The Alberta Canola Producers Commission has two new Directors.

The announcement follows the Commission's 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last week at the FarmTech Conference in Edmonton.

Andre Harpe of Valhalla Centre will be replacing Greg Sears in Region 2, and Ian Chitwood of Airdrie will be replacing Steve Marshman in Region 8.

General Manager of the Commission, Ward Toma, says Directors are elected by the growers that produce canola in that Region.

"Andre has experience on a variety of local boards, organizations, and community groups, so he has experience in board governance and that nature, and Ian is newer. He's newer coming back to the farm, so he brings a younger farmers view of the world and the challenges that those folks are facing."

Toma says, Region 2 is in the Grand Prairie area, and Region 8 is the area Northeast of Calgary.

Outgoing Director, Greg Sears, was the Chairman for the past two years and also represented Alberta in the Canola Council of Canada.

The other outgoing Director, Steve Marshman, represented farmers' interests at the Clean Air Strategic Alliance.

"They were both on the Board during the Bill 6 issues and the new labour legislation, and both gentlemen had past experience with safety issues and working in safety regulations, so they were both very handy and very knowledgeable about that."

Sears had joined the Board in 2012, and Marshman joined in 2015.

Following the Commission's AGM, Renn Breitkreuz of Onoway was elected by the Board as the New Chair, and John Guelly was elected as the new Vice-Chair.

Toma says, they also presented the financial statements at the meeting.

"One of the areas the board highlighted to the growers there was the increased amount of potential investment in the research area. We're seeing an awful lot of challenges in canola production with diseases and insects, and we need more work done that way."

For more information on the Commission's Board and Committees, you can visit their website.

 

Send your news tips, story ideas and comments to jgiles@goldenwestradio.com