Local auctioneer honoured with the industry champion award

By Rob Vogt
All Rob Bergevin ever wanted to do was be involved, help protect, and grow his industry.
In a ceremony in Olds on Saturday, May 13, Bergevin was honoured with the Industry Champion Award through the Livestock Markets Association of Canada.
It was the fourth time in the association’s long history this award was given out.
“I had no idea,” Bergevin said. “It was a complete surprise to me.”
This award is reserved for individuals who have represented the Livestock Markets Association of Canada and the livestock marketing industry.
The winners have gone above and beyond serving the industry on committees while promoting and protecting the cattle industry.
They are recognized for their dedication to the Livestock Markets Association of Canada and the cattle industry.
Previous recipients have been Steve Primrose, Danny Skeels and Brian Good.
“I felt humbled and honoured they put me in this elite group of people,” Bergevin said.
The LMAC was founded in 1979, and is a lobby group representing livestock markets across Canada.
Cattle is the only commodity in Canada still traded in the pound, and keeping it that way was the first task of the association when it was founded.
Bergevin became a member in 2004, a director in 2012, and worked his up to president, a position he held for five years.
He has worked on many files including transportation regulations, traceability, and animal welfare.
The role includes dealing with the Canadian Cattle Association and the Canada Food Inspection Agency, and trying to ensure the regulations don’t impede the speed of commerce in relation to day-to-day business.
The key is to bring a point of view to boards they can understand and may not otherwise see, so they can do business in an effective manner.
The role has allowed Bergevin to travel across the country, from B.C. to Quebec, representing the Livestock Markets Association of Canada on various committees.
His goal as his position evolved into more and more of a leadership role was to stand up for the industry.
“We didn’t win every battle, but we were there,” Bergevin said.
He added, had the association not stood up, things would look differently without that representation.
He emphasized he never made this commitment to win awards.
“I didn’t feel really deserving,” Bergevin said. “It was humbling to be recognized.
”I just wanted to be involved.”
Really, he continued, the award is due as much to his wife Sharon and the organization as to his efforts.
“She supported me through all this stuff,” Bergevin said, such as the travel and late nights.
“A lot of kudos need to go to her.”