Thank you
To all our sponsors for their continued support.
This year’s event will be held at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
The BC Dairy Industry Conference offers a venue for those involved in the industry to discuss important issues, engage in learning opportunities, and network to foster a greater understanding of our dynamic sector. This year’s conference program will continue the event’s tradition of presenting an interesting, informative, and relevant agenda, which focuses on the future of the dairy industry in British Columbia and Canada.
*Please note, there are no refunds after October 31, 2025
2024’s distinguished lineup of speakers will provide their expert insights on critical issues shaping the industry’s future.
We are pleased this year to introduce farm-focused producer workshops on Wednesday afternoon:
Decoding Dairy: Ever wonder what those acronyms mean? All industries have jargon, and dairy has a deeply rooted code that can be hard to decipher. Christy Pettit, CEO of Pollinate Networks and the creator of the Canadian Dairy Wiki will share insights on the system behind the acronyms such as, CMSMC, CDC, P10, P5, 10-90 and many more.
Agricultural Financial Indicators – Make the most of your money! Maximise your financial potential by using key financial indicators to analyze financial statements, helping producers identify business opportunities and challenges. We’ll discuss how routine business decisions and external factors impact these indicators and the business’s overall health.
Industry Meeting hosted by BC Dairy and BC Milk Marketing Board, including industry awards, an “ask the experts” panel, and much more. Stay tuned for more detailed info!
Whether you are considering attending for the first time, or you’ve participated in the past, we value your support of this annual event. Dairy farming is a unique and indispensable way of life that provides jobs, high-quality products, and leading industry standards across the province.
12:00 – 8:00 PM Conference registration
1:00 – 2:30 PM Decoding dairy workshop
Sponsored by RBC
1:00 – 2:30 PM Agricultural financial indicators workshop
Sponsored by MNP
3:00 – 5:30 PM Industry meeting
8:00 – 10:00 PM Welcome reception
Sponsored by Vitalus and BMO
7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Conference registration
7:30 – 9:00 AM Breakfast
Sponsored by Scotiabank
Morning Plenary
Sponsored by Western Dairy Council
9:00 – 9:05 AM Event opening
Conference emcee: Kevin Lim
9:05 – 9:15 AM Event welcome
Presented by Casey Pruim, BC Dairy Chair
9:15 – 9:17 AM Virtual Address – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
9:18 – 9:28 AM Provincial Address – The Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food
9:30 – 10:05 AM DFC address
Presented by David Weins, DFC President
10:05 – 10:30 AM Western Dairy Council address
Presented by Dan Wong, President Western Dairy Council
10:30 – 10:50 AM Nutrition break & sponsor exhibition
Sponsored by Agrifoods
10:55 – 11:30 AM Industry trends in Agriculture.
Trends in the retail and food service markets, looking at both opportunities and threats to the dairy sector in Canada.
Presented by Haig Poutchigian, President and COO of Saputo, Dairy Division, Canada.
Sponsored by Saputo
11:30 – 11:50 AM Protein Power: Dairy’s role in the future of affordable nutrition.
Presented by Chef Ned Bell
Sponsored by Lactanet
11:50 – 11:57 PM Gilles Froment – VP at Lactalis Canada, President of the International Dairy Federation
11:57 AM – 12:00 PM Kevin Lim – wrap up for lunch
12:00 – 12:50 PM Lunch
Sponsored by Ritchie-Smith Feeds
12:50 – 1:00 PM Welcome back – Kevin Lim
1:00 – 1:10 PM BC Dairy Industry Achievement Award, presented by the BC Dairy Historical Society
1:15 – 1:45 PM Farm Tech for Better Business Decision Making.
Presented by Mark Futcher, President/Managing Director of DeLaval, Canada
Sponsored by FCC
1:45 – 2:10 PM Future farming now: A panel of young farmers.
Sponsored by B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation, a Simon Fraser University initiative
2:10 – 2:30 PM Nutrition break & exhibitor hall
2:30 – 3:00 PM What to expect from the next BC government.
Presented by Stephen Smart, Hill & Knowlton, and Jeff Ferrier, Framepoint Public Affairs
3:00 – 3:05 PM Conference closing – Kevin Lim
3:10 – 4:15 PM Producer only session. Presented by Steve Verheul, former Canadian chief trade negotiator.
3:30 – 5:00 PM Exhibitor happy hour
Sponsored by MNP
5:30 – 7:30 PM Conference registration
6:00 – 6:50 PM Gala reception
Sponsored by Vedder
7:00 – 10:00 PM Gala dinner
Sponsored by Vedder and TD Bank
8:45 – 9:30 PM Entertainment
10:00 PM – 1:00 AM Après gala lounge
Sponsored by Trouw Nutrition
*Although not a part of the BC Dairy Industry Conference, note that the BC Holstein Branch is hosting an AGM for their members on November 27 taking place at the JW Mariott Parq Hotel. If you are a member of BC Holstein Branch and have questions about this event, please visit their website for more information: bcholsteins.com
To all our sponsors for their continued support.
