Canadian Sheep Breeders’ Association Holds 136th Annual General Meeting

March 31, 2025 – The Canadian Sheep Breeders’ Association (CSBA) held its 136th Annual General Meeting on Saturday, March 29, 2025, via Zoom. Producers from across the country were encouraged to attend, and CSBA is grateful to the more than 40 producers who participated. The meeting minutes, along with the President’s and General Manager’s Reports, Provincial Reports, and an overview of the organization’s activities over the past year, will be available on the CSBA website.

The CSBA Board of Directors announced that Bernedette Nikkel (AB) will return as Chair and Johanne Cameron (QC) as Vice Chair following a special election meeting held after the AGM. Craig Emke (ON), David Mastine (QC), and Laura Mosley (ON) were also elected to the Executive.

The Board bid farewell to three departing directors: Bruce Sinclair (NS), Kim MacDougall (SK), and Blair Dow (ON). Bruce has represented Nova Scotia on the CSBA Board since 2008 and served as Chair from 2016 to 2022. Kim joined CSBA in 2005 and held the role of Vice Chair multiple times throughout his tenure. Blair completed two terms, contributing to various committees and working groups. CSBA extends its sincere gratitude to these outgoing directors for their years of dedication and service. While Bruce and Blair’s terms have officially concluded, Kim will remain on the board until the end of 2025.

CSBA welcomes incoming directors Erica Sullivan (NS), Laura Mosley (ON), as well as Pam Bartlett (SK), who will join the board in 2026.

Despite a decline in memberships, registrations, and transfers, CSBA ended 2024 with a profit, thanks in part to well-timed investments and the decision to host a virtual AGM. As a result, the board has chosen to absorb a cost increase implemented by the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC), ensuring that registration and transfer fees will remain unchanged for 2025.

Additionally, CSBA is pleased to introduce a fully paperless registration option. Members who opt for paperless registration will no longer receive a hardcopy certificate but will retain the ability to transfer and manage their herd through the CLRC’s “Manage My Account” function. Physical copies will still be available upon request for a potential administrative fee. To support this transition, CSBA and CLRC are working to provide a printable PDF registration certificate for breeders to access as needed. Paperless registrations will be available at a cost of $8 (plus provincial levy) and are expected to launch in the coming months. The current fee structure can be found on both the CSBA and CLRC websites.

Members are encouraged to reach out to CSBA directors or CLRC staff for more information on these services. Sheep registrars Melanie Overduin and Mohamed Ismail can be contacted at 1-877-833-7110 (ext. 306 for Melanie, ext. 305 for Mohamed). To stay informed, members should ensure a valid email address is on file with CLRC, as CSBA continues to transition away from costly postage mailings.

In collaboration with the Manitoba Sheep Association, CSBA invites all members to participate in the All Canada Sheep Classic, taking place at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, MB, from July 10-12, 2025.

Details on attending, sponsoring, consigning, or purchasing can be found at www.sheepbreeders.ca or on the All Canada Sheep Classic Facebook page. For inquiries, contact Committee Chair Bethan Lewis at lewisbethan247@gmail.com or 204-851-5686.

Recognizing the success of online sheep sales in recent years, CSBA encourages online participation in the Classic. To provide buyers with a clear view of sale animals, all Classic entries—except Leicester, Lincoln, Romney, Cotswold, Rambouillet, Columbia, Corriedale, and Targhee—should be slick-sheared for photos and videos. Wool breed exhibitors are encouraged to submit additional photos or videos showcasing parted fleece and full-body shots. These images will be included in the DLMS online catalog.

The CSBA is also pleased to announce that the 2026 All Canada Sheep Classic will be held in Truro, NS, and looks forward to welcoming participants to this event.

Congratulations to the winners of the 9th Annual Photo Contest: first place went to “Homecoming” by Wilna Van Beek, second place to “Contentment” by Jewels Legacy Katahdins, and third place to “Sheep Silhouette” by Keri Anne Walker. The winning photos can be viewed on the CSBA website and Facebook page. This year, submitted photos will also be featured in Sheep Canada magazine throughout the year.

While the board had previously announced an increased registration fee for animals over 18 and 24 months of age, originally set to take effect in April 2025, this change has been postponed until April 2026.

The CSBA Board of Directors remains committed to promoting the value of purebred sheep and encourages members to register animals before selling, include registration papers in sales, and remind buyers to request registration papers when purchasing livestock.

The CSBA appreciates the ongoing support of its members and industry partners as we continue to strengthen and grow the purebred sheep sector in Canada. We look forward to another year of progress and collaboration and encourage all members to stay engaged, informed, and involved.

– 30 –

Canadian Sheep Breeders’ Association is a non-profit organization that is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the national purebred sheep flock. The CSBA is governed by a provincially elected board of directors and represents over 800 members and over 50 breeds of sheep.

For more information, please contact Sarah Brien, General Manager, Canadian Sheep Breeders’ Association, 1-866-956-1116