January 12, 2012

Roger Geysens Elected Chair of LPRCA

Roger Geysens has been elected to his first one-year term as Chair of the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA). Mr. Geysens, a councillor from Norfolk County, has been a member of the LPRCA Board since 2003 and previously served as Vice Chair in 2011.

The election took place at the LPRCA Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, January 11^th.

A former tobacco farmer, Chair Geysens is a semi-retired adjustor in the agricultural field and has served as a municipal councillor for the past 20 years.

Geysens expressed his pleasure at his election. “I look forward to working with all of our many partners to implement programs and projects that create a cleaner and healthier environment for all residents of the Long Point Region watershed.”

“LPRCA’s excellent rapport with farmers and the people we serve is a positive characteristic of this organization,” he said. It is critically important that we build upon and foster these partnerships.”

“I am very pleased to serve as Chair for the Conservation Authority,” said Geysens. “A key issue facing LPRCA in the coming year is making sure the Authority is on a solid financial footing.”

Ed Ketchabaw, an appointed representative and councillor from the Municipality of Bayham, was elected as the Vice Chair. He has been a member of the LPRCA Board since 2011 and is in his second term on Bayham council. Mr. Ketchabaw is a tobacco farmer and immediate past president of the Elgin Federation of Agriculture.

The 10-member LPRCA board is composed of representatives appointed by the municipalities within the Long Point Region watershed.

Long Point Region Conservation Authority (LPRCA) is a community based environmental agency that works closely with municipal, provincial and federal government partners, landowners and community groups to maintain and improve the health of the Long Point Region watershed. Since 1948, the Authority has been responsible for protecting, restoring and managing the natural resources and features of the watershed.

The Conservation Authority manages a watershed area of 2,782 square kilometres which includes most of Norfolk County and parts of Brant, Elgin, Haldimand and Oxford counties and is home to approximately 102,000 people.

Contact LPRCA General Manager Cliff Evanitski at 519-842-4242, ext 225 for further information.