Animal Health Canada honours deserving recipients at the 2025 AHC Awards

Sep 29, 2025

Last night, Animal Health Canada recognized four deserving individuals making a difference in Canadian farmed animal health and welfare at the AHC Awards 2025 Ceremony in Ottawa, Ontario.

From left to right: Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner, Karl Martinson, Jackie Wepruk and Kendra Keels

The Carl Block Award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the field of livestock animal health in memory of Carl Block, a cattleman whose tireless dedication to Canadian agriculture and commitment to animal health will long be remembered. Kendra Keels was presented the award for her outstanding commitment to the veal industry and broader livestock sector, including dairy calf. Read full news release here.

The Leadership in Collaboration Award is intended to recognize an individual’s commitment to farmed animal health and welfare through the promotion of public-private collaboration. The 2025 award went to the Division Director of the National Farm Animal Care Council, Jackie Wepruk, for her two decades of exceptional leadership in uniting Canada’s diverse animal health and welfare community. Read full news release here.

The Emerging Leadership Award is intended for emerging leaders in One Health or One Welfare who are in the first 10 years of their professional career. Karl Martinson was the recipient of the award to recognize his early-career contributions to animal health emergency management, specifically his contributions to British Columbia’s ongoing response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Read full news release here.

The Farm Animal Welfare Leadership Award honours individuals who promote high standards in farmed animal care and work collaboratively to build trust both within Canadian animal agriculture and beyond. Dr. Karen Schwean-Lardner, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, was the recipient of the award. She is a globally respected scientist and educator with her research transforming poultry welfare in Canada and worldwide. Read full news release here.

Awards were given during an evening ceremony at the Animal Health Canada’s Forum, taking place in Ottawa, Ontario on September 23 and 24, 2025.

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Video: Evidence-Based PRRS Elimination Methods - Dr. Brent Pepin

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Brent Pepin, Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board, explains how a systematic review of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus elimination methods is helping shape future herd health strategies. He discusses evidence-based farm and regional approaches, research gaps, and practical guidance to support informed decision-making across the swine industry. Listen now on all major platforms!

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"Disease status sharing gives producers the opportunity to make real-time decisions that reduce PRRS prevalence and protect regions from new exposure."

Meet the guest: Dr. Brent Pepin / brent-pepin-dvm-ms-7988066b is Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board. After earning his DVM and M.S. from Iowa State University, he built extensive experience in swine veterinary practice, research, and herd health management. His current work focuses on disease control, traceability, and improving herd health across the U.S. swine industry. Listen to Brent Pepin on The Swine it Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.