Grey County council has recognized the contributions of two local residents who were recently inducted to the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame.
On June 11, Grey County residents Ray Robertson and Brian Gilroy received the hall of fame honours.
At its meeting on June 22, county council held a special ceremony to recognize the achievements of Robertson and Gilroy.
“Mr. Robertson is quite the distinguished figure in the field of agriculture. Ray has made significant contributions to the agricultural sector, by promoting agricultural education, implementing innovative farming practices, and demonstrating leadership,” said Warden Brian Milne. “His induction into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame is a testament to his remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to the field of agriculture.”
Robertson attended the meeting and thanked county council for its support over the years.
“It was an honour to be nominated. It came as a total surprise to me,” said Roberton. “When you’re nominated by your peers, it’s pretty humbling really. It’s been a great journey for me.”
Robertson’s contributions to agriculture include:
- He was a founding member of the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association and a strong voice for the Ontario Forage Council, where he helped develop the Ontario Hay Marketing Forum. These efforts opened up many new markets in places as far afield as China, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
- Robertson is familiar to many residents in Grey County from his role as the president and executive director of Grey Agricultural Services, where he plays a crucial part in improving agricultural productivity and sustainability in the region.
- Robertson has also worked with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association to encourage the adoption of the environmental farm plan, and to secure the funding to enhance conservation work on bioengineering and stream bank stabilization techniques.
Gilroy was unable to attend the meeting, but was recently profiled by CollingwoodToday here.
“Mr. Gilroy is a well-known figure in Ontario’s fruit-growing community. In 1987, Brian bought an essentially abandoned orchard near Georgian Bay and transformed it into Nighthawk Orchards,” said Milne. “He helped to grow Ontario’s apple industry and the edible horticulture sector nationwide. Brian has also maintained his local Georgian Bay Fruit Growers Association membership for more than 30 years. His remarkable achievements and commitment to Ontario's agriculture have rightfully earned him a place in the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame. Congratulations Brian and thank you for all of your contributions.”
Gilroy’s contributions include:
- Gilroy was instrumental in establishing the Holland Marsh Growers' Association, working to improve crop quality and yield while enhancing environmental sustainability.
- He actively promotes the interests of Ontario's farmers at regional, provincial, and national levels, advancing partnerships and collaborations. His dedication to agricultural education and research has left a lasting impact on the apple sector, and his work on improving farming practices will help guide the industry for years to come.
- Chair of the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada Apple Working Group since 2014
- Director with Farm & Food Care Ontario and Chair from 2016 to 2018
- Director of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for 15 years.
- Brian was also a founder of the Ontario Apple Growers, and helped guide the organization through two significant crises, the 2009 tornado that struck the Georgian Bay apple-growing region, and the 2012 spring frost which led to an 85% loss of Ontario’s apple production.
