Celebrating Mary Poirier

After 47 years of dedicated service to the Holstein family...

Mary Poirier announced her plans in early 2022 to retire this spring. Mary’s last day in the office was April 1st. Mary’s career with Holstein Canada began in 1975, when she took a summer job working in the Pedigree Department. Shortly before she started, she recalls announcing to her father – a hardworking, salt-of-the-earth dairy farmer from Holland - that she planned to take the summer off and have a bit of a break before heading off to Conestoga College in the fall. He was none too impressed and gave her two options: work on the farm or find a job. Mary chose the latter. She replied to a small, two-line ad in the local newspaper for a job at Holstein Canada and started three weeks later, right after she finished high school, at their office in downtown Brantford, Ont. Mary worked for Holstein Canada for five years in several departments including Pedigree, Promotion, Research and lastly, the Ontario Extension department under Murray Hunt. Then, in 1980, in the leadup to forming the Ontario Branch, Mary was offered a job working as the assistant for its first Secretary-Manager, Joe Snyder. Mary worked with five different GM’s in her time with Holstein Ontario: Joe Snyder, Bill Dobbin, Jason French, Peter Brand and Merina Johnston. She has always been a proud ambassador of the Branch and a recognizable figure at many Holstein events over the years. When plans were announced to move the Branch back to Brantford in the fall of 2017, Mary was somewhat apprehensive after having been at the Cambridge location for 30 years. The change, however, proved positive, allowing her to reunite with several former colleagues and make many new friends at the Brantford office, too. In her time at the Branch, Mary has held a wide array of responsibilities; too many, in fact, to list. She has always kept the office running smoothly, proving a great source of knowledge on past decisions and processes thanks in part to her remarkable memory and recollection of details. She says that although she has been working for the organization for over four decades, her role was always evolving and she was never, ever bored. In addition to her contributions to the Branch, Mary was also an integral part of the Ontario Dairy Youth Trust Fund for many years, an organization close to her heart given her dedication to youth in this industry. We will miss seeing Mary at the office, as will the many Board members, industry partners, 4-H leaders, volunteers, and Holstein members with whom she has worked with over the years. We have no doubt that once she settles into her new role, she will be enjoying some well-deserved Cabernet Sauvignon while relaxing with Paul at their place on the water in St. Williams. She also looks forward to enjoying family dinners with her two adult children and their spouses; attending tea parties hosted by her four treasured grandchildren; touring the countryside on the back of Paul’s 3-wheeled Spyder and spending quality time with all those who mean so much to her. An overdue trip somewhere warm may also be in her future. Wishing you all the best in your retirement, Mary. You will be missed!