Gayle McPherson is the New President of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is pleased to announce the appointment of Gayle McPherson as President and Chair of the Board – an impressive position in its own right, but one that deserves special recognition as Gayle is the first-ever woman elected to fill this role in the 87-year history of the Fair. As President, Gayle will be responsible for the governance of The Royal, including overall strategic direction.

Gayle brings rich experience and a deep understanding of equestrian sport and agriculture to The Royal. She has been involved as a volunteer with the organization for the past 25 years and most recently held the position of Vice President, having served on the Board of Directors/Executive Committee since 1989. Gayle chaired The Royal Horse Show for several years and previously worked on numerous committees including the Steering Committee, Sponsorship, Marketing, Strategic Planning, Hunt Night and Exhibitor Relations Committees.

A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Gayle has been involved for many years in various volunteer projects extending beyond The Royal, including membership on the Board of Directors for Jump Canada, the Eglinton and Caledon Hunt, the Canadian Pony Club, the Erin Township Heritage Committee and the Junior League of Toronto. Gayle also served on the Board of Governors for St. Andrews College in Aurora.

Gayle and her husband, Don, have resided on their horse farm in Erin Township for the past 35 years and Gayle still manages extensive farming operations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, some of the land being originally settled by her pioneering Scottish ancestors.

Gayle assumes the Presidency of The Royal after one of its most successful years, with record-breaking attendance of 345,000 people – an almost 6 per increase over 2007.

In 2008, The Royal Horse Show hosted over a dozen Olympic equestrian riders, including Canada’s individual gold and team silver medallist Eric Lamaze and his incredible mount Hickstead, as well as Canada’s silver medal show jumping team members: Ian Millar, Jill Henselwood and Mac Cone.