Surrey Agriculture Leadership Award
The Surrey Board of Trade has made the difficult decision to cancel this event due to the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will announce a new date once it is scheduled.
The Surrey Agriculture Leadership Award recognizes outstanding achievements that have positively impacted Surrey’s agriculture industry.
The event will take place on November 19, 2020.
Nominations
Nomination deadline: Friday, October 16, 2020
Award Criteria
Nominees can be individuals, companies, institutions, not-for-profit organizations, agencies, projects or programs.
Achievements must be recognizable and be supported by evidence.
Must be based in Surrey.
Award Categories
Individual
Business
Submission
Please submit your nomination to:
Rhona Doria
101-14439 104 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3R 1M1
rhona@businessinsurrey.com
T: 604.634.0344
F: 604.588.7549
Nomination deadline: Friday, October 16, 2020
Award Criteria
- Nominees can be individuals, companies, institutions, not-for-profit organizations, agencies, projects or programs.
- Achievements must be recognizable and be supported by evidence.
- Must be based in Surrey.
Award Categories
- Individual
- Business
Submission
Please submit your nomination to:
Rhona Doria
101-14439 104 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3R 1M1
rhona@businessinsurrey.com
T: 604.634.0344
F: 604.588.7549
Previous Winners
2019
A. Rocha Canada
A. Rocha Canada is a registered charity transforming people and places into healthy communities through three core programs: sustainable community agriculture, conservation science (research and restoration of watersheds), and environmental education for all ages. A. Rocha continuously supports Surrey farmers and communities through sustainable agriculture projects such as Farm to Families, Community Shared Agriculture and Community Garden Network. For its 16 years in Surrey, A. Rocha’s Centre has proven its capacity to continually update its services to serve Surrey’s environmental needs better while also being a warm place of welcome and experiential education. The farm is integral to this work and will continue to be a leader in Surrey and Metro Vancouver.
2018
Heppell’s Potato Corp.
Heppell’s Potato Corp. is a 3rd generation farm pioneered by Lester Heppell almost 100 years ago. Back then, it was a mixed farm whose primary focus was vegetables, dairy cows, and turkeys. It was based on 40 acres of land, and the farm still sits today. In the early 60s, Lester’s two sons, Ron and Dave, took over the family farm and started to modernize it. Working with a long-time business partner, Peter Schouten, the predecessor’s motto, “there is always a better way,” has become their driving force and paved the way for new agriculture innovations. Fast forward to today, Heppell’s Potato Corp. has leveraged new technologies to make farming and processing more efficient; among these are the use of GPS mapping technology and self-guided tractors, the use of real-time data for all crops to ensure food safety and overall farm efficiency Indeed, they always continue to find a better way!
2017
Individual: Michael J. Bose
Michael Bose has grown up in a family with a long farming tradition in Surrey. He has demonstrated excellence as a successful farmer and entrepreneur and distinguished himself by his outstanding dedication to Surrey’s agriculture and the protection of agricultural land. He is an agrarian representative on various community committees. He represented Surrey on Metro Vancouver’s land inventory and taxation committee and was a member of the Surrey Agriculture and Food Security Advisory Committee from 1995 to 2013. He has also worked as a Commissioner for the Agricultural Land Commission.
Business: Zaklan Heritage Farm
Zaklan Heritage Farm has a rich, long farming heritage in Surrey that few can match. It started in the 1920’s and has undergone revitalization led by the next generation of Zaklans. With ample support from family, the farm has transformed into a diverse mixed vegetables and livestock operation. Despite significant pressure from urban sprawl and housing development, the farm has remained true to itself and continued producing local, healthy produce even while surrounded by housing real estate. It is a clear winner against the threats of our ever-increasing population growth and pressures on land values.