Québec City, October 15, 2013: The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) welcomes a new Chair to the CASA Board of Directors, while congratulating a new Director to the Board.
Denis Bilodeau, Second Vice President of l’Union des producteurs agricole (UPA) was re-elected to the Board representing producer groups this past October at Get with the Plan! 2013, CASA’s AGM and Conference in Québec City, Québec. He assumes the officer post of Chair of the Board. This is his first term as Chair. Previously Bilodeau has served as Vice-Chair of the CASA Board of Directors for four non-consecutive terms, and has been involved with CASA for approximately fifteen years.
“I am pleased to take on this role. I hope to bring my knowledge and expertise to the position, and I hold farm safety close to my heart. It is deeply rooted for me both personally and professionally,” says Bilodeau.
Bilodeau replaces outgoing Chair Dean Anderson, Agriculture Program Manager with Workplace Safety and Prevention Services. The Board wishes to thank Anderson for four terms of excellent service as Chair. Anderson takes on the role of Vice-Chair of the CASA Board.
Tara Huestis, Farm Safety Specialist with the Workers Compensation Board of PEI, assumes the role of Director representing government. Huestis won her seat by acclamation. This is her first term on the Board.
Filling out the remainder of the Board, Lauranne Sanderson, Department Head of Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus, resumes her role as Treasurer, while Billy Woods, producer from Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador, continues as Secretary. Charan Gill, Chief Executive Officer of Progressive Intercultural Community Services, and Niels Koehncke, Acting Director of the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, continue their Board terms.
At CASA’s AGM, CASA members also voted to revise the Association’s bylaws to enable CASA to comply with the new Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, which establishes a new set of rules for federally incorporated non-profit corporations in Canada. Members also voted to dissolve CASA’s two-tiered membership system. All CASA members will now be able to nominate, run, and elect members directly to the CASA Board of Directors.
Get with the Plan! 2013 is the 19th annual conference and AGM of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, a national non-profit organization promoting farm safety in the agricultural sector. Approximately 60 farmers, safety professionals, suppliers, trainers, manufacturers and researchers took part in the conference this year. Thank you to 2013 conference sponsors Imperial Oil, Pioneer Hi-Bred, PKBW Group, BASF, FCC, Monsanto, AON Hewitt, CSST, La Coop fédérée, Desjardins, CropLife Canada, FARSHA, La Financière agricole Québec, John Deere, La Terre de Chez Nous, LKD, MacDon, McCain Foods and l’Union des producteurs agricoles. For more information on CASA activities, check out CASA’s Annual Report for 2012–2013 at www.casa-acsa.ca. Presentations from the conference will be available on the CASA website in the coming weeks.
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For more information, contact:
Michelle French Lancaster
Communications Officer
CASA/ACSA
mfrenchlancaster@casa-acsa.ca
