The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) held its 2020 Annual General Meeting from March 10 to 12 at the Westin Ottawa. Our 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.
Funding Announcement
Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, spoke to growers from across the country at our AGM where she announced a federal investment of over $2.3 million to support CHC’s Potato CanPedNet Project under the AgriScience Cluster for Horticulture, focused on research into managing the Potato Early Dying (PED) disease. The horticulture sector has contributed an additional $991,918 towards this research, for a total investment of over $3.3 million.
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 SafetyChair: 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
Media coverage
- Leaders in Canadian horticulture recognized at CHC annual general meeting
- CHC honours leaders
- Federal Government Invests In Potato Disease Research
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada financing research project into potato disease
- Canada to invest millions into Potato Early Dying disease research
- Canadian government announces $2.3M for Potato Early Dying disease research
- Funding for potato early dying complex
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.
Doug Connery Award: Tracy Shinners-Carnelley
The CHC Doug Connery Award was created in 2012 in honour of the late Doug Connery, a past president and driving force behind CHC. The award recognizes special individuals who, in the course of their association with CHC and Canadian horticulture, have demonstrated exceptional leadership, passion, and dedication, and who have made outstanding contributions to the industry at the local, provincial and national levels.
CHC honoured Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, Vice President, Research & Quality at Peak of the Market. She leads the research program at Peak which is focused on variety evaluation, improved pest management, and optimization of agronomic practices for fresh market potatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes.
Tracy also spends time working with growers in their fields and packing houses, supporting activities in these same areas. She has a passion for working closely with the industry on challenging crop protection, pest management and production issues, both provincially and nationally, and does so through her involvement with the Canadian Potato Council and Canadian Horticultural Council.
Tracy is a wonderful ambassador for the potato industry. Her knowledge and experience is undeniable.