• 12:00 PM: Barrett Centre of Innovations in Sustainable Urban Agriculture Panel Session: “Urban Agriculture: How to Grow Your Career and Support Your Community.”
  • This year, thanks to funding from RBC Future Launch, The Barrett Centre launched the RBC Urban Agriculture Work Integrated Learning Program, which provided funding to student-led initiatives that support urban agriculture – any farming or food production done in an urban area.
  • Students from a variety of Durham College’s faculties will share their stories and journeys to growing their career and connecting communities through urban agriculture. Panelists will speak about the projects that they launched (engaging with the community, growing urban agriculture businesses, and expanding their professional networks) and how they have found career opportunities within the urban agriculture industry post-graduation.
• 1:00 PM Building Your Mental Health Toolbox
  • Stock your toolbox with new strategies, tools & resources for better wellness. Learn about free mental health programs offered by Agriculture Wellness Ontario for the agriculture community.
• 2:00 PM Nature at Work: Boosting Agriculture for People and Planet
  • Moderator: Lisa Ashton, Agriculture Policy Lead, RBC Climate Action Institute
  • Advancing nature-based solutions on agriculture landscapes that deliver environmental and economic benefits.
• 3:30 PM: University of Guelph Panel Discussion
  • Led by Dr. Paul Hebert CEO of the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, and recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Medal for Earth and Environmental Science for 2024, this discussion with emerging scholars will explore how scientific innovations and technologies in STEM fields impact society and are applied to solving real-world problems in food and farming.

• 11:00 AM Antrim Equestrian Panel Session on Careers in the Equestrian Industry: “Building a Winning High-Performance Stable”
  • Antrim Equestrian’s Show Jumping Symposium (featuring 2023 Canadian Show Jumping Champion Sean Jobin, FEI Groom Natalie Larkin, and Performance Consultant Dr. Tim Worden) will discuss what it takes to build a winning team. The panelists will cover daily stable management, health considerations, training concepts, building a competition calendar, and exciting future directions for the sport in Canada. Discover how professionals from various backgrounds collaborate to ensure horse wellness and optimal performance in high-level jumping horses.

• 12:00 PM Building Your Mental Health Toolbox
  • Stock your toolbox with new strategies, tools & resources for better wellness. Learn about free mental health programs offered by Agriculture Wellness Ontario for the agriculture community.
• 2:00 PM 2024 Royal Sustainability Awards
  • Come and witness the top finalists as they present their cutting-edge ideas for reducing food waste live at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Be part of the excitement and see who will take home the top honors. This is your chance to support and be inspired by the next wave of sustainability pioneers! 

• 11:00 AM Dan Kunanec: Developing hands-on Agri-Food programs at school
  
  • Assistant curriculum leader and teacher of the Emerging Green Technologies and Environmental Stewardship program at Don Mills Collegiate Institute Dan will share his journey developing the urban farming and outdoor experiential learning programs at school, sharing learnings and lessons.
• 12:00 PM Building Your Mental Health Toolbox
  • Stock your toolbox with new strategies, tools & resources for better wellness. Learn about free mental health programs offered by Agriculture Wellness Ontario for the agriculture community.

• 11:00 AM  AgCareers Interactive Career Session 
  • #FeedYourFuture: Exploring Agriculture and Food Education Pathways
  • Join Katie Hunter, Talent Solutions Manager at AgCareers.com, as she explores the diverse career pathways and job opportunities in the agriculture and food industry. There’s a place for everyone in this field—where do you see yourself? Curious about what a career in agriculture looks like? Come learn more and #FeedYourFuture with valuable insights into the many available careers!
• 12:00 PM AgCareers Interactive Career Session
  • #FeedYourFuture: Discover Career Pathways in Agriculture & Food
  • Join Katie Hunter, Talent Solutions Manager at AgCareers.com, as she explores the diverse career pathways and job opportunities in the agriculture and food industry. There’s a place for everyone in this field—where do you see yourself? Curious about what a career in agriculture looks like? Come learn more and #FeedYourFuture with valuable insights into the many available careers!
• 1:00 PM RBC Future Launch Workshop:
  Making the Resume and Interview Make Sense
  • Moderator: Karen Carrington, Branch Manager, RBC
  • Explore jobs and career opportunities in the Agri-Food sector!
• 3:00 PM AI4Food, University of Guelph
  • Dr. Rozita Dara, Associate Professor, School of Computer Science and Director, AI4Food 
  • Learn how AI4Food will contribute to the creation of new knowledge and innovation to improve agriculture and food systems’ resilience, safety, production, and sustainability.

• 11:00 AM  AgCareers Interactive Career Session
  • #FeedYourFuture: Exploring Agriculture and Food Education Pathways
  • Join Katie Hunter, Talent Solutions Manager at AgCareers.com, as she explores the diverse career pathways and job opportunities in the agriculture and food industry. There’s a place for everyone in this field—where do you see yourself? Curious about what a career in agriculture looks like? Come learn more and #FeedYourFuture with valuable insights into the many available careers!
• 12:00 PM AgCareers Interactive Career Session
  • #FeedYourFuture: Discover Career Pathways in Agriculture & Food
  • Join Katie Hunter, Talent Solutions Manager at AgCareers.com, as she explores the diverse career pathways and job opportunities in the agriculture and food industry. There’s a place for everyone in this field—where do you see yourself? Curious about what a career in agriculture looks like? Come learn more and #FeedYourFuture with valuable insights into the many available careers!
• 1:00 PM First Robotics 
  • Want to learn more about how to get involved in the rapidly innovating field of STEM and robotics? First Robotics Canada will explain how you can get started in this field which represents an essential elements in the future of the Agri-Food Sector. 

• 11:00AM Education Symposium Presented by University of Guelph Ontario Agricultural College
  • The University of Guelph’s Education Symposium (hosted by the OAC’s Liaison Program) showcases the inspiring students, alumni, and cutting-edge research in agriculture and food. Discover how scientific innovations and emerging technologies in STEM fields impact society and are applied to solving real-world problems in food and farming. 
• 12:00 PM Education Symposium Presented by University of Guelph Ontario Agricultural College
  • The University of Guelph’s Education Symposium (hosted by the OAC’s Liaison Program) showcases the inspiring students, alumni, and cutting-edge research in agriculture and food. Discover how scientific innovations and emerging technologies in STEM fields impact society and are applied to solving real-world problems in food and farming. 
• 1:00 PM First Robotics 
  • Want to learn more about how to get involved in the rapidly innovating field of STEM and robotics? First Robotics Canada will explain how you can get started in this field which represents an essential elements in the future of the Agri-Food Sector. 

• 11:00 AM Education Symposium Presented by University of Guelph Ontario Agricultural College
  • The University of Guelph’s Education Symposium (hosted by the OAC’s Liaison Program) showcases the inspiring students, alumni, and cutting-edge research in agriculture and food. Discover how scientific innovations and emerging technologies in STEM fields impact society and are applied to solving real-world problems in food and farming. 
• 12:00 PM Education Symposium Presented by University of Guelph
  • The University of Guelph’s Education Symposium (hosted by the OAC’s Liaison Program) showcases the inspiring students, alumni, and cutting-edge research in agriculture and food. Discover how scientific innovations and emerging technologies in STEM fields impact society and are applied to solving real-world problems in food and farming.
• 1:00 PM Nature in your Neighbourhood
  • Join the Downsview Park Education team for an engaging and interactive session where you’ll uncover your unique bond with nature and explore how it contributes to a thriving community.

FOOD AND NUTRITION FRIDAY

• 11:00 AM University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine Department of Nutritional Sciences Graduate Student Association: Emerging Areas of research in Food Science and Nutrition
  • A panel of members of the U of T’s Department of Nutritional Sciences Graduate Student Association will share their fields of study and research, and reflect on the overall trends in the field of food and nutrition through an academic research lens.
• 12:00 PM Before The Plate Movie: Q&A
  • The makers of the documentary film Before The Plate will share how following the journey of food can help us feel more connected to our health, nutrition, and wellbeing.
• 1:00 PM Dan Kunanec: Experiences in Urban Farming  
  • Through his experience at Don Mills Collegiate Institute, Dan will share how hands-on, and co-learning opportunities in growing their own food can make urban young people feel more connected to their food and their own wellbeing. 

• 12:00 PM Dan Kunanec: Experiences in Urban Farming  
  • Through his experience at Don Mills Collegiate Institute, Dan will share how hands-on, and co-learning opportunities in growing their own food can make urban young people feel more connected to their food and their own wellbeing. 
• 1:00 PM First Robotics 
  
  • Want to learn more about how to get involved in the rapidly innovating field of STEM and robotics? First Robotics Canada will explain how you can get started in this field which represents an essential elements in the future of the Agri-Food Sector.

• 1:00 PM First Robotics 
  • Want to learn more about how to get involved in the rapidly innovating field of STEM and robotics? First Robotics Canada will explain how you can get started in this field which represents an essential elements in the future of the Agri-Food Sector.