Sunday, February 5, 2012
About Us
Hugh Maynard
Hugh is a consulting specialist in agricultural communications and rural development. A graduate in farm management from Macdonald College, McGill University, he worked until 2003 as the Executive Director of the Quebec Farmers' Association and Managing Editor of the Quebec Farmers' Advocate, the QFA's monthly newspaper.
He is the agricultural commentator on the "Farm Panel" for CBC-Montreal's Radio Noon program, and a director of the Canadian Farm Writer's Federation (CFWF), Association for Communications Excellence (ACE) in agricultural, natural resource and life sciences, and the Canadian 4-H Foundation.
In a rural context, Hugh has served as the chairperson of the 22-member Quebec Community Groups Network, representing the community and rural development interests of the English-speaking minority communities in Quebec, and as chairperson of the Governing Board for the Chateauguay Valley Career Education Centre and school commissioner with the New Frontiers School Board.
In April 1999 he became a Fellow of LEAD Canada (Leadership in Environment and Development), following completion of a two-year professional development program offered through the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. He also represented Canada as part of a 5-country delegation from LEAD International at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development session on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in April 2000.
Background & Experience
Agricultural Communications & Rural Development
- 20 years experience in writing for farm newspapers and magazines, and broadcasting on radio and television
- National and provincial awards
- Speaker and workshop leader at farm and agricultural conferences
- 20 years experience in applying 'at-a-distance' techniques and technology to support education and training and community development initiatives in rural and remote communities
- International network for environmental & sustainable development through LEAD International (Leadership in Environment & Development) and REAP-Canada (Resource Efficient Agricultural Production)
- North American network of agricultural communicators in land grant universities and extension departments through Association for Communications Excellence (ACE)
- National network through Canadian Farm Writers Federation (CFWF)
- Provincial network through the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
- Involvement with farmers, rural community leadership, industry and government representatives at all levels
- 10 years experience in association management and administration
- Organizational planning and leadership development
- Organization of numerous national and provincial conferences
- 25 years experience as community leader and volunteer
- Industry representation at national and provincial levels
- Leadership training at international level
Johnnie Belinda Cluff
Johnnie Belinda Cluff has a BA in Psychology from Bishop’s University and has been a volunteer with numerous English-speaking community groups including Quebec 4-H. She has worked as project manager for Qu’anglo for the last three years, including research and coordination responsibilities on studies on economic renewal for rural communities, entrepreneurship development as well as marketing and evaluation initiatives for AdFarm, Centaur Theatre, and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, the Quebec Community Newspapers Association and the Canadian Sheep Federation. She is a native and resident of Huntingdon, Quebec where she grew up on the family beef farm.
Stephanie Maynard
Stephanie is an event planner and organizer, specializing in agricultural and rural events. Graduating with a Bachelors degree in Leisure Studies in April 2004 from the University of Ottawa, she has worked as Executive Director for Quebec 4-H, as Provincial Coordinator for Quebec Young Farmers, and as Project Manager for the Quebec Farmers Association.
She was the Quebec representative for the National Rural Youth Network, as well as the national spokesperson, and a member of the Quebec Rural Youth Network. She is also the Quebec representative for Agriculture in the Classroom ? Canada, and a member of the 4-H committee for the Ormstown Fair and the Ormstown Farmers Market.
Stephanie has participated in numerous public speaking and presentation events (in both official languages), notably at the Young Speakers for Agriculture National Competition and the Outstanding Young Farmer Competition. She has experience facilitating workshops and organizing conferences, including the Coasters Association Youth Services Program, the Youth Forum for the Outaouais Community Economic Development and Employability Committee, and leadership workshops and conferences for Quebec Young Farmers and Quebec 4-H.
Projects she has undertaken while working for Quebec 4-H have included recruiting new 4-H clubs and exchange groups, organizing workshops for new members, coordinating the 4-H survey of Quebec Aboriginal Rural Youth, writing a 4-H Leaders Manual and adapting it for online interactive use. She represented the organization at the provincial and national level, helped to successfully increase corporate funding and member participation, and helped develop and implement the organization?s strategic plan.
Christina Franc
Christina
Franc is the communications coordinator for Qu’anglo Communications
& Consulting which includes fulfilling the role of office manager
for LEAD Canada and awards administrator for the Canadian Farm
Writers’ Federation. Amongst her tasks she assembles the monthly
and bi-annual newsletters, event planning, office administration and
graphic design.
Previously,
she worked for the City of Ottawa where she was able to lead
initiatives such as designing public murals, a youth committee,
coffee house, and political campaigning events. She has also led
several leadership workshops with youth in her hometown of Ottawa,
Ontario.
She is currently studying journalism at Carleton University, with a minor in history. Christina has written for different papers and magazines such as the Charlatan and the Agrisuccess Journal.