The 2011 FCC Rosemary Davis Award Winners
Bertha Campbell – nurse, farm co-owner and community volunteer – Kensington, P.E.I.
Bertha Campbell has a unique background that includes a fusion of two careers – one in nursing and another in farming. Having attained a Bachelor of Nursing from Dalhousie University, Bertha worked in public health for 13 years, spending almost 10 as a Public Health Nursing Supervisor for Prince County. Bertha has always been involved in the family farm that she and her husband Vernon established in 1980. In the early years, her role consisted of assisting with the milking, helping with potatoes and paying the bills, while working as a full-time Public Health Nurse.
In 1992, Bertha left nursing to devote more time to raising her children, joining her husband full-time in the operation of Mull Na Beinne Farms (Gaelic for “pretty little farm on the hill”). The operation had expanded to become an 1,800-acre mixed farm that includes potatoes, cereals and forages, 75 milking cows and a beef feedlot. Bertha continues to work in the operation, managing its finances, recruiting and training staff and assisting with the day-to-day management and record-keeping.
Bertha has always played a leadership role in agriculture. She has served as Vice-President of the ADAPT Council and Chair of the P.E.I. Ag Sector Council. She has contributed to a variety of agricultural boards and co-operatives over the years, including being the Eastern Women’s Representative on the Canadian Federation of Agriculture board, serving on the board of Co-op Atlantic and recently becoming President of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture.
Along with her husband, Bertha has a concern for protecting the environment. She currently sits on the P.E.I. government’s Environmental Advisory Committee, and their farm has received the P.E.I. Soil and Crop Improvement Award for Soil Conservationist of the Year, recognizing their contribution to the protection of wildlife habitat. In 1993, the couple received the W.R. Motherwell Award for Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers. In 1999, Bertha and Vernon were named to the National Soil Conservation Hall of Fame.
Community means a lot to Bertha. Over the years, she has contributed her time to various groups such as minor hockey, figure skating, kindergarten and the school advisory council. She has received recognition from the P.E.I. Rural Beautification Society and Canadian Red Cross, and has served as Sunday school teacher and superintendant, church treasurer, and team captain in fundraising for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Always willing to take on a new challenge, this past year Bertha began intensive French language training in an effort to become fully bilingual.
“My hope for agriculture is that it be diversified, profitable and environmentally sustainable,” Bertha says. “We have done a good job of producing food but a poor job of telling others about it. Now that farmers make up less than two per cent of the population, we need a Canadian food policy to guide us. This will ensure that there will always be food for Canadians and that agriculture will remain a key part of our economy.”
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Wynne Chisholm – cow-calf producer, management consultant, volunteer – Calgary, Alberta
Wynne Chisholm is President, CEO and co-owner of W.A. Ranches Ltd., a 12,000-acre cow-calf operation that has grown to approximately 800 Angus cross cows.
A lifelong learner, Wynne is a strong advocate of education and provides various opportunities for youth in agriculture, including hands-on experiences for vet students through a partnership with the University of Calgary’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Wynne is also recognized by her peers for providing excellent training opportunities for her own staff on the ranch.
When it comes to trying new things and taking risks, Wynne does not hold back. An early adopter of technology, Wynne has successfully implemented different technologies to support the regulatory changes that affect the entire ranching industry.
A past appointee to the Agricultural Services Board of the County of Rocky View, Wynne has also led the charge in representing the voices of local producers. One example is when she ensured that proposed road allowance licensing agreements were revamped to reflect agricultural realities and concerns.
When she is not enriching the learning experiences of those around her, Wynne sits on the Calgary Stampede Board, where she has been a volunteer since 1976. Today, she serves as a board director and works to uphold the organization’s purpose to promote and preserve western heritage and values.
With a global outlook and over 25 years of experience working with companies in Canada, the U.S., England and the Netherlands, Wynne continues to be an excellent leader in meeting the challenges of the ranching business.
“We produce high quality, safe food in Canada,” Wynne says. “My vision for our industry is for agriculture producers, governments and stakeholders to find a way to work together, have one voice, and become recognized as the premier source of grain-fed, natural beef in the world.”
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Liliane Colpron – businesswoman, agri-food industry leader, visionary – Montreal, Quebec
For over 25 years, Liliane has been committed to the agri-food industry and has been focused on producing high quality products, drawing inspiration from recipes and techniques from the past, while continuing to look at opportunities to position her company for the future.
In 1992, after 20 years of establishing and managing other bakeries, Liliane and her three children founded Première Moisson, a new approach to baking based on product quality, freshness and authenticity. She now heads up a workforce of over 1,500 people.
In 2007, Liliane and her company changed the way things were done in the wheat industry in Quebec. Première Moisson became the first bakery to make all of its wheat breads from flour produced from pesticide-free wheat grown in Quebec. This approach gave 300 Quebec farmers a place on grocery store shelves, a commitment that has resonated in Quebec.
Liliane also sits on a variety of boards, including the Conseil québécois du commerce de détail (CQCD), and the French Chamber of Commerce in Canada, and the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ). She is also a member of business associations such as the Groupement des chefs d’entreprise and the Huis Clos des Présidents.
This is not the first time that Liliane has been recognized for her hard work. In 2005, she was made a knight of the Ordre du mérite agricole by the French government and, in the same year, won the Business Women of Quebec Award, in the Achievement category. She was voted CEO of the year in 2007 by the readers of La Presse and also has an entry in the Dictionnaire universel du pain published by Éditions Laffont in France in 2010.
"I make sure my company focuses on three niches: protecting the environment, promoting Quebec products and improving taste and nutrition in our bread. That is why Première Moisson has been so successful. I am proud to be at the helm of one of the largest family-run agri-food companies in Quebec.”
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Rossana Di Zio Magnotta – philanthropist, educator and entrepreneur – Vaughan, Ontario
Rossana Di Zio Magnotta is CEO and President of Magnotta Winery Corporation, a fully integrated company that produces and sells wines, spirits, beer and home winemaking products to an expanding consumer base. The company, which recently marked its 20th anniversary, is the third-largest winery in Ontario and most award-winning winery in Canada with over 3,300 awards for excellence.
With four vineyards totaling 180 acres in the heart of Ontario’s Niagara grape-growing region, as well as 351 acres in Chile’s Maipo Valley, Rossana is committed to innovative vineyard management, always developing new vineyard varieties and experimenting with new growing systems, clones and rootstalks suitable for the area. In 2006, Magnotta Winery became the first winery to achieve Platinum status as one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies, awarded to companies who have been on the top 50 list for six consecutive years.
An entrepreneur at heart and a laboratory technologist by training, Rossana’s unique background has enabled her to expand her company’s products into the global marketplace, including the United States, Pacific Rim countries and Europe, as well as give back to her community in a fundamental way by leveraging her winery’s success to pursue her passion for health care.
Social responsibility is a cornerstone of the company. For over two decades, Rossana has supported numerous hospitals, foundations and charitable organizations in the Toronto area. From leading the way to building Canada’s first research and screening facility for Lyme disease to pioneering a pre-screening program for colorectal cancer, Rosanna’s devotion to her health-care roots has allowed her to improve the lives of many.
When it comes to Rossana’s vision for the industry and her company, she says, “Canada is our home, the world is our vineyard. We are dedicated to being in tune with the world’s grape-growing regions, understanding the close relationship between the vineyards, the winery and the consumer and, at the same time, ensuring we are compassionate corporate citizens. Our commitment to these goals is what makes us leaders.”
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Sherri Grant – producer, educator, volunteer – Val Marie, Saskatchewan
Sherri’s commitment to agriculture began in her childhood and she continues to make a difference in her community. She grew up milking cows with her father on the family farm and taking part in her local beef 4-H club. Today, she is co-owner of Grant Ranch, an 11,200-hectare spread with 1,600 head of cattle, and is recognized as a leader in educational programming for agriculture and rural safety.
Outside of her responsibilities at the ranch, Sherri passionately shares her knowledge and experience in the beef industry with others, especially youth. From educational resources for schools – including a website designed just for teachers – to the creation of a children’s book called “Where Beef Comes From” developed with her daughter-in-law Avery, Sherri has provided consistent direction and leadership in developing high quality programs and educational materials. Sherri also served on the board of Canadian Western Agribition from 2003-09, chairing the AgriEd, Career Expo and Audit committees.
Sherri recognizes the importance of rural safety and has played a leading role in sustaining the ambulance service for Val Marie. Sherri has been a role model in continuing education in this area and providing advanced wilderness first aid locally and across the province. In 2003, she received the Saskatchewan Stars of Life Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, an award given for her outstanding achievement, dedication and leadership as an EMS professional.
The beauty and diversity of the Prairies is close to Sherri’s heart, and she shares this passion with others through photography. Together with her husband Lynn, Sherri has been able to teach her children how producers are stewards of the land and the role they collectively play in supporting a diverse ecosystem.
A firm advocate of environmental stewardship, Sherri believes the future of the environment depends on commitment and ownership. “I see success for any organization resting in communication and understanding of everyone involved,” Sherri says. “This includes not just owners and families, but also employees, their families, business associates and neighbours.”
