The County is recognizing the contributions of a local sugar bush owner.
In a recent meeting, the County praised the work of Ray Bonenberg, owner of Mapleside Sugar Bush in North-Algona-Wilberforce. Bonenberg was inducted into the International Maple Hall of Fame last month. The move was in recognition of decades of work for the maple syrup industry in Ontario. Bonenberg’s work influenced best practices for maple tree and sugar bush management, and his actions contributed to policy changes in the industry.
Bonenberg is a member of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association and hosted their annual conference in Renfrew County back in 2004. He served as president of the Association from 2011 to 2015, and as President for the International Maple Institute from 2017 until 2020. He currently serves as communications chair and treasurer for the association.
The International Maple Syrup Institute is a body that promotes the use and protects the integrity of maple syrup. It also works with sugar bushes to promote best practices in the industry.