The appointment of Cyr Couturier is particularly relevant now, as it coincides in time with CAIA's "Aquaculture is Agriculture" campaign.
Photo: Cyr Couturier LinkedIn profile.
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) - a national, non-profit organization focused on addressing human resource challenges and opportunities facing agricultural businesses across Canada – announced that Canadian aquaculture industry veteran Cyr Couturier is its new Board Chair for the 2025-2027 term.
Aquaculture Scientist and Marine Biologist from Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Cyr Couturier replaces Peggy Brekveld, from Ontario Federation of Agriculture, who completed her 2023–2025 term as of June 23, 2025, and whom CAHRC thanked for her leadership during her term as President.
Alongside with him as Board Chair, the new Executive Committee for the next two-year term is now comprised of Jeremy Welter, representing Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, who will serve as Vice Chair; Stan VanderWaal, representing Canadian Federation of Agriculture, to serve as Treasurer; Allan Melvin, representing Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture; and Gwen Young, representing Alberta Federation of Agriculture.
The CAHRC Board includes representatives nominated by all of its member organizations. In Couturier's case, he represents the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA), where he has served as Treasurer since November of last year.
Based at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Cyr Couturier is widely recognized for his leadership in sustainable aquaculture and workforce development. With more than 30 years of experience in the Agriculture and Agrifoods sectors - aquaculture science, technology, applied research, and education -, as a researcher and teacher, he has helped shape the careers of many leaders in aquaculture research, policy, and production.
The new Board Chair of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council has also held executive leadership roles with the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association, and currently is President of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, in addition to serving on the Boards of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, as mentioned, and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.
Moreover, for more than 25 years, he has helped award more than fifty scholarships to deserving students, which, in January 2023, earned him a seat on the Board of the Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial assistance to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students in the United States and Canada who wish to pursue careers related to aquaculture and natural resources.
His appointment is particularly relevant now, as it coincides in time with CAIA's "Aquaculture is Agriculture" campaign, whose ultimate goal is to call for federal government leadership in the growth and development of aquaculture as part of the fabric of a competitive, innovative, and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
"The agriculture and agri-food sector continues to evolve and grow," said the Executive Director of CAHRC, Jennifer Wright, commenting on Couturier's appointment. "The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council plays a lead role in bringing stakeholders together to ensure the workforce is there to support the sector. We look forward to Cyr's leadership as Chair and working with all CAHRC Board Members, as we move ahead," she added.
"I very much look forward to working with my agriculture and agrifoods colleagues from across the country," Cyr Couturier stated for his part. "CAHRC supports skills enhancement and innovation, and assists with future labour and skills needs for this wonderful farming sector - a sector that brings so much vitality and is so important for Canadians, from coast to coast to coast," CAHRC's new Chair concluded.
