By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Murad Al-Katib was on the edge of his seat as he waited for the movie to start.

And with good reason: the film he was about to watch was telling his own story.

“Changing the Pulse of the Province,” a 27-minute documentary, premiered Aug. 30 at the Persephone Theatre at Saskatoon’s Remai Arts Centre.

The film was the third entry in the Popcorn and Entrepreneurship series, produced by the North Saskatoon Business Association.

The movie tells the story of Al-Katib, who was born and raised in Davidson, and the company he founded, AGT Food and Ingredients.

The company distributes lentils, chickpeas and other crops to more than 120 countries internationally, generating $2 billion a year in revenue.

Though he was interviewed extensively for the movie, Al-Katib said he had no say in the final cut and had to wait for the premiere like everyone else.

In the last year, Al-Katib has received two international awards, beginning with the Business for Peace Award, presented in a gala in Oslo, Norway on May 16.

On June 10, he accepted the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 award at a ceremony in Monaco.

This string of events may have given some the perception that Al-Katib actively seeks the spotlight, but he said the truth is actually the opposite of that.

“I don’t like the accolades and all of that all the time,” he told the Leader, characterizing himself as a humble, hard-working guy who “just did my job.”

He said he hopes the film will serve as an inspiration to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The documentary begins with Al-Katib’s formative years in Davidson, where his parents arrived in 1969.

The couple, both Turkish immigrants, quickly became pillars in the community. Al-Katib’s father operated a medical practice in town for more than 30 years.

His mother Feyhan, who didn’t speak English when she arrived in town, went on to serve in various civic and volunteer roles, including three terms as Davidson’s mayor. Murad, their youngest son, was born here in 1972.

The film discusses Al-Katib’s journey in education and career, including his fateful decision to leave his government job to start the company that became AGT.

In addition to Al-Katib himself, the film features interviews with his family members, including his wife Michelle, brother Omer, and his parents Dr. Fatih and Feyhan Al-Katib.

Premier Brad Wall is featured speaking about Al-Katib’s success and the impact his company has had on Saskatchewan agriculture and the provincial economy.

The film crew also interviewed Lori Ireland, AGT’s second employee and now its chief financial officer, along with Davidson farmer Gerrid Gust.

AGT began operations in 2003, went public in 2007 and now has 2,000 employees on five continents. In 2016 the company was ranked No. 9 on SaskBusiness’s list of the Top 100 Companies in Saskatchewan.

The company is also a major partner with the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Their efforts have led to the distribution of more than 4.5 million food parcels to refugee families, equivalent to 700 million meals.

Al-Katib said he was pleased with the film, explaining, “It was a very, very proud experience for me to be able to reflect on what’s happened over the last 15 years.”

He said he was appreciated how the film showcased Davidson and district, saying the values he learned growing up there have guided him throughout his career.

Al-Katib noted that a large contingent from Davidson attended the premiere.

This included his longtime neighbour Vanna Gay Shaw and childhood friends like Gerrid Gust, Jason Low and Jason Shaw and their respective spouses, as well as Corla Rokochy and Stephanie Prpick-Boss.

Also in attendance was Betty Crowley, who with her late husband Bob, gave Al-Katib his first job at the Husky gas station in Davidson.

The film includes many colourful anecdotes, including Murad’s first political protest. As a pre-teen, he and his friends picketed Davidson town hall over a bylaw restricting the use of dirtbikes.

The protest drew the attention of camera crews from city TV stations and caused no small amount of embarrassment for Murad’s mother, then serving on town council.

The complete film can be viewed online by searching YouTube, or visiting the following address: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGj_0KfXPec.

DAVIDSON — Murad Al-Katib was on the edge of his seat as he waited for the movie to start.

And with good reason: the film he was about to watch was telling his own story.

“Changing the Pulse of the Province,” a 27-minute documentary, premiered Aug. 30 at the Persephone Theatre at Saskatoon’s Remai Arts Centre.

The film was the third entry in the Popcorn and Entrepreneurship series, produced by the North Saskatoon Business Association.

The movie tells the story of Al-Katib, who was born and raised in Davidson, and the company he founded, AGT Food and Ingredients.

The company distributes lentils, chickpeas and other crops to more than 120 countries internationally, generating $2 billion a year in revenue.

Though he was interviewed extensively for the movie, Al-Katib said he had no say in the final cut and had to wait for the premiere like everyone else.

In the last year, Al-Katib has received two international awards, beginning with the Business for Peace Award, presented in a gala in Oslo, Norway on May 16.

On June 10, he accepted the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 award at a ceremony in Monaco.

This string of events may have given some the perception that Al-Katib actively seeks the spotlight, but he said the truth is actually the opposite of that.

“I don’t like the accolades and all of that all the time,” he told the Leader, characterizing himself as a humble, hard-working guy who “just did my job.”

He said he hopes the film will serve as an inspiration to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The documentary begins with Al-Katib’s formative years in Davidson, where his parents arrived in 1969.

The couple, both Turkish immigrants, quickly became pillars in the community. Al-Katib’s father operated a medical practice in town for more than 30 years.

His mother Feyhan, who didn’t speak English when she arrived in town, went on to serve in various civic and volunteer roles, including three terms as Davidson’s mayor. Murad, their youngest son, was born here in 1972.

The film discusses Al-Katib’s journey in education and career, including his fateful decision to leave his government job to start the company that became AGT.

In addition to Al-Katib himself, the film features interviews with his family members, including his wife Michelle, brother Omer, and his parents Dr. Fatih and Feyhan Al-Katib.

Premier Brad Wall is featured speaking about Al-Katib’s success and the impact his company has had on Saskatchewan agriculture and the provincial economy.

The film crew also interviewed Lori Ireland, AGT’s second employee and now its chief financial officer, along with Davidson farmer Gerrid Gust.

AGT began operations in 2003, went public in 2007 and now has 2,000 employees on five continents. In 2016 the company was ranked No. 9 on SaskBusiness’s list of the Top 100 Companies in Saskatchewan.

The company is also a major partner with the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Their efforts have led to the distribution of more than 4.5 million food parcels to refugee families, equivalent to 700 million meals.

Al-Katib said he was pleased with the film, explaining, “It was a very, very proud experience for me to be able to reflect on what’s happened over the last 15 years.”

He said he was appreciated how the film showcased Davidson and district, saying the values he learned growing up there have guided him throughout his career.

Al-Katib noted that a large contingent from Davidson attended the premiere.

This included his longtime neighbour Vanna Gay Shaw and childhood friends like Gerrid Gust, Jason Low and Jason Shaw and their respective spouses, as well as Corla Rokochy and Stephanie Prpick-Boss.

Also in attendance was Betty Crowley, who with her late husband Bob, gave Al-Katib his first job at the Husky gas station in Davidson.

The film includes many colourful anecdotes, including Murad’s first political protest. As a pre-teen, he and his friends picketed Davidson town hall over a bylaw restricting the use of dirtbikes.

The protest drew the attention of camera crews from city TV stations and caused no small amount of embarrassment for Murad’s mother, then serving on town council.

The complete film can be viewed online by searching YouTube, or visiting the following address: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGj_0KfXPec.