The 63rd OPFA Conference will be held at the Nottawasaga Inn and Resort in Alliston April 7 – 9, 2020. Online registration is available on the OPFA website (www.opfa.ca). Register now to get the early bird rate (available until March 15th, 2020).Below is the agenda for the three-day event:
Theme: Our Roots, Our Future
Monday, April 6, 2020
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Registration Opens
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Field Tour – Urban Forestry – York Region/Lake Simcoe Region CA
Field Tour – Forest Management – Simcoe County
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Registration
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Icebreaker (cash bar)
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
7:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Visit Exhibitors
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 2020 OPFA Annual Conference Opening
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Plenary Session #1: Keynote Speakers
1) Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy
– Dave Hayhurst, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
2) Climate Change in Ontario – What are the Implications for our Urban, Rural and
Northern Forests?
– Dan McKenney, Natural Resources Canada
10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Network Break and Visit Exhibitors
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Plenary Session #2
1) Indigenous Lands and Resources Standard
– Peggy Smith, R.P.F. (Ret.), Professor Emerita, Lakehead University
2) Workshop – tentative
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch
- a) Changing Regulatory Environment in Canada (for Professionals)
– Richard Steinecke, Counsel, Steinecke Maciura LeBlanc Barristers and Solicitors
- b) Network Break and Visit Exhibitors
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Concurrent Session #1A
1) Ontario Tree Seed Transfer Policy – Ken Elliot, R.P.F., Ministry of Natural Resources
and Forestry
2) Applying the Ontario Tree Seed Transfer Policy – Barb Boysen, R.P.F., Forest Gene
Conservation Association
3) Operational Artificial Reforestation Programs in the Boreal Forest Under a Changing
Climate – Dennis Joyce, Superior Genetic Resource Management Services
Concurrent Session #1B
1) Managing the Urban Forest as an Asset – James Lane, R.P.F., York Region
2) Ecological Offsetting – Kate Lillie, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
3) Toronto’s Urban Ravine Strategy – Wendy Strickland, City of Toronto
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Network Break and Visit Exhibitors
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. OPFA Annual General Meeting
6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Banquet and Awards – Sarah Bros, R.P.F. and Denis Gagnon, R.P.F.
Thursday, April 9, 2020
7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. CIF Update – tentative
7:30 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Visit Exhibitors
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. OPFA Business Update (Ballroom) – Fred Pinto, R.P.F., Executive Director/Registrar
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Concurrent Session #2a
1) Urban Forestry – Past, Present and Future – Mike Rosen, R.P.F., Tree Canada
2) Afforestation Challenges in Southern Ontario – Rob Keen, R.P.F., CEO Forests Ontario
Concurrent Session #2b
1) Fire Smart Management of Flammable Forest Landscapes – Dave Martell – Professor
Emeritus, University of Toronto
2) Invasive Species – Current Status and Projections – – Erin Bullas-Appleton, Canadian
Food Inspection Agency
10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Network Break and Visit Exhibitors
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Plenary Session #3
1) Canada’s Forest Industry – Derek Nighbor CEO, FPAC
2) Sustainable Timber Buildings – to be determined, Mass Timber Institute
3) New and Emerging Technology in Forestry – John Pineau, FP Innovations
12:00 noon to 12:15 p.m. Closing Remarks/Adjournment
Lunch
Register HERE