Donald Shaver search widely for diversified breeding stock. Local breeders, knowing his reputation were reluctant to sell to him for fear of competition. In 1946, there were 256 registered chicken breeders in Canada. Shaver Poultry became the 257th. By 1958, only Shaver remained, along with seven other major poultry breeders worldwide. The principle of hybrid vigour had been well established for corn, but the costs and time required to test chicken crosses were higher. Small breeders (as Shaver was at the time) could not afford permanent scientific staff, so Shaver obtained assistance from geneticists conducting research at universities and government institutions. Shaver
Helen Shaver which won an Emmy and earned her a directorial nomination. Shaver has also directed a number of television shows and cable movies, including "The Outer Limits", "Judging Amy", "Joan of Arcadia", "Medium", "The OC", "", "The L Word", "Jericho", "Journeyman", "Private Practice", "The Unit", "Crusoe", "Orphan Black" and "13 Reasons Why". In 2003 she won a Gemini award for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series for the "Just Cause" television series episode "Death's Details". In 2004, Helen Shaver was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. Shaver dated screenwriter Stephen C. Peters, and is now married to Steve Smith, the key