It has been announced that Janet Horner was elected as Chair of the Board of the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) at the organization's recent annual general meeting.
Horner was previously Vice Chair and replaces Rob Hannam. Shelburne-area resident Horner is currently the Coordinator of the GTA Agriculture Action Committee and previous owner of Whitfield Farms catering.
Also elected to one-year terms on the Executive Committee are: Jim Whaley, Wasaga Beach, as vice-chair; Stig Puschel, Sudbury, as secretary; Bill Bearss, Brampton, as treasurer; and Rob Hannam, Guelph, as past-chair. ROI welcomed new directors: Dean Anderson, Guelph and Molly Ross, Huntsville, and recognized retiring board members Craig Desjardins, Picton and Christine Dukelow, Beaverton. Returning board members are: Rob Gordon, Guelph; Cathy Redden, Campbellford; Chris White, Rockwood; Susan Leuty, Fergus and Paul Karges, Gowanstown.
“I am excited to be the incoming chair of the Rural Ontario Institute,” says Horner. “ROI does important work --- developing strong leaders in agriculture and rural communities and being a champion for rural issues --- and the need for that continues to increase.”
The Rural Ontario Institute (ruralontarioinstitute.ca) is a non-profit organization committed to developing leaders, initiating dialogue, supporting collaboration and promoting action on issues and opportunities facing rural Ontario.
(With files from ROI)