Ontario Pork Congress returns in-person this June, Congress will celebrate its 50th anniversary

The 2023 OPC executive. From left to right: Joe Dwyer (secretary), Victoria Stewart (director), Kristy Perrin (first vice-president), and Kirk McLean (president). Absent: Marsha Chambers, Frank Wood, Drew DeBruyn and Henry Groenestege. Photo: Kristy Nudds

The Ontario Pork Congress (OPC) will be returning to the Rotary Complex in Stratford to celebrate its 50th anniversary June 21-22, 2023.

It will be the first in-person Congress since 2019. A 2020 virtual option was held, but show organizers said that “didn’t go well” at the OPC’s annual meeting last month at the Mitchell Golf and County Club.

A large part of OPC’s appeal, said newly elected OPC President Kirk McLean, is the socializing amongst pork producers and industry.

Joining McLean on the 2023 OPC Executive is:

First Vice-President: Kristy Perrin
Second Vice-President: Marsha Chambers
Treasurer: Frank Wood
Secretary: Joe Dwyer
Directors: Drew DeBruyn and Victoria Stewart
Past President: Henry Groenestege

After two years without a show, McLean said the goal of the OPC executive is to get back to some normalcy, and bring the show back up to what it was pre-pandemic. He said there has been a lot of interest from exhibitors, including some from overseas. Prior to the pandemic, the show had been growing each year.

He wouldn’t divulge any special plans for the 50th anniversary celebrations, but said that a committee has been formed and to visit the show website (porkcongress.on.ca) for regular updates.