content: <HTML>
  <HEAD>
     <TITLE>SunOpta Inc.: Form S-8 -  Filed by newsfilecorp.com</TITLE>
  </HEAD>
  
  <BODY style="font-size:10pt;">
  
  <HR noshade align="center" width=100% size=3 color="black">
  <A name=page_1></A>
  <P align=center>As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
  September 2, 2011</P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=right>Registration No. 333-______ </TD></TR></TABLE>
  <hr color="#000000">
  <P align=center><B><FONT size=5>UNITED STATES </FONT></B><BR><B><FONT
  size=5>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</FONT></B><BR><B>Washington, D.C.
  20549</B></P>
  <P align=center><b>_____________________</b><BR></P>
  <P align=center><B><FONT size=5>FORM S-8</FONT></B></P>
  <P align=center><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT </B><B>UNDER </B><B>THE SECURITIES ACT
  OF 1933</B></P>
  <P align=center><B><FONT size=5>SUNOPTA INC.</FONT></B><BR>(Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter) <br>
  <b>_____________________</b><BR></P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center><B>Canada </B></TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%"><B>Not applicable </B></TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center>(State or other jurisdiction </TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">(IRS Employer </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center>of incorporation or organization) </TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">Identification No.) </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD align=center>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD align=center>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center><B>2838 Bovaird Drive West </B></TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center><B>Brampton, Ontario, Canada </B></TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%"><B>L7A 0H2 </B></TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center>(Address of Principal Executive Offices) </TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">(Postal Code) </TD></TR></TABLE>
  <P align=center><b>_____________________<br>
  SunOpta Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, as Amended and Restated
  May 2011 </b><BR>(Full title of the plan)<br>
  <b>_____________________<br>
  <br>
  John Dietrich </b><BR><B>Vice President of Corporate
  Development </B><BR><B>SunOpta Inc. </B><BR><B>2838 Bovaird Drive West
  </B><BR><B>Brampton, Ontario L7A 0H2, Canada </B><BR><B>Tel.: (905) 455-1990
  </B><BR>(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for
  service)<BR></P>
  <P align=center><b>_____________________</b></P>
  <P align=center><B>Copy to: </B><BR><B>Reed W. Topham </B><BR><B>Stoel Rives LLP
  </B><BR><B>201 South Main Street, Suite 1100 </B><BR><B>Salt Lake City, Utah
  84111 </B><BR><B>Tel.: (801) 328-3131<br>
  _____________________ </B><BR></P>
  <HR style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always" align=center width="100%" color=black
  noShade SIZE=5>
  <!--$$/page=--><A name=page_2></A>
  <P align=justify>Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
  accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
  reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large accelerated filer,&#148;
  &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule 12b-2 of the
  Exchange Act (Check one):</P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center>Large accelerated filer&nbsp; [&nbsp;&nbsp; ]</TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">Accelerated
        filer&nbsp;
        [X]</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=center>Non-accelerated filer  &nbsp; [&nbsp;&nbsp; ] </TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%">Smaller reporting company&nbsp; [&nbsp;&nbsp;
    ]</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD align=center style="font-size: 8pt" >&nbsp;(Do not check if a smaller reporting
        company)  </TD>
      <TD align=center width="50%" >&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD align=left >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="50%" >&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>
  <hr color="#000000">
  <P align=center><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE </B></P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 height="75">
  
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left height="1"> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="1" ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap><B>Proposed </B> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap><B>Proposed</B></TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="1" ></TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left height="1"> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="1" ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap><B>Maximum</B></TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap><B>Maximum</B></TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="1" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="1" nowrap> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="1" ></TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left height="15"> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>Amount </B> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="15" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>Offering</B></TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="15" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>Aggregate </B> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="15" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>Amount of</B> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="15" ></TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left height="15"><B>Title of Securities to Be</B> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>to Be</B> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="15" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>&nbsp;Price Per</B> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="15" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>Offering</B> </TD>
      <TD align=center width="2%" height="15" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="1%" height="15" nowrap ></TD>
      <TD align=center width="10%" height="15" nowrap><B>Registration</B></TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="15" ></TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium" align=left height="16"><B>Registered</B>
      </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium" align=left width="1%" height="16"
      ></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium" align=center
        width="10%" height="16" nowrap><B>Registered (1)</B></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium" align=center width="2%" height="16" nowrap
      ></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium" align=center width="1%" height="16" nowrap
      ></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium" align=center
        width="10%" height="16" nowrap><B>Share (2)</B></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium" align=center width="2%" height="16" nowrap
      ></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium" align=center width="1%" height="16" nowrap
      ></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium" align=center
        width="10%" height="16" nowrap><B>Price (2)</B></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium" align=center width="2%" height="16" nowrap
      ></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium" align=center width="1%" height="16" nowrap
      ></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=center
        width="10%" height="16" nowrap><B>&nbsp;Fee</B></TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=left width="2%" height="16"
      ></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD height="15" style="border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium">&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="1%" height="15" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD width="10%" height="15" style="border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium">&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="2%" height="15" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD width="1%" height="15" style="border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD width="10%" height="15" style="border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium">&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="2%" height="15" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD width="1%" height="15" style="border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD width="10%" height="15" style="border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium">&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="2%" height="15" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD width="1%" height="15" style="border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD width="10%" height="15">&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="2%" height="15" ></TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left height="15">Common Shares, no par value </TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="15" style="border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD align=right width="10%" height="15">2,500,000 shares </TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="15" style="border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium" >(3) </TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="15" >$</TD>
      <TD align=right width="10%" height="15">&nbsp;5.07 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="15" style="border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="15" >$</TD>
      <TD align=right width="10%" height="15">&nbsp;12,675,000 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="15" style="border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium" ></TD>
      <TD align=left width="1%" height="15" >$</TD>
      <TD align=right width="10%" height="15">&nbsp;1,471.57 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="2%" height="15" ></TD></TR></TABLE><BR>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 BCLLIST>
  
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">(1) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
        amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;), this registration statement on Form S-8
        (this &#147;Registration Statement&#148;) also includes an indeterminate number of
        additional Common Shares that may be necessary to adjust the number of
        Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the above-named plan as a
        result of any future stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or
        similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration which
        results in an increase in the number of the registrant&#146;s outstanding
        Common Shares.</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">(2) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the
        amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) and (c) under the
        Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low sales prices for
        the Common Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on August 30,
        2011.</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">(3) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Represents additional Common Shares issuable pursuant to
        the SunOpta Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated May 2011
        (the &#147;Plan&#148;).</P></TD></TR></TABLE><BR>
  <HR style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always" align=center width="100%" color=black
  noShade SIZE=5>
  <!--$$/page=--><A name=page_3></A>
  <P align=center><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE </B></P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">This Registration Statement relates to an increase of 2,500,000
  additional Common Shares that are authorized for issuance under the Plan. </P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">The Common Shares registered pursuant to this Registration
  Statement are of the same class of securities as the 3,000,000 Common Shares
  registered for issuance under the Plan pursuant to the currently effective
  registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-124911) filed with the
  Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) on May 13, 2005 (the
  &#147;Original Registration Statement&#148;). An additional registration statement on Form
  S-8 (File No. 144827) was filed with the Commission on July 24, 2007, covering
  the registration of an additional 2,000,000 Common Shares authorized for
  issuance under the Plan (together with the Original Registration Statement, the
  &#147;Prior Registration Statements&#148;). Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8
  under the Securities Act, the contents of the Prior Registration Statements are
  hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, except as otherwise updated
  or modified by this Registration Statement and except to the extent the Original
  Registration Statement relates to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The current
  registration of 2,500,000 Common Shares will increase the number of Common
  Shares registered under the Plan from 5,000,000 to 7,500,000. </P>
  <hr color="#000000">
  <P align=center><B>PART II <br>
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B></P>
  <P align=justify><B>Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B></P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">The Commission allows us to &#147;incorporate by reference&#148; our
  publicly filed reports into this Registration Statement which means that
  information included in those reports is considered part of this Registration
  Statement. Information that we file with the Commission after the date of this
  Registration Statement will automatically update and supersede the information
  contained in this Registration Statement. We incorporate by reference into this
  Registration Statement the documents listed below and any future filings made
  with the Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until we have filed with the Commission a
  post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement indicating that we have
  sold all the Common Shares offered hereby or have deregistered any Common Shares
  then remaining unsold.</P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">The following documents filed with the Commission are
  incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference (other than any
  portions of the respective filings that were furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or
  7.01 of Current Reports on Form 8-K or other applicable rules of the
  Commission):</P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 BCLLIST>
  
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">1) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January
        1, 2011, as filed with the Commission on March 10, 2011;</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">2) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Our Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual and
        Special Meeting of Shareholders, as filed with the Commission on April 27,
        2011;</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">3) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
        April 2, 2011, as filed with the Commission on May 12, 2011;</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">4) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
        July 2, 2011, as filed with the Commission on August 10, 2011, and our
        amended Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended July 2,
        2011, as filed with the Commission on August 26, 2011;</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">5) </TD>
      <TD>
        <P align=justify>Our amended Current Reports on Form 8-K/A filed on
        January 24, 2011 and August 12, 2011, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K
        filed on March 10, 2011, May 3, 2011, May 12, 2011, May 24, 2011,
      May 31, 2011, June 10, 2011, July 6, 2011, August 9, 2011 and
        August 10, 2011; and</P></TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD>
        &nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD vAlign=top width="5%">6)</TD>
      <TD>
        The description of our Common Shares and rights set forth
        in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 2, 2011, including
        any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
        description.</TD></TR></TABLE><BR>
  <HR style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always" align=center width="100%" color=black
  noShade SIZE=5>
  <!--$$/page=--><A name=page_4></A><BR>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to
  be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
  for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
  contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
  deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
  statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
  as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
  Statement. </P>
  <P align=justify><B>Item 8. Exhibits.</B></P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">See the accompanying Exhibit Index for a list of Exhibits to
  this Registration Statement, which is incorporated by reference herein. </P>
  <HR style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always" align=center width="100%" color=black
  noShade SIZE=5>
  <!--$$/page=--><A name=page_5></A>
  <P align=center><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
  of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Brampton, Province of Ontario, Canada, on September
  2, 2011.</P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="26%" colSpan=2><B>SUNOPTA INC.</B> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="21%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="26%" colSpan=2>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="21%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%">By: </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=left width="21%">/s/
        Steven R. Bromley </TD>
      <TD align=left width="21%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="21%">&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="21%">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%">Name: </TD>
      <TD align=left width="42%" colspan="2">Steven R. Bromley </TD>
      </TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left>&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%">Title: </TD>
      <TD align=left width="42%" colspan="2">President and Chief Executive Officer </TD>
      </TR></TABLE>
  <P align=center><B><a name="poa"></a>POWER OF ATTORNEY </B></P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
  signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steven R. Bromley and John
  Dietrich, and each or either of them, his or her true and lawful
  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
  for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all
  capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
  to this Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
  to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
  therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
  attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and
  every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
  premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
  person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
  agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
  done by virtue hereof. </P>
  <P align=justify style="text-indent: 5%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
  this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities indicated on September 2, 2011. </P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" style="border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" style="border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1" ><B>Signature</B> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000" style="border-style: none; border-width: medium"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px solid #000000; ; border-left-style:none; border-left-width:medium; border-right-style:none; border-right-width:medium; border-top-style:none; border-top-width:medium" align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">
      <p align="center"><B>Title</B> </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="5%" bordercolor="#000000" style="border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By: </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000"
      >/s/ Steven R. Bromley </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
      </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >Steven R. Bromley </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;(Principal Executive
        Officer; Principal Financial and
        Accounting Officer) </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=left width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By: </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000"
      >/s/ Jeremy N. Kendall </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Chairman and Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >Jeremy N. Kendall </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By: </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000"
      >/s/ Cyril A. Ing </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >Cyril A. Ing </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By: </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000"
      >/s/ Allan Routh </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >Allan Routh </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By: </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000"
      >/s/ Katrina Houde </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >Katrina Houde </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By: </TD>
      <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1px solid" align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000"
      >/s/ Douglas Greene </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >Douglas Greene </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By:</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1" bordercolor="#000000" >/s/ Victor Hepburn </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1" bordercolor="#000000" >Victor Hepburn </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By:</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1" bordercolor="#000000" >/s/ Jay Amato </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1" bordercolor="#000000" >Jay Amato </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >By:</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1" bordercolor="#000000" >/s/ Alan Murray </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">Director </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" style="border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1; border-bottom-style:none; border-bottom-width:medium" bordercolor="#000000" >Alan Murray </TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=center width="25%" style="border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium" bordercolor="#000000" >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="5%" bordercolor="#000000"  >&nbsp;</TD>
      <TD align=left width="63%" bordercolor="#000000">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE>&nbsp;<HR style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always" align=center width="100%" color=black
  noShade SIZE=5>
  <!--$$/page=--><A name=page_7></A>
  <P align=center><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B> </P>
  <TABLE
  style="BORDER-COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; "
  cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
  
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left ><B>Exhibit Number</B> </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%"><B>Description</B> </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.1 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Amalgamation of Stake Technology Ltd. and
        3754481 Canada Ltd. (formerly George F. Pettinos (Canada) Limited)
        (incorporated herein by reference to our Form 10-KSB for the year ended
        December 31, 2000). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.2 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Certificate of Amendment dated October 31, 2003
        to change our name from Stake Technology Ltd. to SunOpta Inc.
        (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3i(b) to our Form 10-K for the year
        ended December 31, 2003). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.3 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        Sunrich Valley Inc., Integrated Drying Systems Inc., Kettle Valley Dried
        Fruits Ltd., Pro Organics Marketing Inc., Pro Organics Marketing (East)
        Inc., 4157648 Canada Inc. and 4198000 Canada Ltd. dated January 1, 2004
        (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3i(c) to our Form 10-K for the year
        ended December 31, 2003). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.4 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        6319734 Canada Inc., 4157656 Canada Inc. Kofman-Barenholtz Foods Limited
        dated January 1, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3i(d)
        to our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.5 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        4307623 Canada Inc., dated January 1, 2006 (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3i(e) to our Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 2005). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.6 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        4208862 SunOpta Food Ingredients Canada Ltd., 4406150 Canada Inc. and
        4406168 Canada Inc. dated January 1, 2007 (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3i(f) to our Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 2007). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.7 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        4460596 Canada Inc. Dated January 1, 2008 (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3i(g) to our Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 2007). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.8 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">Amended and Restated By-law 14 dated May 27,
        2010 (incorporated herein by reference to our Definitive Proxy Statement
        on Schedule 14A filed on April 29, 2010). </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" ><a href="exhibit4-9.htm">4.9</a> * </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><a href="exhibit4-9.htm">Form of certificate representing Common Shares,
        no par value</a> </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" >4.10 </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE">SunOpta Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, Amended
        and Restated May 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
        our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2011) </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" ><a href="exhibit5-1.htm">5.1</a> * </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><a href="exhibit5-1.htm">Opinion of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP with respect
        to the legality of the Common Shares being registered hereby </a> </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" ><a href="exhibit23-1.htm">23.1</a> * </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><a href="exhibit23-1.htm">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP</a> </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR vAlign=top>
      <TD align=left bgcolor="#EEEEEE" ><a href="exhibit5-1.htm">23.2</a> * </TD>
      <TD align=left width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><a href="exhibit5-1.htm">Consent of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP (included in
        Exhibit 5.1) </a> </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD >&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD width="90%">&nbsp; </TD></TR>
    <TR>
      <TD bgcolor="#EEEEEE" ><a href="#poa">24</a> * </TD>
      <TD width="90%" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><a href="#poa">Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this
        Registration Statement) </a> </TD></TR></TABLE>
  <P align=justify>* Filed herewith. </P>
  <HR align=center width="100%" color=black noShade SIZE=5>
  
  </BODY>
  
  </HTML>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 39788}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SunOpta Inc.", "cik": "0000351834", "assigned-sic": "5150", "irs-number": "000000000", "fiscal-year-end": "0101"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-176675", "film-number": "111074161"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2838 BOVAIRD DRIVE WEST", "city": "BRAMPTON", "state": "A6", "zip": "L7A 0H2", "phone": "(905) 455-1990"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2838 BOVAIRD DRIVE WEST", "city": "BRAMPTON", "state": "A6", "zip": "L7A 0H2"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "SUNOPTA INC", "date-changed": "20031107"}, {"former-conformed-name": "STAKE TECHNOLOGY LTD", "date-changed": "19940901"}]}
text: SunOpta Inc.: Form S-8 -  Filed by newsfilecorp.com
  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
  September 2, 2011
  Registration No. 333-______
  UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  Washington, D.C.
  20549
  _____________________
  FORM S-8
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  UNDER
  THE SECURITIES ACT
  OF 1933
  SUNOPTA INC.
  (Exact name of
  registrant as specified in its charter)
  _____________________
  Canada
  Not applicable
  (State or other jurisdiction
  (IRS Employer
  of incorporation or organization)
  Identification No.)
  2838 Bovaird Drive West
  Brampton, Ontario, Canada
  L7A 0H2
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  (Postal Code)
  _____________________
  SunOpta Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, as Amended and Restated
  May 2011
  (Full title of the plan)
  _____________________
  John Dietrich
  Vice President of Corporate
  Development
  SunOpta Inc.
  2838 Bovaird Drive West
  Brampton, Ontario L7A 0H2, Canada
  Tel.: (905) 455-1990
  (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for
  service)
  _____________________
  Copy to:
  Reed W. Topham
  Stoel Rives LLP
  201 South Main Street, Suite 1100
  Salt Lake City, Utah
  84111
  Tel.: (801) 328-3131
  _____________________
  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
  accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
  reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer,"
  "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
  Exchange Act (Check one):
  Large accelerated filer  [   ]
  Accelerated
        filer 
        [X]
  Non-accelerated filer    [   ]
  Smaller reporting company  [  
    ]
  (Do not check if a smaller reporting
        company)
  CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  Proposed
  Proposed
  Maximum
  Maximum
  Amount
  Offering
  Aggregate
  Amount of
  Title of Securities to Be
  to Be
  Price Per
  Offering
  Registration
  Registered
  Registered (1)
  Share (2)
  Price (2)
  Fee
  Common Shares, no par value
  2,500,000 shares
  (3)
  $
  5.07
  $
  12,675,000
  $
  1,471.57
  (1)
  Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
        amended (the "Securities Act"), this registration statement on Form S-8
        (this "Registration Statement") also includes an indeterminate number of
        additional Common Shares that may be necessary to adjust the number of
        Common Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the above-named plan as a
        result of any future stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or
        similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration which
        results in an increase in the number of the registrant's outstanding
        Common Shares.
  (2)
  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the
        amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) and (c) under the
        Securities Act, based on the average of the high and low sales prices for
        the Common Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on August 30,
        2011.
  (3)
  Represents additional Common Shares issuable pursuant to
        the SunOpta Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated May 2011
        (the "Plan").
  EXPLANATORY NOTE
  This Registration Statement relates to an increase of 2,500,000
  additional Common Shares that are authorized for issuance under the Plan.
  The Common Shares registered pursuant to this Registration
  Statement are of the same class of securities as the 3,000,000 Common Shares
  registered for issuance under the Plan pursuant to the currently effective
  registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-124911) filed with the
  Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on May 13, 2005 (the
  "Original Registration Statement"). An additional registration statement on Form
  S-8 (File No. 144827) was filed with the Commission on July 24, 2007, covering
  the registration of an additional 2,000,000 Common Shares authorized for
  issuance under the Plan (together with the Original Registration Statement, the
  "Prior Registration Statements"). Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8
  under the Securities Act, the contents of the Prior Registration Statements are
  hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, except as otherwise updated
  or modified by this Registration Statement and except to the extent the Original
  Registration Statement relates to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The current
  registration of 2,500,000 Common Shares will increase the number of Common
  Shares registered under the Plan from 5,000,000 to 7,500,000.
  PART II
  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
  The Commission allows us to "incorporate by reference" our
  publicly filed reports into this Registration Statement which means that
  information included in those reports is considered part of this Registration
  Statement. Information that we file with the Commission after the date of this
  Registration Statement will automatically update and supersede the information
  contained in this Registration Statement. We incorporate by reference into this
  Registration Statement the documents listed below and any future filings made
  with the Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until we have filed with the Commission a
  post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement indicating that we have
  sold all the Common Shares offered hereby or have deregistered any Common Shares
  then remaining unsold.
  The following documents filed with the Commission are
  incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference (other than any
  portions of the respective filings that were furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or
  7.01 of Current Reports on Form 8-K or other applicable rules of the
  Commission):
  1)
  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January
        1, 2011, as filed with the Commission on March 10, 2011;
  2)
  Our Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2011 Annual and
        Special Meeting of Shareholders, as filed with the Commission on April 27,
        2011;
  3)
  Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
        April 2, 2011, as filed with the Commission on May 12, 2011;
  4)
  Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
        July 2, 2011, as filed with the Commission on August 10, 2011, and our
        amended Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended July 2,
        2011, as filed with the Commission on August 26, 2011;
  5)
  Our amended Current Reports on Form 8-K/A filed on
        January 24, 2011 and August 12, 2011, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K
        filed on March 10, 2011, May 3, 2011, May 12, 2011, May 24, 2011,
      May 31, 2011, June 10, 2011, July 6, 2011, August 9, 2011 and
        August 10, 2011; and
  6)
  The description of our Common Shares and rights set forth
        in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 2, 2011, including
        any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
        description.
  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to
  be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
  for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
  contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
  deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
  statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
  as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
  Statement.
  Item 8. Exhibits.
  See the accompanying Exhibit Index for a list of Exhibits to
  this Registration Statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
  registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
  of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Brampton, Province of Ontario, Canada, on September
  2, 2011.
  SUNOPTA INC.
  By:
  /s/
        Steven R. Bromley
  Name:
  Steven R. Bromley
  Title:
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  POWER OF ATTORNEY
  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
  signature appears below constitutes and appoints Steven R. Bromley and John
  Dietrich, and each or either of them, his or her true and lawful
  attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
  for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all
  capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
  to this Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
  to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
  therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
  attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and
  every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
  premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
  person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
  agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
  done by virtue hereof.
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
  this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities indicated on September 2, 2011.
  Signature
  Title
  By:
  /s/ Steven R. Bromley
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
  Steven R. Bromley
  (Principal Executive
        Officer; Principal Financial and
        Accounting Officer)
  By:
  /s/ Jeremy N. Kendall
  Chairman and Director
  Jeremy N. Kendall
  By:
  /s/ Cyril A. Ing
  Director
  Cyril A. Ing
  By:
  /s/ Allan Routh
  Director
  Allan Routh
  By:
  /s/ Katrina Houde
  Director
  Katrina Houde
  By:
  /s/ Douglas Greene
  Director
  Douglas Greene
  By:
  /s/ Victor Hepburn
  Director
  Victor Hepburn
  By:
  /s/ Jay Amato
  Director
  Jay Amato
  By:
  /s/ Alan Murray
  Director
  Alan Murray
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit Number
  Description
  4.1
  Amalgamation of Stake Technology Ltd. and
        3754481 Canada Ltd. (formerly George F. Pettinos (Canada) Limited)
        (incorporated herein by reference to our Form 10-KSB for the year ended
        December 31, 2000).
  4.2
  Certificate of Amendment dated October 31, 2003
        to change our name from Stake Technology Ltd. to SunOpta Inc.
        (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3i(b) to our Form 10-K for the year
        ended December 31, 2003).
  4.3
  Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        Sunrich Valley Inc., Integrated Drying Systems Inc., Kettle Valley Dried
        Fruits Ltd., Pro Organics Marketing Inc., Pro Organics Marketing (East)
        Inc., 4157648 Canada Inc. and 4198000 Canada Ltd. dated January 1, 2004
        (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3i(c) to our Form 10-K for the year
        ended December 31, 2003).
  4.4
  Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        6319734 Canada Inc., 4157656 Canada Inc. Kofman-Barenholtz Foods Limited
        dated January 1, 2005 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3i(d)
        to our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004).
  4.5
  Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        4307623 Canada Inc., dated January 1, 2006 (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3i(e) to our Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 2005).
  4.6
  Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        4208862 SunOpta Food Ingredients Canada Ltd., 4406150 Canada Inc. and
        4406168 Canada Inc. dated January 1, 2007 (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3i(f) to our Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 2007).
  4.7
  Articles of Amalgamation of SunOpta Inc. and
        4460596 Canada Inc. Dated January 1, 2008 (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3i(g) to our Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 2007).
  4.8
  Amended and Restated By-law 14 dated May 27,
        2010 (incorporated herein by reference to our Definitive Proxy Statement
        on Schedule 14A filed on April 29, 2010).
  4.9
  *
  Form of certificate representing Common Shares,
        no par value
  4.10
  SunOpta Inc. 2002 Stock Option Plan, Amended
        and Restated May 2011 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
        our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 24, 2011)
  5.1
  *
  Opinion of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP with respect
        to the legality of the Common Shares being registered hereby
  23.1
  *
  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
  23.2
  *
  Consent of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP (included in
        Exhibit 5.1)
  24
  *
  Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this
        Registration Statement)
  * Filed herewith.