MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 27, 2024 – Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) re-elected Scott Helps as its Chair and Dan Veldman as its Vice Chair at a special meeting held in conjunction with their 59th Annual General Meeting in Niagara Falls. Scott Brookshaw and Marcel Laviolette were also re-elected to the Executive, beginning their new term on April 1.
Scott Helps, an egg farmer from Lambton County, Ontario has been on EFO’s Board since 2012 and has been Chair since 2020. Dan Veldman, an egg farmer from Oxford County, Ontario has been on EFO’s Board since 2011 and Vice Chair since 2020.
“I feel very honoured to once again have the opportunity to serve egg and pullet farmers in Ontario,” said Scott Helps, EFO Chair. “I look forward to working alongside my board colleagues towards a year of progress and success.”
Prior to the presentation of the Chair’s Report, Scott Helps acknowledged the passing of former Ontario Egg Producers’ Chair Gerald Morden in January and shared some of his many contributions to the egg and pullet sector. Morden served as Chair from 1988 to 1995.
During the meeting, Ontario Premier Doug Ford sent video greetings to the group, while MPP Sam Oosterhoff brought greetings in person on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Speakers on the first day of the meeting included Ryan Brown, EFO Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission Chair Amy Cronin, EFO’s Pullet Director Alvin Brunsveld, Industry Working Group Co-Chair Kristen Thompson-Dow, National Young Farmers Program Delegates Claire Ross and John Huitema and Donna Lange, EFO Director of Public Affairs. Attendees also had the opportunity to hear about EFO’s involvement in World Accord’s Rights and Economic Development for Nepal’s Empowered Women (RENEW) program.
The evening banquet recognized Laurent Souligny as the 2024 recipient of the Get Cracking Award. The award was created in 2003 to recognize individuals who have had a profound impact on the egg and pullet industry. Laurent, an egg farmer from the St. Isidore area, was selected for his eggs-ceptional dedication to advocating on behalf of all Ontario egg and pullet farmers – whether it was as Board Director for 24 years or as EFC Chair for 11 years. Due to his unwavering support for advancing the egg and pullet industry across Canada, he was inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2011.
The second day of the meeting featured keynote speaker Darrell Bricker, Ipsos Public Affairs CEO, Farm Products Council of Canada Vice Chair Bonnie den Haan, Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) Chair Roger Pelissero and CEO Drew Black, Jennifer Riddell from RLP LLP and Chad Gregory, President and CEO for United Egg Producers.
EFO’s Board of Directors for 2024-2025 are as follows:
Scott Helps, Zone 1 Lorne Benedict, Zone 2
Dan Veldman, Zone 3 Roger Pelissero, Zone 4
Brian Miller, Zone 5 Sally Van Straaten, Zone 6
Scott Brookshaw, Zone 7 George Pilgrim, Zone 8
Ian McFall, Zone 9 Marcel Jr. Laviolette, Zone 10
Alvin Brunsveld, Pullet Director
Egg Farmers of Ontario represents the more than 500 egg farmers and pullet growers in Ontario. It is an independent, self-governing organization funded entirely by egg and pullet farmers.
For more information, please contact:
Donna Lange
Director of Public Affairs
Egg Farmers of Ontario
(905) 858-9790
