Your Co-Hosts Welcome You!

Today’s Agenda 9:00 – 9:15: Welcomes and Goals for the day 9:15 – 10:15: Panel 1 - Jim Brandle, Al Brezina, Janet Horner & Kim Reep 10:15 – 10:30 : Coffee Break & Networking 10:30 – 11:30: Panel 2 - Mayor Easton, Evan Acs, Gregor MacLean & Don Cyr 11:30 – 12:00: Debbie Zimmerman 12:00 – 12:30: Lunch 12:30 – 1:45: Facilitated Discussion 1:45 – 2:00: Report Back 2:00: Next Steps and ‘Safe Trip Home’

Your Co-Hosts Welcome You!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCopF-TW0sY

Your Co-Hosts Welcome You!

Panel 1 Jim Brandle, PhD, CEO Vineland Research & Innovation Centre Janet Horner Executive Director , Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance Kim Reep Al Brezina Innovation Program Director, Food and Beverage Ontario Regional Economic Development Advisor - OMAFRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R93NtG88cv4

Panel 2 Sandra (Sandy) Easton Evan Acs Mayor of the Town of Lincoln EDO, City of Port Colborne Gregor MacLean Research Project Manager Niagara College Dr. Don Cyr (PhD, MBA, MA) Professor of Finance Brock university

- Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs "The Town of Lincoln values its rural roots and agricultural heritage. Located within Ontario’s world-renowned Greenbelt, the community takes advantage of its uniquely rich and fertile lands to bring Ontarians specialty crops like grapes and tender fruit, greenhouse vegetables and floriculture, as well as traditional crops and livestock. Home to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Lincoln is known as a Centre of Excellence for agriculture in Ontario, and offers tremendous opportunities for growth as a cluster for the agri-food sector and associated value chain.”  Minister McMeekin “Generating over $35 billion annually, Ontario’s agri-food sector is a significant part of our provinces economy. We have built a world renowned reputation for producing safe, high quality and delicious foods right across this province. By creating partnerships between government and industry, communities like the Town of Lincoln are driving our provinces agri-food sector forward by increasing productivity, developing innovative new techniques and helping to discover new economic opportunities for their region.” -       Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Debbie Zimmerman CEO of the Grape Growers of Ontario Panelist, 2015/16 Provincial Review Pane Former Regional Chair and Grimsby Alderman Member of Numerous Boards Multiple Awards Recipient, including YMCA’s Woman of Distinction and Local Food Champion Niagara College Graduate

Facilitated Discussion Questions What do you believe are the key ingredients to assuring success for a Centre of Excellence for Agriculture & Food in Niagara, and beyond? What needs to be done in order to assure more deliberate and mutually beneficial collaboration across the agriculture and food network in Niagara and beyond?