Okanagan Agrifutures Program

A workshop for planners, decision - makers, farm managers, and concerned citizens.

Presented by   Farm Folk / City Folk, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, and SmartGrowthBC

Date: Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 12:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Location: The Laurel Packinghouse, 2 - 1304 Ellis Street, Kelowna, BC.(See map)

Registration: Free - but you must RSVP by January 9th by contacting Ione Smith at Smart Growth BC. (ione@smartgrowth.bc.ca. or 604-915-5234)

Topics will include:

• The ALR and an overview of agriculture in the Okanagan: characteristics and key issues.
• Regional and local perspectives on agriculture: planning initiatives, land use conflicts, solutions and strategies.
• Smart growth as a tool for farmland protection: principles and policies for local and regional governments.
• Provincial tools for planning for agriculture in the Okanagan: agricultural area plans, edge planning, land use inventories, agricultural advisory committees.
• Economic development and the promotion of local farming:  the successful case of the Comox Valley Agricultural Plan.
• Urban containment and the protection of farm practices and farmland:  the importance to food producers in the Okanagan.
• The Way Forward: connecting planners, farm managers, and citizens for farmland protection.

The day will include locally-produced refreshments and lots of time for questions and answers, and panel discussions.  Participants wil be provided with the Citizen's Guide to Farmland Protection and other resource materials, and will have many opportunities for networking.

Don't Delay - reserve your spot today!