From left to right: Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner, Karl Martinson, Jackie Wepruk and Kendra Keels
Kendra Keels, industry development director for Veal Farmers of Ontario, has won the Carl Block award for life-long leadership from Animal Health Canada.
“Kendra Keels has dedicated her career to improving animal health and welfare in the Ontario and Canadian veal sectors,” said Jennifer Haley, executive director for Veal Farmers of Ontario.
“Her work has not only advanced the veal and dairy calf industries but has also contributed significantly to Canada’s overall approach to animal health and welfare.”
The leadership in collaboration award was given to Jackie Wepruk of Alberta, division director of the National Farm Animal Care Council, for her two decades of exceptional leadership in uniting Canada’s diverse animal health and welfare community.
“Jackie’s ability to bridge industry needs, public expectations, and science has strengthened Canada’s animal welfare standards and public trust in agriculture,” said Dr. Tracy Fisher, president of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
“Her work has made Canada a global model for collaborative farm animal welfare governance and continues to advance Animal Health Canada’s mission.”
Karl Martinson of British Columbia won the receives Emerging Leadership Award.
He has worked on the crises of outbreaks of highly-pathogenic avian influenza in his role as a senior emergency planning analyst in the province’s agriculture department.
This year he became the inaugural coordinator of the Avian Influenza Prevention Partnership, a provincial–federal–industry working group on response readiness and prevention.
He also leads the development of planning tools to help livestock owners prepare for outbreaks and natural disasters, reflecting a systems-level approach that integrates animal welfare, public trust, and sector resilience.
Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, won the Farm Animal Welfare Leadership Award.
The council said she is a globally respected scientist and educator with her research transforming poultry welfare in Canada and worldwide.
