturing; another more recent branch of the family business. When his Uncle Herman was ready to move on from the poultry business, Jonathan switched gears to take over for him in 2000. Jonathan now works with a few of his cousins, his wife, Audrey, who manages receivables and his eldest son, Ty, who has recently been spearheading a movement aptly named No Farms No Food.

When it comes to their product, Mountain View prioritizes not only quality, but the welfare of their animals. Care of their chickens encompasses two major areas: diet and environment. When asked about what makes Mountain View different from their competitors, Jonathan stresses the time and attention given to their animals’ nutrition. Using zero antibiotics, the chickens are fed a lean, amino-acid-rich, grain-based diet monitored by a nutritionist who works as part of their full veterinary team.  This diet results in a healthier, happier animal and therefore a better quality product for their consumers. 

“I can say with certainty you will taste a difference,” Jonathan states.

The birds are raised in Mountain View’s 20 barns across Okotoks and Strathmore. These barns are carefully controlled for optimal humidity, temperature and air flow for the comfort of the chickens. Team members also walk the barns frequently to ensure the wellness of the animals. Within the barns, the chickens are free-run and given the opportunity to eat, drink and roam at their leisure.

“Farming is a necessity for life, but the animals need to be handled in the most humane way possible — that’s just what I believe,” says Jonathan. “It’s not just dollars to me.”

This care for those around him also goes beyond the animals. Mountain View’s team of around 70 staff includes a lot of long-term employees, many of which are residents of the surrounding towns, as well as local students.

“Everybody wants to call you ‘boss’, but I don’t like those terms — I’m just Jonathan,” he says with sincerity in his tone. “I don’t want anyone to ever feel that I’m more important than them.”

Beyond their excellent products, it’s this team-first, family-oriented mindset that makes Sunterra’s relationship with Mountain View one to be proud of. With our own generations-long history in farming, the synergies between the two families create a natural alliance our customers can count on.

Jonathan makes a point to express gratitude to his family for his upbringing and the values he still implements in his business today. 

“Growing up on the farm is great — you learn to put others before you,” he says with pride. “I wish Grandma could be here to see what we’ve accomplished.” 

To close out our visit, we naturally had to inquire if Jonathan has any favourite dishes.

“Chicken parmesan,” he grins. “My wife’s secret recipe.” Our mouths are already watering.

Excited to start whipping up your own tasty chicken recipes? Visit any of our meat departments to shop fresh wings, breasts, thighs, drumsticks and whole chickens. Plus, you can now enjoy the goodness of Mountain View poultry in tons of scratch-made Sunterra products, including our signature butter chicken.