is a fifth generation family farmer near St. Marys in Oxford County. As an advocate for family farms, environmental issues and social justice, Allan has travelled extensively within Canada and internationally. His agricultural development and social justice work with United Church of Canada and advocacy with Christian Peacemaker Teams have taken him to Zambia, Mexico, and most recently, on three occasions, to Iraq to document human rights abuses. As a member of the National Farmers Union, Allan has been involved with numerous farm issues since the early 1960's.

Annabell Thomson

was a long time dairy farmer in Perth South Township and has an extensive background in municipal politics. For 29 years, Annabell served on Downie, and later, Perth South Township councils, both as a councillor and as reeve. As reeve, Annabell served on Perth County Council and was Warden of Perth County for one term. Retired from politics, she now serves on a number of local boards including the Perth Community Futures Development Corporation.
 

Ellen Wall

is a long time member of the Rural Learning Association and has both personal and academic interests in rural communities. As a rural sociologist at the University Guelph, Ellen co-ordinates research on several national projects related to rural community sustainability including work on capacity assessment and building, environmental issues and climate change.

Virginia Lambdin

has extensive professional and volunteer experience within the non-profit sector in the Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth and West Simcoe regions. She served, for over eight years, as the Administrator of the Local Training Board initiative. Prior to this, Virginia was the Training Coordinator for the Stratford Training & Employment Program (STEP) where she worked in developing educational curriculum and employer outreach programs. She has served on various Boards and Executives Committees including the Technical Training Group Stratford & Area and the Stratford & District Human Resources Association. A recent relocation to St. Marys provides Virginia with more time to reconnect to her local community and contribute to projects that promote the benefits of living and working in rural Ontario.

Bernard Murray

has always had a strong interest in rural education. Following graduation from the Ontario Agricultural College he taught high school science and agriculture in Orangeville for three years prior to taking over the family farm in 1966. Bernard and his family operated a dairy farm until 2001. Since 1986 he has been a trustee with the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board, serving as chair of the board for a number of years. Bernard has been a director of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association since 2000 and has served on the township Committee of Adjustment since 1988. As a member of the MCRL board, Bernard looks forward to promoting the value and contribution of agriculture to rural Ontario.

 

"Special thanks to founding board member Paul Nichol who served on the board until recently and continue to act as professional advisor to MCRL"

Paul Nichol

is the founder, and currently Economic Development Manager, for the Huron Business Development Corporation, a position where he works with community groups on initiatives that expand, enhance and improve the local economy. Now in its 12th year of operation, the Huron Business Development Corporation is generally acknowledged as one of the premiere economic development organizations in Canada, and has been the recipient of 15 national and provincial awards to date in the field of rural development.