Executive
| Past President Neil Taylor |
Current President Shannon Carter (519) 622-6006 s.k.carter@rogers.com |
Vice President Pat Arnett (905) 522-0581 parnett@cogeco.ca |
| News Editor/Publisher Pat Arnett (905) 522-0581 parnett@cogeco.ca |
Publicity/Advertising Coordinator Les Cramp (519)-538-5184 tmrabbitry@brucetelecom.com |
Secretary/Treasurer Les Cramp (519)-538-5184 tmrabbitry@brucetelecom.com |
| Sweepstakes Chair Denis Drouin (613) 833-2647 ddrouin@lesfinslapins.com |
Ontario Representative Shannon Carter (519) 622-6006 s.k.carter@rogers.com |
Origin of the Ontario Council of Rabbit Clubs
Mr. Bill Croft of Hamilton, Ontario a detective in the Morality Division of the Hamilton Police Department had a vision which goes back to 1952. Bill's vision was to have local clubs formed in Ontario and an umbrella provincial organization. Bill also had his sights on a National Organization to represent breeders nationally.
Bill put a notice in the Hamilton Spectator for any interested rabbit breeders to meet at the agricultural hall on Market Street in Hamilton. There were several breeders from the Dominion Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association in attendance and other breeders in the Hamilton area.
There was a lot of interest at this meeting and as a result the Southern Ontario Rabbit Breeders Association came into existence with the following as Charter members, Bill Croft, Bing Harris, Eriol Morton, Doc Montgomery, Ed Fuller, Eric Bingham, Cliff Arkell and Mrs. Perks.
When the Southern Ontario Rabbit Breeders Association was firmly established Bill Croft and Bing Harris travelled to the Kitchener area to meet with local breeders there. The Kitchener Waterloo Rabbit Breeders Club was then formed in 1959. Bill and Bing then travelled to the Simcoe area to meet with local breeders and the Simcoe Club was formed. Other clubs in Ontario quickly followed in the Central Ontario, Sault Ste Marie, Forest City and others.
Then on Saturday April 29th 1961 we saw delegates and other individual breeders get together in the faculty board room of the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph. This group unanimously agreed we needed a Provincial Organization, hence the Ontario Council of Rabbit Clubs was born on April 29th, 1961.
The election of officers took place with Bill Croft, President, Lloyd Shantz, Vice-President, and Directors were Bing Harris, Stuart MacDonald, Paul Fretz, Milt Bolduc, Cecil Woolner, Karl Bosma and Clayton McCaul. Mary MacDonald was the Secretary.
The Ontario Council of Rabbit Clubs have served the breeders well over the years and now with younger newer members at the helm the future is in good hands.
