Home > CSGA 2023 AGM Agenda

CSGA 2023 AGM Agenda

Important AGM Documents

Saturday, July 8

10:30 am – 12:00 pm, Registration Desk, Salon AB Foyer

  • Drop by the CSGA registration desk to pick up your lanyards brought to you by Crop Development Centre, USask and get information and updates on your AGM stay. 

12:30 pm (Whales) & 12:45 pm (Golf), Saturday Optional Tours, Departure from the Hotel Lobby

  • Since we’re finally getting together again, we’re doing it with a splash! For those joining us on the Pippy Park 18-hole golf game or the Whale and Puffin Watching, meet us in the hotel lobby.

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Registration Desk, Salon AB Foyer

  • Starting your Saturday a bit later? No worries! The Registration Desk is open to help you.

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Return to Hotel

  • After swinging those clubs and oohing and awing over the whales, you’ll return to the hotel about now.

Evening

  • The evening is yours to discover all St. John’s has to offer. And believe us, there’s a lot to choose from. Enjoy!

Thank you to Canterra Seeds for sponsoring the Sheraton Key Cards.

Sunday July 9

  • Don’t forget, today Companions and Children who signed up for their programs will have a fantastic full-day tour! Enjoy!
    • Children’s Program: Parents, please drop your children off in the Avalon & Battery Room, lower level by 8:45 am. Their bus leaves at 9 am.
    • Companion Program: Please meet in the lobby by 9:30 am. 

7:00 am – 8:30 am, Breakfast, Salon AB Foyer

7:30 am, Registration Desk, Salon AB Foyer

  • Good morning! If you haven’t already, please stop by the Registration Desk to check in with us before you head to the AGM.

8:30 am – 10:00 am, AGM Business Program, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • Business Program attendees! You’re invited to join us for the CSGA President’s Welcome and AGM Business Session.

10 am – 10:30 am, Coffee Break, Salon AB Foyer

10:30 am – 11:40 pm, Let’s Talk SRM!, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • Join our plenary session to learn more about what the next-generation seed system could and should look like. What’s working? What isn’t? What’s the CFIA’s next step? Seed regulations impact you – make sure your voice is heard. Remember – a robust and resilient seed system is essential to all Canadians. 

11:40 pm – 12:00 pm, “This is Canadian Certified Seed”, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • Join us for the launch of “This is Canadian Certified Seed” campaign. We show farmers why they should #ChooseCertifiedSeed for the highest quality, identity-assured, third party verified seed to set them up for success. 

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, Lunch, Salon AB Foyer

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, Seed Certification Around the Globe, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • We have the pleasure of hearing from Sarah Wilbanks, AOSCA’s CEO and Csaba Gaspar, the OECD Seed Schemes’ Programme Manager.
  • Join us as Sarah and Csaba share their unique perspectives on how global seed certification systems are evolving, where they are going, and the importance of technology and international standard harmonization.

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm, closed Member-to-Member session, Salon AB, 1st floor 

  • Active CSGA members are invited to this closed Member-to-Member session.

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm, Coffee Break, Salon AB Foyer 

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm, Keynote Speaker, Salon AB, 1st floor 

  • This afternoon, keynote speaker Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, “The Food Professor,” will inform, inspire, and motivate us!
  • The Canadian agri-food landscape is continuously changing. Join us as Sylvain, one of the leading voices in Canadian food policy today, discusses key industry trends and opportunities on which our seed sector can capitalize.

4:30 pm – 4:40 pm, Meeting close, Salon AB, 1st floor 

  • CSGA’s President, Executive Director, and key AGM Sponsors close the AGM for the day.

5:45 pm, SeCan Rally in the Alley, Lobby

  • Don’t lie – this is what you’ve been waiting for… It’s time to “Rally in the Alley” hosted by SeCan!
  • St. John’s has more bars and pubs per capita than any other city in Canada, and you’re going to hit many of them! For adults 19+, start with a traditional Fish and Chips Dinner, then your Pub Crawl along the infamous George Street features local entertainment and cultural experiences in each venue. End your night with a live dance band. Registration is required.

5:30 pm & 10 pm, Kid’s Movie Night, Avalon & Battery Room, lower level

  • Kids registered for the hotel movie night should be dropped off by 5:30 pm and picked up by 10 pm, please.

Monday July 10

7:00 am – 8:30 am, Breakfast, Salon AB Foyer 

  • After last night’s Pub Crawl, you’re really going to enjoy today’s hot breakfast in the Salon AB Foyer. 

8:30 am – 9:30 am, Seed Innovation, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • Building a Next-Generation Seed System Seed innovation plays a vital role in the success of modern agriculture. Join us as Dr. Mohsen Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi, Plant Agriculture Research Associate at the University of Guelph talks about how AI and machine learning are used in plant breeding. Holly Gelech, Business Development Manager of SGS Canada, Crop Science, discusses how computer vision can be used in seed testing.

9:30 am – 10:00 am, closed Member-to-Member session, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • Active CSGA members are invited to this closed Member-to-Member session.

10:00 am – 10:20 am, Coffee Break, Salon AB Foyer 

10:20 am – 10:40 am, SRM by CFIA, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • Update on SRM by Wendy Jahn, National Manager, Seed Section, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

10:40 am – 11:40 am, Next-Gen Growers, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • As the next generation of growers, young farmers have a unique perspective on the future of seed production.
  • Join us for a panel discussion with next-generation growers to discover what they want and need from the seed system. And whether we are laying the proper groundwork for them.

11:40 am – 11:50 am, Adjournment, Salon AB, 1st floor

  • CSGA’s President, Executive Director, and key AGM Sponsors mark the official adjournment of the CSGA AGM and Business Sessions. Thank you for attending – see you at lunch!

12:00 pm – 2:30 pm, Gala Luncheon, Atrium Courtyard

  • What better way to end this fantastic St. John’s event than to gather together and honour the 2023 Robertson Associate Award and Honorary Life Award recipients? We are also pleased to welcome our 2020 and 2022 Award Recipients in person.
  • Join us at the Awards Gala Luncheon as we celebrate the excellence, dedication, and service of Martin Provencher and Dave MacKellar with the Robertson Associate Awards and Heather McBey and Glyn Chancey with the Honorary Life Award.
  • This afternoon’s special lunch is held in the beautiful indoor garden Atrium and is brought to you by Corteva Agriscience.

A Big Thank You to SeedWorld Group, our AGM media sponsor, and Prograin and Alliance Seed for their general AGM sponsorship.