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2015 CQHA Annual General Meeting
President's Report
Langley, BC - January 26, 2015 -- The 2015 CQHA AGM was held in conjunction with the Ontario Quarter Horse Association AGM, on January17th, in Cambridge, Ontario. I'd like to thank President, Shawna Crawford and the members of the Ontario QHA for their hospitality and participation at our AGM. Our directors and I found great enjoyment in attending the OQHA Year End Awards banquet, sharing tall tales and getting to know our members in Ontario. Congratulations to all the award winners from that special evening.
Vel Evans speaking at the 2015 CQHA AGM
The CQHA AGM meeting began with keynote speaker, Vel Evans of Strategic Equine Inc. She spoke about the Growing Forward II program to advance export marketing and to Equines Canada Industry Council's role in forwarding that program for Equines. Vel also spoke about the Horse Experience 2015 to be held during the Pan Am Games in Ontario, in July 2015. She identified opportunities for our horse owners and breeders to showcase their product to a domestic and international market. Vel reiterated that it's very important that we find a way to track the sales of our horses to international markets to gain more recognition that equines are a valuable export commodity ( Equine Canada Industry Council's role in long term International Strategy).
I will have the opportunity to share information about the "Horse Experience" in Fort Worth, with the AQHA International committee, during the 2015 AQHA Convention in March. AQHA representatives from numerous countries will be in attendance and will get a personal invitation to visit Canada for the Pan American Games with opportunities to visit breeding farms and other equine events during their stay.
Other highlights from the 2015 AGM Meeting Package:
- We recognized Team Canada and celebrated their accomplishments while competing at the 2014 Canadian Youth World Cup in College Station/Bryant, Texas.
- We acknowledged the loss of Bill Collins, first and only Canadian inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame and the loss of AQHA & CQHA director Jim Fleming, both of Alberta.
- We congratulated CQHA Vice President Wayne Burwash as he was honored by the Horse Industry Association of Alberta with their prestigious "Distinguished Service" award.
We celebrated all their contributions to the Canadian Quarter Horse industry.
- Re-elected to the board of directors for three year terms were: Marc Garner (AB); Gilles Seguin (ON); Kathy Patterson (ON) and Gayle Pawley-Wilson (BC). Our 2015 slate of CQHA Directors are: Haidee Landry (BC) President; Wayne Burwash (AB) Vice President; Gayle Pawley-Wilson (BC) Secretary; Stephen Maltby (NS) Treasurer; Marnie Somers (MB) Chair, Membership and Communications; Kathy Patterson (ON) Chair, Youth World Cup; Ryan Smith (AB) Co-Chair, Marketing; Steve Schiestel (AB) Chair, Finance; William Holliday (SK) Bylaws/Governance;Gilles Seguin (ON); Marc Garner (AB) Chair, Public Policy; Carole Joubert-Gaboury (QC); Christian Beauchemin (QC); Joe Carter (ON); Milt Rigetti (SK); Ross Brigden (AB) QH Racing; Larry Clifford (MB); Greg Little (MB); and Susan Walsh (AB.
- Canadian National Not For Profit organizations have been updating their bylaws to come into compliance with the new NFP Act. I'm pleased to announce that, at this AGM, our members voted unanimously in favour of approving the updated CQHA bylaws.
- Marnie Somers, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, presented an update on the Shannon Burwash Memorial Scholarship Award for students interested in post-secondary Equine and Agricultural studies. We'd like to thank the Ontario QHA for their commitment of $2.000 towards the goal of $100,000. OQHA joins the British Columbia QHA, QHA of Alberta, Manitoba QHA, and Saskatchewan QHA, as Provincial associations that have either committed to, or have already made significant financial contributions to this special cause.
Dr. Burwash speaking at the CQHA AGM
- Wayne Burwash DVM, gave an update on our progress towards having the AQHA Rulebook updated to give the provincial affiliates jurisdiction to enforce AQHA rules in their geographical areas.
- A couple of notable AQHA rule changes coming into play for 2015:
- Beginning with the 2014 breeding season, all stallions breeding 25 or more mares are required to have the five-panel disease test results on file, per Rule REG108.5 in the 2014 AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations. In 2015, all breeding stallions must be tested. Breeders please pay attention to this. We need to do our best to make sure all our AQHA foals get registered to help maintain their value and ensure their future.
- Effective January 1, all exhibitors in youth English classes will be required to compete in an American Society for Testing and Materials/Safety Equipment Institute-approved hard hat with harness. This requirement will apply to both flat (hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation) and over-fences classes.
I want to send out a special thank you to all the great people who attended our AGM and to all those who work towards strengthening our horse industry and ensuring the welfare of the horses we love. All the best,
Haidee Landry 
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We'd love to have you ...
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To view all CQHA-circulated media releases, please visit the CQHA news archives on our website.
The mandate of the CQHA, a national affiliate of the AQHA, is to address issues of concern to Canadian owners of American Quarter Horses; to be a communications vehicle for and with Canadian owners of American Quarter Horses; and to promote and market, both globally and within Canada, Canadian-bred
and/or Canadian-owned American Quarter Horses.
The Canadian Quarter Horse Association is an Affiliate of the AQHA. Annual membership is FREE to current AQHA members. For more information, or to enroll as a member on-line, visit the CQHA website
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 ---supporting grassroots AQHA programs in Canada!
Through AQHA Affiliate Grants, MBNA Canada supports grassroots programs in Canada that directly benefit AQHA members. Each year, AQHA Affiliates receive funding to enhance or develop services for shows, races, youth activities, educational programs, public policy and recreational riding. Financial support from MBNA Canada benefits virtually every member program offered by AQHA.
Through MBNA Canada, AQHA members have the opportunity to apply for the AQHA MasterCard credit card. For more information on MBNA Canada or their services, call 1-877-428-6060
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