Pages

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Opportunities for Action - urban agriculture symposium coming up Nov 20 in Guelph

Opportunities for Action: An Urban Agriculture Symposium

There is an urban agriculture symposium being organized in Guelph for Fri, Nov 20 - above is the poster, below is the invitation letter:


Dear Urban Aggies and Friends of Urban Agriculture, Municipal planners, Community and Backyard Gardeners, Environmentalists, Business entrepreneurs, Student’s, Academics, Social innovators, Government officials, Farmers, engaged citizens and local food supporters;

On Friday November 20th 2009 Backyard Bounty and the University of Guelph will be hosting the first symposium on urban agriculture in Guelph. Opportunities for Action: An Urban Agriculture Symposium will bring together the movers and shakers in the Urban Agriculture scene. The Symposium aims to not only inspire action but address key issues and provide connections that enable the Urban Agriculture movement to advance.

The morning will start with a keynote presentation from Dr. Karen Landman who will inspire us with stories of her summer tour of urban agriculture projects across North America. A panel discussion will follow that brings together experience and ideas from those near and far working in the field of urban agriculture. During the afternoon participants will take part in an interactive facilitation process to identify common barriers, seek feasible solutions and set achievable actions. A local lunch and snacks will be provided.

In partnership with Guelph-Wellington Local Food Initiative, City of Guelph Healthy Landscapes project, The Organic Conference, Chris Jess and his army of Locavores. We invite you to join us!

Please register at:

www.backyardbounty.ca

Shannon Lee Stirling

Project Co-ordinator

Backyard Bounty

info@backyardbounty.ca

See below for schedule of the day’s events and rates!


Opportunities For Action: An Urban Agriculture Symposium

This Symposium has arisen out of a need to bring together and build the capacity of the Urban Agriculture movement. Those in attendance will meet with like-minded people and leaders in the field. They will share ideas and make connections with others involved in urban agriculture. The afternoon’s facilitated process, with allow for interaction between various sectors of the movement, and form a dialogue to help better understand and develop collaborative solutions.

Conference Schedule

8:30am -Registration

9am - Keynote Dr; Karen Landman will speak about her recent North American tour of Urban Agriculture Projects

10:15 - PanelHow Can We Move Urban Agriculture Forward?

Experts that will be joining us include:

Paul Winstanley is an urban farmer from Victoria, British Columbia who has been raising chickens and growing food in the city for 8 years.

Katherine Pigott has worked at Region of Waterloo Public Health since March 2000. A key part of her role has been the development of a comprehensive local food systems planning approach in Waterloo Region as Manager of the Healthy Communities and Policy Team. Katherine has over twenty years experience in community based program development, planning, and systems change that has spanned economic development, health promotion and environmental planning.

Katherine is an avid cyclist, distance runner and gardener and lives in downtown Kitchener. She serves of the Board of Directors of the Association of Health Centres of Ontario and on the Steering Committee of Food Secure Canada.

Tracey Tomlik formerly a student of the University of Guelph, now resides on the East coast. She will return to share with us an Urban Perma-culture plan she has designed for the city of Guelph.

More presenters and information to come!!!

Noon- Lunch & networking

One of the most valuable parts of a conference is the connection’s made, so we are planning a long lunch to provide room for this. We are also in the lovely arboretum setting and encourage you to enjoy walk about, you may even spot GCOUF (Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming)!

1:30- Interactive Facilitation Process

We are working with a group of students from the University of Guelph to develop an interactive facilitation process that will empower individuals to work as a team! Participants will have the chance to connect with both those that are working in similar capacities and also those with which they may share compatible goals. We will discuss our various projects, resources, experiences and methods. The aim of the process will be to seek ways we can all cooperate to meet our goals and the larger goal of seeing progress in the field of Urban Agriculture!

4:30- Closing remarks

Rates:

Early bird before November 1st

Industry, Academic, government: $90 includes keynote

Producers and Other: $20 includes keynote

Keynote only: $10

After November 1st

Industry, Academic, government: $100

Producers and Other: $25

Final registration date Nov 13th

Symposium Fee (Circle One):

Early Bird Before Nov 1st

After Nov 1st

Industry, Academic, government: $90

Industry, Academic, government: $100

Producers and Other: $20

Producers and Other: $25

Keynote only $10

Keynote only $15

Final registration date Nov 13th !!!!!!!

Cheques payable to University of Guelph.

Please Mail registration and payment to:

c/o Beth Livingstone

Crop Science Building

University of Guelph

Guelph, OntarioN1G 2W1

Questions regarding registration: blivings@uoguelph.ca or 519-824-4120 ext 52783

Questions regarding symposium www.backyardbounty.ca or 519-803-2539

No comments:

Post a Comment