1. Your Co-Hosts Welcome You!

2. 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’

3. Your Co-Hosts Welcome You!

5. Your Co-Hosts Welcome You!

6. 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

8. 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

9. - 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

10. 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

11. 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?