For Immediate Release:
Grain Growers of Canada Elect New President
(Ottawa, ON., Thursday, December 9, 2010) ¡V The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) announced
today that a new President has been elected to lead the organization, following its Annual
General Meeting in Ottawa.
Each member farm organization appoints a Director to the GGC Board, from which a 4 person
executive is elected:
„h President ¡V Stephen Vandervalk (Western Canadian Wheat Growers)
„h Vice President ¡V Gary Stanford (Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission)
„h Executive ¡V Allan Ling (Atlantic Grains Council)
„h Executive ¡V Irmi Critcher (British Columbia Grain Producers Assoc.)
"I am honoured to serve as the President of the Grain Growers for the upcoming year,¡¨ said
Stephen Vandervalk, a fourth generation farmer from Fort Macleod, Alberta. ¡§The Grain
Growers remains focused on the agriculture needs of grain farmers today. Our driving principle,
developed by farmers, continues to be pursuit of grower-driven, competitive agriculture trading
environment based on comparative advantage and open markets.¡¨
¡§The government doesn¡¦t owe farmers a living, but it does owe them a policy environment in
which they can make a living,¡¨ said Vandervalk.
¡§The need for more research funding, an aggressive approach to trade talks based on sound
science, federal consultations on new farm programs, and a successful rail service review,
remain some of the top priorities for grain farmers across Canada,¡¨ explained Vandervalk. ¡§A
positive path forward on these key issues will not only help expand agriculture for farmers, it
will also expand value-added opportunities for the entire agri-food industry. ¡§
The Grain Growers continues to also focus on innovation in the seed sector, environmental
issues, as well as the burgeoning policy areas of sustainability and food safety.
¡§We would like to thank our out-going President, Doug Robertson for his years of service,¡¨ said
Vandervalk. ¡§Doug¡¦s leadership has helped us lead the fight for sound science and the
impending defeat of Bill 474, as well as keeping the rail service review file moving.¡¨
Representing over 80,000 successful wheat, barley, canola, oat, corn, pea and lentil farmers
across Canada, the Grain Growers of Canada is well known as the national voice of Canadian
grain farmers.
Grain Growers of Canada Elect New President
(Ottawa, ON., Thursday, December 9, 2010) ¡V The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) announced
today that a new President has been elected to lead the organization, following its Annual
General Meeting in Ottawa.
Each member farm organization appoints a Director to the GGC Board, from which a 4 person
executive is elected:
„h President ¡V Stephen Vandervalk (Western Canadian Wheat Growers)
„h Vice President ¡V Gary Stanford (Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission)
„h Executive ¡V Allan Ling (Atlantic Grains Council)
„h Executive ¡V Irmi Critcher (British Columbia Grain Producers Assoc.)
"I am honoured to serve as the President of the Grain Growers for the upcoming year,¡¨ said
Stephen Vandervalk, a fourth generation farmer from Fort Macleod, Alberta. ¡§The Grain
Growers remains focused on the agriculture needs of grain farmers today. Our driving principle,
developed by farmers, continues to be pursuit of grower-driven, competitive agriculture trading
environment based on comparative advantage and open markets.¡¨
¡§The government doesn¡¦t owe farmers a living, but it does owe them a policy environment in
which they can make a living,¡¨ said Vandervalk.
¡§The need for more research funding, an aggressive approach to trade talks based on sound
science, federal consultations on new farm programs, and a successful rail service review,
remain some of the top priorities for grain farmers across Canada,¡¨ explained Vandervalk. ¡§A
positive path forward on these key issues will not only help expand agriculture for farmers, it
will also expand value-added opportunities for the entire agri-food industry. ¡§
The Grain Growers continues to also focus on innovation in the seed sector, environmental
issues, as well as the burgeoning policy areas of sustainability and food safety.
¡§We would like to thank our out-going President, Doug Robertson for his years of service,¡¨ said
Vandervalk. ¡§Doug¡¦s leadership has helped us lead the fight for sound science and the
impending defeat of Bill 474, as well as keeping the rail service review file moving.¡¨
Representing over 80,000 successful wheat, barley, canola, oat, corn, pea and lentil farmers
across Canada, the Grain Growers of Canada is well known as the national voice of Canadian
grain farmers.