Our Mission: Promote. Educate. Grow.

BCMeats was founded in 2009 to address the challenges and build on the opportunities for producers, processors and retailers.

BCMeats works to build strong communication links throughout the value chain from producers to consumers.

We cultivate strategic partnerships to build a strong, viable and sustainable meat industry in BC.

Contact us at bcmeats@bcmeats.ca

Board of Directors:

Bonnie Windsor

President

Bonnie Windsor currently serves on the board of directors as the President. Bonnie was born and raised on a farm in Saskatchewan, and has strong roots in agriculture. She spent the past 33 years working for Johnston’s in Chilliwack, working tirelessly to promote local farmers and local products to local communities and BC consumers.

A founding member of BC Meats, Bonnie is passionate about growing the BC meat industry and creating sustainability and education for all.

Bonnie, as Chair of BC’s Best Butcher Competition, has long believed in providing a platform for BC butchers to showcase their skills and expertise. This competition elevates industry standards in workmanship, meat cutting, and creativity, while fostering a sense community, promoting knowledge sharing, and enhancing the public perception of butchery as a rewarding career.

Mike Noullett

Vice President

Mike Noullett is a board member and one of the founding members of BCMeats. Mike has served over the years in various positions on the board, including past President. He is the owner/operator of the Class A facility Kawano Farms Ltd. in Prince George. Kawano Farms is a family run abattoir that has been in business for over 30 years.

Barbara Schellenberg

SECRETARY

Barbara has been serving on the boards of Small Scale Food Processors Association and the Agriculture Advisory Committee Metro Vancouver since January 2019. She is also a director on the board of the Young Agrarian Foundation. She owned/operated an organic/local foods restaurant for 9 years and since 2018, has been working as the General Manager for their company, Pasture to Plate Natural Products, providing fresh ranch raised meats to the Vancouver public. In Fall 2020, Barbara took over management of their small scale abattoir, Chilcotin Harvest in Redstone, BC. Barbara is passionate about food security issues and sees the meat processing industry as such an important factor in all of it.

Ben Rainer

TREASURER

Ben Rainer is the owner/operator of Rainer Custom Cutting Ltd. and a third-generation farmer. Originally a beef and dairy farm, the Rainer family homestead was started in the 1930’s. Having completed his training at the University College of the Cariboo, Ben worked in a retail meat department before building the class A abattoir in 2005, located in the North Thompson Valley.

Jacques Campbell

Jacques Campbell currently serves on the board of directors as the Secretary. She has been a member of BCMeats since its inception and a director for several years. She is the owner/operator of the family farm on Saturna Island. The abattoir has been an integral part of the farm operation since the 50’s. When the province made changes in licensing regulations in 2006 they upgraded and become a fully Class A licenced plant. They are very small but serve the surrounding communities.

Matthew Bruinink

Matt has had a successful, diverse career, spanning 24 years in paper manufacturing, owning a moving company, co-owning an industrial relocation business, and later working in the lumber industry to create transfer systems for sawmills until his retirement in 2019.

After retiring, Matt was fortunate to start a part-time career in the BC pork industry with Johnston’s. With the unwavering support of Bonnie Windsor and the dedicated team at Johnston’s, he has embraced a fulfilling semi-retirement, applying his decades of knowledge and experience.

In addition to serving as a director for BC Meats, Matt is on the organizing committees for the BC Best Butcher Challenge and the Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry Barn Burner BBQ and Car Show. He also has the great privilege of judging local BBQ competitions, despite his extreme phobia of having food on his hands.

Paul Devick

As a lifelong rancher, Paul Devick grew up on a multi-generational beef cattle operation that is now well over 100 years old. Paul has operated and expanded the ranch with his brother Arthur to what it is today for the last 41 years. The ranch has several different enterprises: small-scale forestry woodlot, a transport truck, a feedlot, some equipment contracting and more recently a provincially licensed abattoir. Paul has been involved in many committees and associations during his career, standing as chairman or president of many of them. He has also held the position of secretary and treasurer of some and understands the roles involved in these positions. Paul likes to work as part of a team to get things done.

Specialists:

Nova Woodbury, Executive Director (nova.woodbury@bcmeats.ca)
Sandra Vanderbyl, Program/Finance Manager (sandy.vanderbyl@bcmeats.ca)

Founding Members:

BCMeats would like to acknowledge the following founding members for their generous contributions to establish the organization to be able to continue our work in supporting the meat industry in BC.

Dave Fernie, Rodear Meats Ltd. (Big Lake, BC)
Bonnie Windsor, Johnston’s (Chilliwack, BC)
Richard Yntema, Valley Wide Meats (Enderby, BC)
Mike Noullett, Kawano Farms (Prince George, BC)
Ron Keely, Kam Lake View Meats (Kamloops, BC)
Dennis and Harry Gunter, Gunter Brothers Meat. Co. Ltd. (Courtenay, BC)
Karl Rainer, Rainer Custom Cutting (Darfield, BC)

Code of Conduct:

Purpose
This Code of Conduct sets out the expectations for all Directors, volunteers & members of BCMeats aka BC Association of Abattoirs. We strive to create a positive and inclusive environment for everyone.

Respect
Treat all members, staff, and volunteers with respect and kindness. Value diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
Integrity
Act honestly and transparently, uphold the values of the association. Avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts.
Inclusivity
Foster an inclusive environment. Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
Communication
Communicate openly and constructively. Listen actively and encourage healthy dialogue.
Accountability
Take responsibility for your actions and their impact on others. Report any violations of this Code.
Collaboration
Work together to achieve common goals. Support fellow members and share knowledge.
Confidentiality
Respect the confidentiality of information shared within the association.
Professionalism
Maintain a professional demeanor in all interactions, both in-person and online. Refrain from negativity or gossip.
Compliance
Follow all applicable laws and regulations, as well as the association’s policies and procedures.
Conflict of Interest
Disclosure of any conflicts of interest where direct or indirect financial benefits are realized or having affiliation with an outside organization whose goals are not in line with the best interests of BCMeats. This would include promotions, official or unofficial, at BCMeats’ events with intent to devalue BCMeats’ board or membership. BCMeats’ Board of Directors,staff and consultants are expected to be held to the highest standards of professional conduct and disclosure of conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgement
By becoming a member of BCMeats, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to adhere to this Code of Conduct.

About BCMeats