BC Chicken Growers Association

The BCCGA was founded in 1957 as a non-profit organization to unite commercial chicken growers in BC and work towards a more stable industry. The Association acts as a liaison between the chicken growers, other branches of the chicken industry, and the government. The BCCGA is a separate organization from but acts in close collaboration with the BCCMB.

There are seven directors on the Association’s Board who are elected from and by the approximately 322 grower members. Because chicken is grown all over BC, it is important that each region is represented, so there is:

• 1 director representing the Interior,
• 1 director representing Vancouver Island,
• 4 directors representing the Lower Mainland, and
• 1 director representing specialty production growers.

The current BCCGA Directors are:

• President/Chair: Brad Driediger (brad@bcchickengrowers.ca)
• Vice President: Matthew Burgsma ( matthew@bcchickengrowers.ca)
• Lower Mainland Rep: Dennis Flokstra (dennis@bcchickengrowers.ca)
• Lower Mainland Rep: Henk Roos (henk@bcchickengrowers.ca)
• Interior Chair: Mitchell Fried (mitchell@bcchickengrowers.ca)
• Vancouver Island Chair: Thomas Cuthbert (thomas@bcchickengrowers.ca)
• Specialty Representative: Des Soumang (des@bcchickengrowers.ca)

BCCGA staff are:

• Administrator: Shannon Ardell (office@bcchickengrowers.ca)

Directors serve on various industry committees and organizations including the BC Chicken Marketing Board’s Pricing and Production Advisory Committee (PPAC), BC Agriculture Council, BC Poultry Association, and the BC Sustainable Poultry Farming Group, as well as Biosecurity, Food Safety and Animal Welfare committees. To keep up to date, the directors meet monthly and hold regular grower meetings in each region to keep the membership informed.