Northorizon: two breakout rooms, and the bison equipment came out of the sale

BDO Canada Limited was appointed receiver on June 13, 2025 over all the assets, undertakings and properties of Northorizon Farms Inc. and of Jonathan and Amy Karhi personally, on the application of Agriroots Realty Inc. as general partner for the Agriroots Diversified Lending Fund LP, per Endorsement of Justice Rasaiah, May 15, 2026, para. 1 and Northorizon Order, June 13, 2025.

Eleven months later it came back for an approval and vesting order on the real property, per Motion Record of the Receiver, May 4, 2026 and Amended Notice of Motion, May 4, 2026.

What happened at the hearing is worth reading if you ever appear against a self-represented party.

The process the receiver ran

The receiver's case for approval was the ordinary one, and on the endorsement's summary it was well-made, per Endorsement, May 15, 2026, para. 1:

BDO procured three appraisals, hired a listing agent, and over roughly nine months received multiple offers before entering into a sale agreement. It submitted the process was efficient, fair and provident; that the property was properly marketed to obtain the best price and terms in the circumstances; that completing the transaction was in the interest of all parties; and that it was supported by the senior secured creditor.

It also sought a sealing order over the confidential material, on the usual footing — that dissemination could impair the value-maximising purpose of the sales process, that the request was fair and reasonable, and that it would achieve the desired benefit without unduly impairing the openness of the court's process. It provided the intended distribution of proceeds and professional fees, and asked for discharge on completion of its remaining duties and the filing of a certificate.

Three appraisals and nine months of marketing on a farm property is a thorough record. On its own it would have taken a few minutes.

The respondent

Northorizon and Amy Karhi did not appear. Jonathan Karhi appeared, unrepresented.

He had filed his own motion to adjourn the receiver's motion, on the ground that he needed time to obtain legal counsel and further advice, because his previous counsel had retired. He said he had lost his counsel in the spring, and asked only for a short adjournment, per Endorsement, May 15, 2026, para. 2.

Also present was Mr. Romano, as agent for counsel to the purchaser.

Then the sentence that describes the actual problem in the room:

Counsel and I were confused as to what Mr. Karhi's position is and/or who he was purporting to speak for and/or his concerns, Mr. Karhi making comments regarding certain chattels.

Per Endorsement, May 15, 2026, para. 4.

That is a familiar and genuinely difficult situation. A self-represented person is objecting to something. He is not framing it in a way that maps onto the relief sought, and it is not clear whether he is speaking for himself, for his wife, or for the corporation. The receiver has a motion record, a purchaser waiting and a senior secured creditor behind it. On a strict reading, there is no properly articulated ground of opposition.