The Bill Berkoski Advocacy Award goes annually to the IPIA Member Company that has promoted through their company marketing efforts OR their advocacy efforts to regulatory officials and food safety officials, the IPIA Ice is Food vision for consistent standards and the quality, safe ice products represented by the IPIA logo.
This year, John Smibert and North Star Ice was the proud and surprised recipient of the award.
John has and continues to be a fierce and dedicated advocate for consistent sanitation regulations in the mold of PIQCS for the packaged ice industry in Canada. He has met with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Ottawa, and communicated via letters and emails with the CFIA, local health officials and retailers promoting the value of PIQCS and why it is important for the safety of the consuming public. John attends CFIA meetings on the Safe Food Canada Act and step by step makes his point by talking to people about ‘Ice is a Food’.
10 years ago John spent considerable time working with the CFIA in developing a model HACCP program for packaged ice in Canada. Although, the plan was not formally finalized and implemented, it raised awareness in Canada packaged ice manufacturing safety. John has been the feet on the ground advocate of the IPIA and CAII efforts for fair and consistent standards for packaged ice manufacturing in Canada for years. His attention to detail is remarkable.
John and North Star Ice has been a long time member of the IPIA. He has served as Chairman of the Board and as President of the Canadian Association of Ice Industries for years and is still currently. He promotes the association and proudly displays the IPIA logo on packaging and his delivery vehicles. And in the past year, through his efforts a website was developed for the CAII.
Congratulations John Smibert/North Star Ice!
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