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March 19, 2019: Growing Momentum
In 2019, there are more mouths to feed than ever before. Agriculture needs to meet bigger and bigger demands without compromising on quality and safety. We must continue to build our growing momentum by building communities, growing new markets, educating the public, finding new end uses for crops, and fostering advocacy.
2019 is also a time of unprecedented access, and more consumers than ever are asking questions about their food and where it comes from. The values of modern agriculture are being challenged, and agriculture will need to push back.
This conference will showcase how Canada pushes boundaries, and attendees will hear from speakers who are growing momentum for Canada, its reputation, and their own businesses. The 2019 March Classic is a unique opportunity to learn what it takes for agriculture to thrive in a world of cynicism, bad information, and 5-second attention spans.
LOCATION
Complimentary Shuttle
Attendees can park for free at the Western Fairgrounds and take the complimentary shuttle bus to the conference. The bus will run every half hour from 7:00am to 9:30am, and then every hour from 10:00am until 4:00pm, when it will once again run every half hour until 6:30pm. No overnight parking is permitted. Grain Farmers of Ontario and Western Fairgrounds are not responsible for any vehicle or their contents.
Speakers
Rick Mercer
Keynote session hosted in partnership with Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont
Rick Mercer will be the keynote speaker at the March Classic 2019.
Rick will offer attendees insight into Canada, connecting its past, present and future and highlighting its unique place in the world. From celebrating our unsung heroes, to taking a look at the wonderful and weird, to prodding at Canada’s institutions, Mercer will offer a must-see talk to March Classic 2019 attendees.
“Grain Farmers of Ontario is thrilled that Rick Mercer will be joining us as our lead keynote speaker at the 2019 March Classic,” said Victoria Berry, Manager, Communications at Grain Farmers of Ontario. “The March Classic continues to be one of the premier agriculture events for Ontario and we are pleased to present speakers, like Rick Mercer who make us look at the broader world and understand how thinking globally and nationally can help our Ontario farm businesses and agriculture in general.”
Jennifer Moss
Sponsored by Farm Credit Canada
Jennifer Moss is the co-founder of Plasticity Labs and is an expert on workplace happiness and emotional intelligence. Plasticity Labs is a research and technology company that is on a mission to give one billion people the tools to live a happier, higher-performing life. Moss speaks publicly about happiness and its impact on innovation, individual and workplace performance, profitability, and overall organizational success. She teaches leadership teams how to measure their happiness initiatives as a means to define and defend the need for more emotionally intelligent organizations.
Peter MacKay
As Canada’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Defence, Minister of Justice, and Attorney General, the Hon. Peter MacKay has been at the forefront of some the most vital decisions affecting Canada over the past 20 years. He draws upon his extensive political and legal acumen to talk business, security, trade, and foreign policy with an international outlook and rare expertise. MacKay is a partner in the global law firm Baker & McKenzie in Toronto, litigating in the firm’s government enforcement and compliance practice, and offering strategic advice on international business and trade.
TBA, Griffith Foods
For food companies around the world, Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner whose people help their customers meet the evolving needs and desires of consumers in ways that respect and sustain the planet. Headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, USA, Griffith Foods operates in over 30 countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Painchaud Family Show
The Painchaud Family show has wowed thousands for more than 15 years now. The featured musicians are all multi instrumentalists who will delight March Classic guests with their creative versions of popular songs, the acrobatic Jet-Guitar™, the fired-up bow, amazing violin stunts, and much more.
This one-hour act features Patrice Painchaud, who was solo violinist with the Quebec Symphonic Orchestra at the age of 6. The group also features a Grammy Awards nominee, a Juno Awards nominee, and all of them have participated in numerous International Festivals.
