The 48th annual National NFU Convention: Farm Renewal!

Are you free from November 23rd-25th? Join The National Farmers Union in their 48th Annual National NFU Convention on Farm Renewal!

Who is the NFU?

The National Farmers Union is a direct-membership organization consisting of Canadian farm families who share common goals. Each member- including those aged 14-21- are full voting members of the union. This shows that every family member contributes to the farm by working on it directly or indirectly through off farm employment. The common shared goal is to work together to achieve agricultural policies to ensure dignity and security of income for farm families while enhancing the land for future generations. There are also associate members who are part of the family. These members are non farmers, but understand that food issues are everyone’s concerns and want to help out family farmers to build a sustainable and nutritious food system in Canada.

A little information on why this conference is important! All information is taken directly from NFU’s website.

We have lost more than a quarter of the farms across Canada and the average farmer age continue to climb. Many farmers are looking for ways to pass on their operations to a new generation of farmers. We have also lost, or are in danger of losing, many of the institutions that were and are vital to rural Canada. Renewal can mean many things but what the NFU will be exploring at this year’s convention is how we can re-imagine, restore and reinvigorate rural Canada.

• November 23 to 25, 2017

•  Holiday Inn Ottawa East, 1199 Joseph Cyr Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
• (Map). To make room reservations, please call the hotel directly at 613-744-1060 or 1-800-387-9979 (toll free)
• Group Code: NFU or refer to the NFU Convention and dates of event
• The room rate is $129 single or double, $10 additional fee for third/fourth person. Parking is ample and complimentary

Transportation?

• VIA Rail Canada and WestJet are offering special discounts to NFU convention attendees.
• VIA Rail is offering a 10% discount on Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Business Plus, Sleeper class fares from any VIA station to Ottawa and return from November 21st to November 27th 2017.
• WestJet is offering a discount of 10% off Econo fares and 15% off Plus base fares. The offer is valid for travel between Ottawa and anywhere WestJet flies in North America if you book by December 7, 2017 for travel from November 17 to December 7, 2017.
• For information about how to take advantage of these offers, please email the NFU office at nfu@nfu.ca .

Registration fees?

• $175 for NFU delegates, NFU members and non-members (includes spouse and children);
• $85 per day for those not planning on attending the entire convention
• $15 per day for students (non-NFU youth) – must show valid student card; and free for NFU Youth (ages 14-25).
• Please note that meals are not included in registration fees – all attendees are on their own for meals
• Registration: begins at 6 PM, Wednesday November 22 

Convention Program Highlights:

• PUBLIC EVENT – Keynote Speaker Thursday, November 23, 7 to 9:30 PM – PUBLIC EVENT
• Janine Wedel: New Influence Elites, the Corrosion of Democracy, and Trump as Trickster 
• Thursday November 23rd
• 9:00 AM: WORKSHOP 1: Family Farms and the Next Generation: Succession Planning with Diana Gibson
• 10:30 AM: WORKSHOP 2: – Convention 101: Democracy and How We Make Policy in the NFU with Cory Ollikka and Karen Pedersen
• Thursday afternoon: PANEL 1– Restoring resilience, regenerating the farm
  Speakers: Sarah Rotz, Anna Korzenszky, Meghan Entz
• Friday morning: PANEL 2 – Renewing our Relationship to the Land
  Speakers: Danielle Boissoneau, Christopher Kelly-Bisson, Sally Mille
• Friday afternoon: PANEL 3 – Generating Farmer Power
• Saturday morning: PANEL 4 – NAFTA 2.0: Questions of Power and Democracy
  Speakers: Haroon Akram-Lodhi, Gus Van Harten, Chris Holman
• Saturday afternoon: PANEL 5 – Cultivating Communities
  NFU Members putting Farm Renewal into action. Speakers: Barbara Schaefer, Arzeena Hamir, Gary Kenny.