The annual Animal Health Canada Forum is a vibrant meeting place for stakeholders in Canada’s animal health and welfare system. It provides an opportunity for them to collaborate in the work of animal health and welfare in Canada. Participants engage to learn more about AHC’s activities and priorities, hear from thought leaders on topical issues and to share actions and initiatives in relation to animal health and welfare.

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The annual Animal Health Canada Forum is a vibrant meeting place for stakeholders in Canada’s animal health and welfare system. It provides an opportunity for them to collaborate in the work of animal health and welfare in Canada. Participants engage to learn more about AHC’s activities and priorities, hear from thought leaders on topical issues and to share actions and initiatives in relation to animal health and welfare. Our Forum is taking place at the Infinity Convention Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on September 23 & 24, 2025, with a virtual option for attendance also being offered. Simultaneous interpretation will be available.

Our theme this year is 15 years of progress to celebrate the evolution of the Forum and the overall progress we have made to farmed animal health and welfare in Canada, thanks to the collaborative efforts of our stakeholders. 

DAY 1 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2025

1:15 pm EDT
Keynote: 15 years of Collaborative Evolution
Speaker: Kim McConnell, Founder and former CEO, AdFarm
Kim McConnell is a champion for Canada's agriculture industry and a trailblazer in agricultural marketing. 

2:15 pm EDT
The Public-Private Partnership at World Organisation for Animal Health: Successes and Challenges
Dr. François Caya, Deputy Director General of Institutional Affairs and Governance, World Organisation for Animal Health

3:45 pm EDT
Panel: 15 Years of Progress
Reflecting on AHC's Journey and Looking Ahead

• Dr. Leigh Rosengren, AHC industry co-chair
• Kathleen Sullivan, Maple Leaf Foods Vice President, Government and Industry Relations
• Dr. John Kelly, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA)

DAY 2 – SEPTEMBER 24, 2025

8:40 am EDT
Panel: Crossroads of Animal and Public Health
Responding to HPAI

• Dr. Natalie Ward, California Department of Food and Agriculture
• Dr. Maulik Baxi, Medical Health Officer - Medical Director, Population and Public Health, Fraser Health
• Cheryl Schroeder, Senior Advisor, Animal Health, Dairy Farmers of Canada

10 am EDT
Lessons Learned from HPAI in Dairy Cattle and How to Apply These to FMD Work
Dr. Murray Gillies, CAHSS Interim Division Director
(Joined by Dr. Cathy Furness, Cheryl Schroeder, and Andrea Genereaux, Director of Sustainability and Consumer Expectations, Dairy Processors Association of Canada)

11 am EDT
Outbreak Support Network
Discussing recommendations to improve support for producers and private veterinarians involved in a federally reportable disease investigation.
Dr. Betty Althouse, Outbreak Support Network lead (a CWSHIN project)

1 pm EDT
Panel: Challenges and Successes of Implementing a New Code of Practice

• Elyse Germain, Manager, Program Development, Egg Farmers of Canada
• Dr. Melissa Moggy, Manager, Sustainable Production, Dairy Farmers of Canada
• Catherine Moores, Executive Secretary, Canada Mink Breeders Association

2:45 pm
Motivating Change: Include Motivation and Behaviour Change when Improving Animal Health
Exploring the core principles of human behaviour and decision-making in the context of animal health. 
Dr. Jolanda Jansen, St Anna Advies

3:45 pm
End-of-day Keynote: Takeaways on the Importance of Working Together
Steve Roche, ACER Consulting

If you have questions, e-mail info@animalhealthcanada.ca.