Wayne Rempel, the CEO of Kroeker Farms in Manitoba, was elected as the new chair of the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC) at the organization’s annual general meeting, a March 31 news release said. Rempel previously served as the UPGC secretary and takes over the chair position from Ray Keenen of Rollo Bay Holdings in Prince Edward Island. Keenan will stay on the board as past chair.
“I welcome Wayne Rempel who will be a wonderful chairman who shares the same values in being inclusive and co-operative with all. These principles have been proven time and again in making this the successful industry that it has become,” Keenen said in the release.
Gord Medynski, director of sales, purchasing and business development with Dolbec Potatoes in Quebec, was elected as the new vice chair, taking over from Denis Bissonnette who stepped down from his position this year. Matt Hemphill, executive director of Potatoes New Brunswick, was elected as treasurer, taking over from Brenda Simmons of P.E.I. Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, who was previously a director, was elected as secretary.
“I am honoured to be able to serve as chair of United Potato Growers of Canada. I have been involved with UPGC since its inception and have seen the benefits to all potato growers in Canada,” Rempel said in the release.
Regional representatives include:
- Michelle Flis, director with Les Producteurs de Pommes de Terre du Quebec
- Dan Sawatsky, manager of the Keystone Potato Producers Association
- Kevin Brubacher, general manager of the Ontario Potato Board
- Shawn Brenn, chairman of the Ontario Potato Board
- John Visser, chairman of the P.E.I. Potato Board
- Rachel Durepos with the Atlantic Potato Distributors Ltd in New Brunswick
- Terence Hochstein, executive director of the Potato Growers of Alberta
- Matthew Lawless, President of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association
- Kevin Nickel, vice-president of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association
- Hugh Reynolds with Reynalda Farms in Delta, B.C.
- Cory Gerrard with Swenson Farms in Delta, B.C.
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