The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) held its 2020 Annual General Meeting from March 10 to 12 at the Westin Ottawa. The 2020 AGM theme was Healthy Plants, Healthy People. More than 150 delegates and observers came together in Ottawa to discuss policy issues and to hear presentations from government and industry representatives.
2020 Board of Directors named
- President: Brian Gilroy (ON)
- 1st Vice President: Jan VanderHout (ON)
- 2nd Vice President: Marcus Janzen (BC)
- Chair, Finance: Jocelyn St-Denis (QC)
- Jason Smith (BC)
- Beth Connery (Prairies)
- Albert Cramer (Prairies)
- Bill George (ON)
- Stephanie Levasseur (QC)
- Gerald Dykerman (Atlantic)
- Russell Weir (Atlantic)
Working Group Chairs named
- Industry Standards and Food Safety
- Chair: Jody Mott
- Vice Chair: Nancy Chong
- Labour
- Chair: Beth Connery
- Vice Chairs: Ken Forth, Pinder Dhaliwal, Fernando Borja
- Trade and Marketing
- Chair: Ken Forth
- Vice Chair: Sanford Gleddie
- Crop Protection
- Chair: Jason Smith
- Vice Chair: Tracy Shinners-Carnelley
- Business Risk Management
- Chair: Stefan Larrass
- Vice Chair: Mark Wales
- Energy, Environment and Climate Change
- Chair: Justine Taylor
- Vice Chair: Jan VanderHout
- Apple and Fruit
- Apple WG Chair: Brian Gilroy
- Grape Co-Chair: Matthias Oppenlaender
- Tender Fruit Co-Chair: Phil Tregunno
- Berry WG Chair: John Handrahan
- Vegetable
- Chair: Joanne Driscoll
- Vice Chair: Jody Mott
- Greenhouse Vegetable
- Chair: Linda Delli Santi
- Vice Chair: Justine Taylor
- Potato
- Chair: Bill Zylmans
- Vice Chair: Brenda Simmons
- National Seed Potato
- Chair: Gord Visser
- Vice Chair: Deb Hart
Outstanding Achievement Award: Linda Delli-Santi
This award recognizes individuals that have demonstrated, over many years, untiring efforts to improve the field of horticulture within or outside Canada, through leadership, innovation, cooperation and hard work. The individual will have shown dedication, long term commitment and an outstanding contribution of time and effort.
Linda Delli Santi is the Executive Director of the BC Greenhouse Growers Association and continues to serve as the Chair of the CHC Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group since being nominated in 2007. Her valuable leadership has been pivotal in developing a collaborative national forum for greenhouse vegetable growers.
CHC Honourary Life Member: Shirley Archambault
While Shirley is not technically a CHC Member, Shirley has a great deal of history with CHC.
Shirley held several positions before she joined the Canadian Horticultural Council in 1998 as a Policy Affairs Coordinator where she was responsible for the coordinating Minor Use Pesticide Projects. She then went on to join the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2003 with the establishment of the Pest Management Centre and launching of the Minor Use Pesticide Program as National and International Relations Officer.
Throughout her career, Shirley has been a key contributor to the competitive parity of Canadian growers with their American counterparts, by ensuring our growers have access to the same safe, effective pest control products. She has never been intimidated in the face of difficulties when it came to providing support to Canadian growers, often relying on her extensive network within the grower community, provincial officers, industry and her colleagues at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
CHC Honourary Life Member: Tom O’Neill
Providing a fresh outlook over the course of his career, Tom has continued to learn all aspects of this challenging industry, embracing tradition as well as forging ahead into the future.
Tom has very successfully represented the Apple Marketers’ Association of Ontario at the former Ontario Apple Marketing Commission, Ontario Apple Growers, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association and the Canadian Horticultural Council. Tom has also served as the Canadian representative to the U.S. Apple Association from 1992 to 2000.
Tom is always willing to share his wealth of knowledge mentoring many in the sector. He continues to strive for excellence with a constant interest in staying current in the world market, a testament to his dedication to the Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association and the Ontario apple industry.
For more information:
Canadian Horticultural Council
2200 Prince of Wales Drive
Suite 102, Ottawa, ON K2E 6Z9
(613) 226-4880
admin@hortcouncil.ca
www.hortcouncil.ca