Growing up in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Mikel and Joel Côté learned the importance of hard work from a very young age. Determination and teamwork were tenets of the family business, Canadian Eastern Growers and the brothers embodied those traits fully. Now, as the third generation to contribute to the company, their efforts have been a source of pride for the twins.
Their grandparents, Gilles and Ginette Côté, purchased 100 acres of old farmland in 1976 and worked countless hours to plant 50 acres of seed potatoes. Over the next several decades, the family was committed to producing the highest quality seed potatoes and has seen the business grow exponentially. With the help of their sons, Eric and Andre, Gilles and Ginette have seen Canadian Eastern Growers evolve into a 600-acre seed potato operation, consisting of over 30 commercial varieties and more than 850 acres of rotational crops.
When talking about life on the farm, Joel and Mikel always allude to how much support they have received from their family and the opportunity they have to contribute towards the future of the potato farming industry.
“Our tasks on the farm include seeding the oats, tilling the fields prior to potato planting, tending to oat fertility, cultivation and hilling of seed potato fields, managing seed potato diseases, spraying potato and oat fields, and harvesting oats.”
“We value sustainability. The farm operates mainly on a three-year rotation plan that includes potatoes, oats, and clover, which is also amended with compost and lime,” Mikel shares, clearly passionate about the business and his role in continuing its success.
Fast forward to 2022, Joel and Mikel realized they both had a passion for the sport of badminton. While not always easy to find competition - often having to drive over 200 km - they often had to rely just on each other to improve their game. Using YouTube tutorials, the occasional provincial tournament, and their commitment to nutrition and hard work, the twins quickly realized in high school that they had the tools to succeed in a sport typically dominated by athletes living and training in urban areas. Using a background in entrepreneurship and agriculture, they realized applying the principles of their family business can also help them with their athletic goals.
“Coming from a smaller community, we faced many challenges when we started playing the sport, such as a lack of coaching and a lack of gym availability” says Mikel. “We were able to overcome the first obstacle by watching YouTube tutorials and learning different techniques. We were looking to train on a daily basis, but we did not always have access to a gym, especially during the summer, when it was practically impossible to get on the court and train. We were able to overcome this by getting our own mat court and installing it into one of the barns at the farm”.
No matter the time of day, or conditions outside, the twins took every single opportunity to practice on their court and prepare for competitions all around Eastern Canada.
After having success at the junior provincial level in New Brunswick in Grade 11 and 12, the boys set their sights on the collegiate circuit and committed to the Dalhousie Rams in the fall of 2024. After adjusting to university life, Mikel and Joel pushed themselves all season, placing second in the ACAA, and earning a berth at the CCAA National Championships. After placing 5th in Canada in Men’s Doubles, defeating their rivals from the ACAA in their final match of the tournament, they realized what it will take to get to the next level. After another full summer of training, including having the opportunity to begin the process of Canada Games Tryouts in New Brunswick, has given the boys a renewed sense of confidence looking ahead to the 2025-26 season.
“It has been a privilege having the opportunity to coach Mikel and Joel. They are always eager to learn and never back down from a challenge” says Andrew Harding, Head coach of the Dalhousie Rams Badminton Team. “The dedication and effort they consistently put forward sets the tone for our team and has allowed them to see what is possible if they continue down this path. We have a great team of athletes and coaches here in Truro, I’m excited to see our athletes, led by Joel and Mikel, compete against the ACAA’s best starting in November”.