The 2018 Annual General Meeting was a roaring success with 94 attendees, many of whom took advantage of
the opportunity to address the board directly on a variety of subject matters. Held in conjunction with the AGM, the CKC Seminar featuring two renowned expert guest speakers brought in just under 70 people from those just getting started with their breeding programs to those who have been breeding purebred dogs for decades. Also held alongside the AGM, the Member Recognition Reception was enjoyed by a lively group who gathered to celebrate the contributions and achievements of long-time local members.
As many members eagerly await the new IT4YOU program to launch, attendees were given a sneak peek by
Pavliks.com who provided a live demonstration. The new system is expected to help members gain a sense of control over vital information on their dogs and CKC business. Members will have access to numerous applications online, and they will have the ability to easily track the progress of each application as it is processed by CKC. We are excited about this development, which will take the organization in an innovative new direction. With an anticipated launch in Fall 2018, we look forward to introducing our membership to the new IT4YOU system and providing support as needed along the way.
The
2017 CKC Annual Report was presented, and what a fabulous presentation it was! Containing data of interest and importance to members, the report itself is always expanding; this year’s report was beautifully put together with member-contributed photography. As you will see upon reading through the Annual Report, we have some extraordinarily talented members.
Former board member Thora Brown and her husband Allan, both 50-year members, were recognized for their long standing involvement and lasting contributions, particularly with gun dog breeds. Joey Nattrass, a 70-year member, was recognized for achievements with Chow Chows and the establishment of the well-known, much appreciated MJN show services. Both the Browns and Joey Natrass are esteemed leaders in the purebred dog fancy in this country, and we were excited to recognize and celebrate their contributions to our sport and to this organization.
A rapidly growing breeder education initiative, the CKC Seminar, featured expert speakers Dr. Gayle Watkins,
Ph.D, and Dr. Laurie Larson, DVM. Dr. Watkins discussed the raising, management, and use of stud dogs, as well as timing breedings to maximize the chance of success, while Dr. Larson addressed several aspects of canine vaccination schedules and antibody testing and the implications to breeding programmes and breeders. The CKC owes its existence to dedicated and talented breeders across the country, and as such, the organization is committed to supporting breeder education.
The Member Recognition Reception was a wonderful evening where long-time local members who have contributed positively to the growth of the purebred dog fancy in Canada were recognized for their tremendous efforts. Bytown Dog Obedience Club has promoted responsible dog ownership through its members’ focus on obedience; Squibs Mercier has encouraged and
supported countless exhibitors as well as juniors through her involvement with the Ottawa Junior Kennel Club; Kim Aston and Peter Culumovic of Laureate Shetland Sheepdogs have built an exemplary breeding programme; Charlie Simonds, has a distinguished volunteer history with CKC, having served the CKC Disciplinary Committee for over 16 years, was a member of the Board of Directors and was a co-founder of the CKC Foundation, just to name a few of his roles; Bob Rowbotham’s vision and commitment to organizational growth as Chair of the Board for the past three years and a Director for six years prior to that. Thank you to zone Director Thomas Nesbitt for his invaluable contribution to this year’s Member Recognition Reception success.
Last but definitely not least, we would like to thank our many sponsors, without whom the AGM and associated events would not have been the great successes that they were.
To learn more about our sponsors, click their logos: