OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) announced René Roy as the board’s new chair for 2023 following the Banff Pork Forum.

Roy works as a producer in Quebec. He replaces Rick Bergmann who’s led the organization as chair for eight years and spent 15 total years at CPC.

“I would like to thank my friend Rick for representing our 7,000 Canadian pork producers for the past eight years as Chair,” Roy said. “Being chair of this organization is important and rewarding work, and Rick has tirelessly taken time away from his farm, business, and family to advance national files on behalf of all producers. By all measures, Rick has navigated our industry through several challenging issues since joining the board in 2008, such as the global pandemic, WTO challenges, CPTPP and NAFTA trade negotiations, so many other issues. He should be congratulated for his successes.”

Scott Peters, of Manitoba, was elected as the first new vice chair.

After the forum, Bergmann congratulated the people who would succeed him at CPC.  

“René Roy and Scott Peters will help lead the industry into the future, and I have faith in the board’s direction and in the organization’s ability to serve the best industry in Canada, the Canadian pork industry,” Bergmann said. “I am proud of my time as Chair of CPC. Nowhere have I met better people than the producers and staff involved with this organization.”

The newly elected executive team said it was already working on plans for a potential response and recovery if African swine fever enters Canada. The organization also drafted and implemented its new strategic plan for the year.