Poultry Industry Council holds hybrid AGM, elects new leadership

On October 26th, the Poultry Industry Council (PIC) held its hybrid annual general meeting (AGM) at the Grandway Events Centre in Elora, Ont., with an in-person gathering.

The board of director’s meeting followed the AGM, where some leadership changes were elected after reviewing the past year of educational programming.

Caroline Gonano will remain as the chair of the board, while newly elected vice chair Dr. Kayla Price takes over for previous vice chair Greg Lansink.

Cathy Lennon, the general manager of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, continues to serve as treasurer.

And Lennon, Price, and Dr. Babek Sanei were re-elected to serve on the board for another three-year term.

The remaining members of the board are as follows: Doug Duimering, representing Chicken Farmers of Ontario; Greg Lansink, representing Turkey Farmers of Ontario; Samantha Haverkamp, representing Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission; Sally Van Straaten, representing Egg Farmers of Ontario; Laura Bowers, representing Burnbrae Farms; Marg Pritchard, representing Maple Lodge Farms; Mike Terpstra, representing Association of Ontario Chicken Processors; and Ed Verkley, representing Verkley Enterprises.

According to Gonano, the past fiscal year was marked by the persistent concern of HPAI in the industry.

However, PIC played a crucial role in keeping the industry informed and better prepared to tackle this threat.

The National Poultry Show made a successful return, with strong attendance and support for events and webinars.

Strategic projects were also implemented to address education gaps in the sector.

In the year 2022-2023, PIC reintroduced in-person events, hosting a total of 19 educational events and 12 industry-leading webinars.

These covered a wide range of topics addressing industry needs and concerns. The aim was to provide learning opportunities that have a significant impact on the operations of industry professionals and producers.

Additionally, PIC underwent a strategic planning process, which provided valuable insights into the alignment of members and directors with the PIC mandate.

It also highlighted areas for growth and improvement, such as better knowledge sharing, focused learning opportunities, and community building.

Looking ahead to the 2023-2024 year, PIC is excited to deliver its cornerstone events, which will focus on Poultry Health, Research Impacts, and Producer Updates, among others.

This year, PIC will also extend its support to small flock owners by educating them on biosecurity practices and assisting them with any disease issues that could potentially impact the industry.

Gonano expresses her pride in leading an organization that is open to new ideas and ready to grow. PIC is well-positioned for success in the future.