| | Irrigation Council consists of seven members (see below) appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD); five public members and two government representatives, one from each of the departments of Environment and Water and ARD.
Members
Peter Schuld , Chair
Appointed to Irrigation Council in 2001. Prior to retiring to Lethbridge Mr. Schuld was a long-time resident of the Iron Springs area where he operated the family farm in conjunction with his son. The farm business involves irrigation, dairy and a feedlot operation. He has served, and remains involved, in a number of agriculture related areas including the Provincial and National Boards of the Dairy Industry, the Board of Directors of Veterinary Infectious Diseases for the University of Saskatchewan, and the Canada/Alberta Research Trust at the Lethbridge Research Station.
Richard Stamp, Vice-Chair
Appointed to Irrigation Council in 2008. Mr. Stamp is a first generation irrigation farmer farming 2,400 acres of irrigation and 300 acres of dry land. He, together with his wife Marian and family, operates Stamp's Select Seeds in Enchant, located in the MD of Taber and the Bow River Irrigation District. Celebrating its 25th year of business as a pedigreed seed producer, Stamp's Select Seeds grows and markets a variety of wheats, durams, barleys, beans, flax and Hy-Bred canolas. Mr. Stamp has served as President on numerous boards including Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers, Alberta Seed Growers Association, Farm Implement Board of Alberta and the Alberta Seed Potato Growers Association. He has also been a Director of the Bow River Irrigation District, MD of Taber Appeal Board, University of Lethbridge Water Institute, Alberta Pulse Growers Board and the Alberta Irrigation Projects Association. The Stamps have received many awards over the past number of years, the highlight being named Alberta's Outstanding Young Farmer and then being chosen as Canada's Outstanding Young Farmer in 1998.
Casey Gouw Jr.
Appointed to Irrigation Council in 2009. Mr. Gouw Jr. is a second-generation irrigation farmer in the Taber area and has been farming for 26 years. He farms 4,000 acres of irrigated farm land and employs 30 full-time employees. Crops grown include onions, peas, beans, canola, pumpkins and sugar beets. Mr. Gouw Jr. is the owner of Gouw Quality Onions and has irrigated land in the Taber and St. Mary River Irrigation Districts and Oldman River. He has served on Taber Town Council and was the recipient of the 2008 Farm Family Award.
Pat Shimbashi
Appointed to Irrigation Council in 2011. Mr. Shimbashi is CEO of Shimbashi Farms (1997) Inc. and Russett Farms Ltd. He farmed in the Taber area from 1964 to 2009 growing potatoes, carrots, onions, sugar beets, sweet corn, grains and also operated a feedlot. Mr. Shimbashi is a current member and director of Taber and District Chamber and a current member of the Lethbridge Hurricane Hockey Club.
David Andrews
Apppointed to Irrigation Council in 2011. Mr. Andrews, together with his wife, run a mixed farming operation at Bow City. Enterprises consist of dry land grazing and grain production, irrigation for forage production and pasture and a cow-calf herd. The farm has developed extensive grazing programs including winter grazing for the cow herd, as well as a back-grounding feedlot and offers a custom yearling grazing service. Mr. Andrews chaired the Alberta Cattle Commission (now the Alberta Beef Producers) in 1993/94 and was president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association in 1996/97. Mr. Andrews served as a member of the Water Management Review Committee, Bow River Water Quality Council and Utilities Consumers Advocate Advisory Council. Mr. Andrews is currently president of the Bow City Landholders Protection Committee and chairman of the Canadian Cattlemen Market Development Council.
Brent Paterson
Appointed to Irrigation Council in 2007, representing Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD). Mr. Paterson is Director of the Irrigation and Farm Water Division, Policy and Environment Sector, Lethbridge. He is responsible for the development and supervision of programs that will promote the sustainable development of Alberta's agriculture industry. Management of water for agriculture is a major program area within that mandate. Mr. Paterson has worked extensively on irrigation programs in Canada, as well as agricultural water management, land reclamation and water quality programs in a number of countries, including Pakistan, Egypt, India, China, Iran and Ethiopia.
David Ardell
Appointed to Irrigation Council in 2008, representing Alberta Environment and Water. In his position as Director of Water Management Operations, Mr. Ardell is responsible for the operation and maintenance programs for the provincially-owned water management infrastructure. Mr. Ardell's group also manages the provincial stream level, flow and water supply forecasting systems, as well as the delivery of canal and dam safety regulatory programs. Mr. Ardell has diverse experience with the design and construction of water management infrastructure in Southern Alberta and has been extensively involved with the review and delivery of environmental regulatory programs. |
|