Mr. Speaker, on September 22, 2014, we were saddened by the passing of Wes Thompson in his 88th year. Wes became president of W.G. Thompson & Sons at the age of 24, where he served until his retirement in 1993. Under his leadership, the company expanded to 17 locations in Canada and the United States.
He was past-president of the Ridgetown Campus Agricultural Committee, past member of the Royal Agricultural Fair board, past-president of the Ontario Grain & Feed Dealers Association, and past-president of the grain sector of the Ontario Grain & Feed Dealers Association, to name a few of his accomplishments.
Wes was a founding trustee and a past director of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and Public General Hospital Foundation.
In 1999, Wes was named agriculturalist of the year and inducted into the Kent County Agricultural Hall of Fame as well as being named citizen of the year in 2002 by the Blenheim & District Chamber of Commerce.
To his wife Patricia and to his family we offer our sincere condolences as well as our deepest appreciation for his life and his many contributions to our community.