CASA Agenda
Description:
This session will provide insights into what it takes to change long-standing on-farm behaviours and beliefs. A farm is a business, and any change must make good business-sense. This session will explore the strategies that have worked to demonstrate that a safe farm is a successful farm and equip you with the knowledge – including benefits and resources – to better communicate and influence the farming community.
Speakers:
Gord Meek is the Regional Deputy Fire Chief for the MD of Greenview in Alberta and is stationed at the #31 Station in DeBolt. Gord grew up in Lasalle, Ontario and moved to Calgary in 1997, thus beginning his journey into Emergency Services for both Fire and EMS. Prior to moving to DeBolt with his wife Ashley and two young daughters Madison and Maple, Gord had spent the last ten years with the Penhold Fire Department as a Fire Lieutenant and Training Officer for both the fire and medical divisions. In tandem, He also worked as a Primary Care Paramedic with Peigan District Ambulance Service on the Piikani 147 Reservation (Brocket) as well as the Overdose Prevention Site located in Red Deer, AB. Gord has innumerable credentials in firefighting, paramedicine, investigations and instructing. He currently sits on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee for the 1041 – Fire and Emergency Services Instructor Professional Qualifications, as well as the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) Technical Committee S500A – Portable Fire Extinguishers. He is also an examiner for the Alberta College of Paramedics. Gord is a member in good standing with the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA), International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) , Canadian Association of Fire Investigators CAFI) , Fire Investigation Association of Alberta (FIAA), Alberta College of Paramedics (ACP).
Tim MacRae has been a firefighter with the town of Georgina, Ontario for the past 20 years and lives on a 100 acre farm with his wife and three kids. Tim is a trainer for the following NFPA standards: 1006 rope rescue, ice and water rescue, confined space rescue and 1076 HAZ MAT tech. He’s a Master Trainer for CASA grain bin rescue course for first responders and has been certified by the Mental Health Commission of Canada to deliver their TWMFR ( The Working Mind First Responder) program. When he’s not working, he can often be found coaching minor hockey, fishing , hunting, and skiing.
Jeanette Dame manages the Public Awareness Program for TC Energy. In this role, Jeanette leads and develops the overall Public Awareness Program strategy, designed to provide safety and awareness communications to affected public, excavators and contractors, emergency officials, public officials, local One-Call Centers and any other stakeholders who may interact with TC Energy personnel or are directly impacted by TC Energy facilities or operations; thereby protecting the public, the environment and our facilities. The Public Awareness Program applies to all of TC Energy’s pipeline assets in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. It involves programs, procedures and actions that are considered essential to meeting regulatory requirements and that align with continually improving public awareness practices in areas where TC Energy has assets.
Jeff Dilling has been working closely with agricultural producers in Alberta for over 18 years both as a Farm Marketing Representative in the grain industry and for the past 10 years, as a TC Energy Land Representative in the pipeline industry.
Reg is the Superintendent of Field Operations and the Provincial Ranch Safety Consultant for AgSafe, formerly known as FARSHA, the Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association. He has served in this capacity for 2 decades. Reg works with and for farmers and ranchers to help them work safely, incorporate best practices that promote health and safety practices. His boots on the ground approach enables the blending of “doable” solutions and realistic documentation methods into the day to day way that they do business. The service provided also seeks to ensure that applicable regulatory and compliance standards are met. In addition to his health and safety experience and qualifications Reg has a background of service with the RCMP and pastoral care. Reg understands the industry and as a contractor with AgSafeBC, is able to continue as a range rider and working cowboy. This helps to shape an understanding of health and safety in the workplace as both a consultant and a working employee.
Session 1 summary and video recording
SESSION 2 – November 5th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. CST
Bridging over Troubled Waters: Ag Innovation in a Pandemic
Description:
This session will highlight some of the successes and resources available, including the latest ag-specific protocols and emergency planning resources. The breakout sessions will discuss some of the challenges and what producers are doing to remain resilient and plan for the future.
Speakers:
Robert Gobeil is the Agricultural Health and Safety Specialist for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), a non-profit organization with the vision of “Safe and sustainable agriculture where healthy Canadian farm communities thrive”. Rob grew up in rural Manitoba and spent many informative hours on his grandparent’s grain and poultry operation learning the fundamentals of farming. Rob worked for several years as a supervisor in the heavy construction sector. Rob obtained his Occupational Health and Safety Certificate with Honours from Red River College in 2007. Rob currently manages the BeGrainSafe program, course development and other projects for CASA. Rob leads a national Provincial Partner Safety Leadership Panel and is a member of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Technical Committee for Agricultural Machinery as well as a member of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation (PAF) Safety Days Development Committee. Rob, his wife Breanne, and young daughter Ilyanne live in Winnipeg. Rob also has a grown son, Shawn.
Peter Lundqvist is a Professor in Work Science at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. His main interests are on injury prevention, ergonomics and mental health in agriculture. He is also active within different international organizations such as: a) International Society of Agricultural Safety and Health, ISASH (Past president),b) International Association of Rural Health and Medicine, IARM (Vice president), c) International Ergonomics Association, IEA (Chair of the Tech. Committee Agriculture) and d) International Section of the ISSA on Prevention of Occupational Risks in Agriculture (Advisory Board) . He is also Honorary Scientist and Advisor on Agricultural Science and Technology at the Rural Development Administration (RDA), Republic of Korea.
Carolyn Sheridan is the Executive Director and Founder of the Ag Health and Safety Alliance™ (AHSA) organization with over twenty-five years of experience serving the agricultural population. She grew up on a dairy farm in northwest Iowa and continues to farm with her husband in the same area. Her farming background has been instrumental in her commitment to develop and deliver agricultural occupational health and safety services and programs to all generations of agriculture for most of her career as a registered nurse. The development of a program designed to address the health and safety issues for college and high Ag students has been a passion of hers which allows her to connect with students across North America and around the globe through the Gear Up for Ag™ program. Carolyn is also an Agricultural Occupational Health and Safety Instructor with a long history of providing agricultural occupational safety and health training presentations on several topics with speaking engagements on a local, state, regional, national, and international level.
Breakout Sessions:
● Wendy Bennett, AgSafeBC – Temporary Foreign Workers / Labour Shortages
● Dean Anderson, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services – Greenhouses / U-Picks
● Lori Brookhouse, Farm Safety Nova Scotia – PPE Supply and Resources
Session 2 summary and video recording
SESSION 3 – November 12th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. CST
Break the Silence: New Mental Health Resources & Initiatives for Canadian Farmers
Description:
Farming is a labor-intensive industry where livelihoods are inextricably linked to factors beyond the producer’s control, like weather and market fluctuations. Recent surveys have reported high levels of depression and anxiety in the farming community. This session will explore ways to support producers and their families.
Speakers:
Deborah Vanberkel, a dairy farmer, registered psychotherapist and owner of Cultivate Counselling Services, sheds light on mental health and the services available to the agriculture industry. Deborah’s involvement with the University of Guelph’s In the Know literacy program, the L& A Farmer Wellness Program and it’s expansion into other counties while maintaining her own private practice in rural Ontario, has given Deborah broad insight on the issues and supports available to the agriculture community.
With a wealth of experience in associations and in the business sector, Jérôme Gaudreault is also a man of causes. In the past, he made his mark as a manager, leader and mobilizer as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Lévis. His roadmap is marked by diverse professional experiences and multiple commitments in his community, particularly in the fields of health, youth and employability.
Adelle Stewart is the Executive Director of the Do More Agriculture Foundation. Joining the team in May of 2019, she is focused on the continued growth and expansion of the foundation across Canada.
Session 3 summary and video recording
SESSION 4 – November 19th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. CST
Safe Portrayal of the Ag Industry & How to Spot Harmful Messaging
Description:
Learn how to effectively report on-farm incidents and safety protocols. Gain an understanding of why messaging is key in shifting behaviours and ultimately, creating safer farms.
Speakers:
Marsha Salzwedel is a Project Scientist and Agricultural Youth Safety Specialist at the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety (part of the National Farm Medicine Center) in Marshfield, Wisconsin. She is the director of the Outreach Core, project manager for the agritourism safety project, the principal investigator for the agricultural youth work guidelines project, and the program manager for the Childhood Agricultural Safety Network. She earned a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Edgewood College in Madison. Marsha grew up on a farm and maintains her ties with that community through the farm that she and her family still own and operate.
Samuel Goldberg is a film, television, theatre and live events producer based in New York City. He began his career as an actor and moved into writing and creative producing while studying at the University of Pennsylvania. Samuel has produced multiple award-winning documentaries including Web and Silo: Edge of the Real World. He has also worked with renowned artists Jon Batiste, Shaina Taub and Louis Cato, to name a few. Most recently Sam produced the feature film SILO about a grain entrapment accident and rescue in a small American farm town. Samuel believes in the power of stories to produce empathy and, alongside his amazing wife, loves telling tales to their daughter.
Session 4 summary and video recording
Thank you to the 2020 Conference Sponsors!
