Our Team

Normand along with his wife Rita, owns and operates Boulet Family Farm Ltd., a mixed grain operation near Donnelly, run on land previously owned by Norm’s parents. Norm has recently retired from the M.D. of Smoky River after nearly 15 years as the Director of Agricultural Services (Agricultural Fieldman), prior to Smoky River he was the Agricultural Fieldman with the M.D. of Greenview for 18 years and worked 2.5 years in between those postings as a CSR with Agricore United in Falher. In addition to being on the Board of Directors for Smoky Hemp Decortication Ltd, Norm holds a Diploma in Agriculture, is a Certified Crop Advisor, and is also a Councilor for the Village of Donnelly.

Daniel is the president and owner of Dan the Stickman Ltd., a McLennan Alberta company that manufactures high quality stake and lath for clients across Western Canada. Using his extensive knowledge of manufacturing, he founded and built this highly successful business which is now celebrating its 18th year. Daniel grew up farming in the summer and trapping during the winter and also has an extensive background in inventing, operating and repairing equipment. He holds a Red Seal as a Heavy-Duty Technician and a Class 1 Driver’s License. Daniel has volunteered overseas, helping to manage and build a property in Brisbane, AUS, coordinating work students and leading short-term outreaches. Daniel has served as the President of the McLennan Chamber of Commerce and is involved in numerous community projects and developments. He loves innovating and working with people to help them discover and develop their passions.

Frank was born and raised in Donnelly, a community within the Smoky River Region. His family has been farming within the area for over 100 years. Frank has an Agriculture Diploma from Fairview College. He has run both a livestock operation with cattle and sheep and a grain farming business. However, his involvement in agriculture doesn’t end on the farm, as he has been very active in several local boards, including the Smoky River Agriculture Society and Guy-Donnelly Sportex Committee. Now he is the active chair of the Falher Seed Cleaning Coop. Frank is a supporter of utilizing hemp to produce a plethora of products and is certain that it will be one of the most utilized products in the future which is a major driver in him joining the Smoky Hemp Decortication team as Director of Quality Control.

Originally from Vancouver, BC, Gordon obtained a bachelor’s degree in history and politics from the University of British Columbia in 1987 and a law degree from the University of Toronto in 1991. He started his career as a lawyer, working for nearly 12 years in law in both Vancouver and London, England. Since early 2003, he has been working in international banking, first with the Royal Bank of Scotland in London and Kazakhstan and now with the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Group as CEO of their subsidiary bank in Kazakhstan. He has experience on the boards of companies, business associations, and non-profit organizations. While he has spent much of his career in the international sphere, he also has a keen interest in local communities, having started an art and community space in East London together with his wife, and is particularly interested in helping develop the business of Smoky Hemp Decortication.

Karen owns and operates Benoit Legacy Farms Ltd and has been farming with her daughter Joelle since 2021, and for over 20 years prior to this with her late husband, Norm. She has also worked as a Registered Nurse for the past 30 years and had worked primarily for Alberta Health services in McLennan during those years.

Bailey was born and raised in Guy, Alberta and currently lives and farms there. Bailey has been farming for 9 years and has been full time farming for the last 7 years. Bailey also did one year of electrician training at Grande Prairie Regional College and worked two years in the field from residential to commercial and oil field. Bailey is eager to help with anything within agriculture and is always excited to learn more. Bailey is very excited to help and join Smoky Hemp Decortication. Bailey is the owner and founder of Tokarz Ventures Ltd.

Ron is a Red Seal Heavy Duty Mechanic Journeyman and is proud of being a third-generation resident of the Smoky River Region. Ron has many years of experience with repair, operation, assembling and fabricating a broad range of equipment and production facilities in the oilfield and agricultural industries. He recently sold his heavy truck and equipment repair business and has been making his transition back into agriculture. He is excited about the range of applications and products possible from the raw material produced from hemp straw and is looking forward to diversifying the local economy.

Hendrikus Verstappen is a financial advisor at Verstappen Assurance Inc.  Eric has been in the financial service industry for over 10 years and has a background in farm consulting and financial planning. Verstappen is dedicated to helping his clients in planning for retirement, succession, and estate.  Eric joined the Board at the Jan. 27^th AGM.

Diane moved to the Smoky River Region in 2001 to pursue a job opportunity. Shortly after
arriving, she bought a real estate brokerage, the local Alberta Registry Agency and at the same
time with her husband when into the oil industry transport. She sold the Registry Agency in
2010 and got out of the oil transport in 2017.

In June 2014, she accepted a contract with Smoky River Regional Economic Development as an
Economic Development Officer.

Diane started to be involved in the hemp industry in 2017 with the Hemp Advantage Northern
Alberta (HANA) project. She knew at that time that the hemp industry would provide the
economic growth she had been trying to achieve since accepting her position as EDO. She has
been on the Alberta Hemp Alliance board of directors since the beginning of 2019.

With her business experience, hemp industry knowledge, and contacts, Diane has a lot to bring
in her director of sales & marketing position.

When she moved to the Smoky River region, she thought it was a stepping stone for her and
would move out in two years. However, more than 20 years later, she is still in the community
and is more determined than ever to make the region a better place to live and work.

Mr. Boisvert was born and raised on a grain farm near Girouxville Alberta. As a teenager he worked for the Smoky River Agricultural Society and SARDA Ag Research which, along with his farm experience, inspired him to pursue a career in agronomy.

Darcy graduated from Lakeland College in 2013 with a diploma in crop technology and from the University of Saskatchewan in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture with a major in agronomy. After graduation, Darcy worked at a number of private agriculture companies before returning to SARDA Ag Research as a research agronomist.

He spent three years working very closely with industrial hemp. He then returned to the family farm and established an independent agronomy consultancy. Mr. Boisvert will use his experience with agronomy and industrial hemp to help the region realize the incredible potential the hemp fibre industry provides.

Avis, along with her husband and business partner, built and operate a successful heavy construction/trucking business which has served the region for 30 years. During much of that time she also had a successful career with the Government of Alberta focusing on program policy, communications, and partnership support.

She has served on the Board of Smoky River Economic Development for 6 years and is currently Vice-Chair of that organization. In addition, she is contracted as the Broadband Coordinator for the Smoky River Broadband Project, providing research, community engagement and communication to the initiative.

Avis recognized the immense potential and opportunity provided by growing and processing industrial hemp after attending the 1st Canada International Hemp Fibre Processing Symposium in 2018. Since then she has worked to promote, educate, identify opportunities and markets and encourage investment in this emerging industry. She is passionate about the industry and Smoky Ag Solutions and is committed to making it a success.