Animal Health Canada Forum 2026 begins today: Turning insight into action

Animal Health Canada (AHC) opens its 16th annual Forum today, bringing together leaders from government, animal agriculture, veterinary medicine and academia to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing Canada’s animal health and welfare system.

Taking place September 22–23 in Ottawa and online, Forum 2026 tackles four issues with growing implications for Canada’s animal health and welfare system: rising animal welfare expectations, the evolution of national biosecurity, emerging cybersecurity and agro-terrorism threats, and the growing impact of misinformation and disinformation.

“Forum gives people from across Canada’s animal health and welfare system an important opportunity to learn from one another and discuss the challenges we face together,” said Dr. Cassidy Klima, Executive Director of Animal Health Canada. “We’re pleased to welcome our partners to Ottawa and online for two days of discussion and knowledge sharing.”

Rising animal welfare expectations

Dr. Nina von Keyserlingk, University of British Columbia; Robert Hoste, Wageningen Economic Research; and Dr. Claire Windeyer, ACER Consulting Ltd., will explore the forces shaping animal welfare, international approaches and the challenge of translating expectations into on-farm change. Katerina Kolemishevska, Canadian Pork Council, will moderate a panel bringing these perspectives together.

Evolving Canada’s biosecurity strategy
Dr. Beth Cookson, Chief Veterinary Officer of Australia, and Dr. Samantha Allan, Animal Health Australia, will share Australia’s experience developing a nationally coordinated approach to biosecurity.

Cybersecurity and agro-terrorism
Whitney Bowman-Zatzkin, BIO-ISAC, and Trevor Smith, Global Affairs Canada, will examine emerging cyber and biological threats and what they mean for preparedness across animal agriculture.

Misinformation, disinformation and trust
Timothy Caulfield, University of Alberta, and Dr. Guillaume Lhermie, University of Calgary, will examine today’s information environment and its impacts on disease, economics, policy and public trust. André Picard, The Globe and Mail, will moderate a discussion on rebuilding trust with Tom Rosser, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Timothy Caulfield and Dr. Lhermie, followed by an interactive session led by Ashley Bruner, Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, on practical tools for addressing misinformation.

Over two days, Forum participants will hear from experts, exchange perspectives and identify ideas they can take back to their organizations and sectors. The discussions are intended to strengthen collaboration across Canada’s animal health and welfare system.

Animal Health Canada Forum 2026
Infinity Convention Centre
901 Gibford Drive, Ottawa, Ontario

September 22, 2026
Forum 2026 Day One: 1:00–5:35 p.m. EDT (in person and virtual)
AHC Awards Ceremony: 5:45 p.m. EDT (in person only)

September 23, 2026
Forum 2026 Day Two: 8:15 a.m.–5:30 p.m. EDT (in person and virtual)

Explore Forum 2026 and the full agenda here.

About Animal Health Canada
Animal Health Canada is the only national organization that brings together industry, federal, provincial and territorial partners to provide collaborative guidance on a cohesive, functional and responsive farmed animal health and welfare system in Canada. For more information, visit animalhealthcanada.ca.

Government of Canada
Animal Health Canada gratefully acknowledges the Government of Canada, through Canadian Heritage, for its financial support of French interpretation services at Forum 2026. This support helps make Forum more accessible in both of Canada’s official languages.