Born in 1980, Brandon grew up in the Oakville, Ontario waterfront community known as Bronte Harbour. Throughout his childhood, Brandon excelled in many things, most notably sports and music. From winning awards in piano competitions through the Ontario Conservatory for Music, to playing in national championship games for the Ontario provincial football team, Brandon has always demonstrated enthusiasm for the challenges and discipline required to achieve sustained levels of peak performance.

In his early teenage years, Brandon began working for his father and life mentor, Lorne, in their new family business, Canadian Pet Connection, where he started off cleaning washrooms, vacuuming floors, and stocking shelves. Over the next 30 years, Brandon combined his love for education, his passion for animals, and his entrepreneurial vigor to become one of the most recognized names in companion animal nutrition and behaviour in Canada.

Brandon has since become internationally known as the face of a new generation of pet health professionals, leading the way for significant positive changes in the pet industry. Designing new models for efficiency in the workplace has led to momentous growth of the family business, allowing Brandon and his team to expand into larger facilities, offering more pet-related services, bolstering multi-channel offerings, and employing more than a dozen Meaford and area residents throughout the pandemic.

By virtue of his business prowess, Canadian Pet Connection is now recognized as one of Canada’s fastest-growing pet industry businesses. In 2021, Canadian Pet Connection won a highly prestigious International award for Retailer of the Year in the Growth & Expansion category. Brandon regularly contributes to both national and international news publications, such as Pet Products News International, and CBC Canada. Additionally, Brandon’s philanthropic ambitions have led him to partnerships with many non-profit organizations such as World Animal Protection, Beautiful Joe Heritage Society, Oakville & Burlington Humane Societies, Georgian Triangle Humane Society, Ontario Search & Rescue Dogs, The Dog Rescuers Inc, Labrador Retriever Rescue of Ontario, and many others.

Throughout the last few decades residing in the Oakville area, Brandon witnessed first-hand a quaint neighbourhood rapidly develop into thousands of acres of urban sprawl. What was once a charming waterfront community bursting with nature soon turned into block after block of identical cookie-cutter homes, towering skyscrapers, big-box shopping plazas, and maddeningly congested roadways; Brandon’s beloved childhood town had lost any glimpse of what a small town community should look and feel like.

That’s why, in 2017, Brandon and his family moved their business from Oakville to the beautiful town of Meaford; seeing the small town as the perfect place to raise a family, build their business, and make meaningful contributions to a community on the cusp of a pivotal development boom. Through a strong vision for smart, calculated growth, Brandon intends to help the Municipality of Meaford retain the characteristics that make it a place of distinction for residents and visitors alike.

Throughout his career, Brandon has been passionate about being an active member of his community. He’s chaired dozens of fundraisers and community events, spent three years as a Director for the Meaford Chamber of Commerce, is co-chair of the Grey Bruce Pet Professionals networking group, was the Educational Director for BNI The Blue Mountains, was past Chair in the Oakville Small Business Network, and sponsors the Meaford Food Bank, among others. Brandon also writes the popular Ask the Pet Expert column in The Meaford Independent newspaper, as a way to keep local pet owners informed about important pet-related topics of discussion.

Brandon is a true family man. With his wonderful wife, Angela, and their three children (and their pets!) at his side, Brandon is wholeheartedly passionate about serving the community in any possible capacity — and as a Municipal Councillor, that begins with listening to the residents of Meaford first. 

Whether it is making cognizant decisions pertaining to community development, or preserving Meaford’s environment and natural resources, Brandon is committed to being an active participant in making Meaford a better place to live for now, and for the future. 

On October 24th, vote for Brandon Forder as Meaford Municipal Councillor. A vote for Brandon is a vote for the people of Meaford.