Ron Doering pretty much invented the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Back about 1996, he was asked to review food inspection for the Canadian government and figure out ways to make it better and more efficient. He did such a good job he was named the first president from 1997-2002.

Canadians probably can’t name a CFIA president since.

Not bad for an environmental lawyer.

Ron has lectured in my graduate classes and disagreed with some of my food safety stuff over the past 15 years, but we’ve always stayed in touch, so it was a pleasure that Ron and his wife, Beth, joined us for dinner on the Island last night.

Turns out they were staying in Venice for part of the winter (that’s in Florida, about 30 minutes away).

And, just like in hockey, we can disagree but still have a beer afterwards.

I can’t quite put into words how moved and grateful I was by the get-together last night.