Open to: VIB BCIA Registrants and their Guests

Join us for a unique afternoon of science, innovation, and social connection in beautiful North Saanich! This event features a guided tour of the newly renovated Centre for Plant Health—Canada’s only post-entry quarantine (PEQ) research and diagnostic facility for fruit-bearing trees, grapevines, and small fruit. We'll conclude the day with a casual networking social at The Roost Winery, Bistro & Farm Bakery, just down the road.

Agenda

2:45 PM – Arrival at the Centre for Plant Health

4:45 PM – 6:30 PM – Networking Social at The Roost Winery, Bistro & Farm Bakery

🧪 About the Centre for Plant Health

The Centre for Plant Health in North Saanich on Vancouver Island, previously known as the Sidney Laboratory, is Canada's only post-entry quarantine (PEQ), research and diagnostic facility for virus testing of all fruit-bearing trees, grapevines and small fruit (e.g. berries). PEQ facilities ensure the safe introduction of foreign plant material into Canada.

Partnership and collaboration with other scientists at the facility, including with other federal government departments, provincial governments, universities, research organizations and industry partners, plays an important part in supporting national priorities and initiatives for plant health. This includes the ongoing co-location of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) science capacity at the Centre, and continued collaboration with AAFC's Summerland Research and Development Centre.

🔬 Topics Covered:

• Methods for supporting quarantine and virus testing activities.
• New technologies such as Next Generation Sequencing.
• Description of rapid, sensitive, molecular diagnostic tests to support the implementation of the Plant Protection Act.
• Share information on traditional plant virology with cutting-edge research tools (for example, automation, robotics, high-throughput sequencing platforms, machine learning, artificial intelligence, genomics and proteomics) to protect and safeguard plant health.

Tour led by: Kenji Hara (he/him) – Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Food: Food at the Roost will be covered. You will need to buy your drinks. Please advise of dietary concerns when you register.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Group Size: To ensure a quality experience, we may break into smaller groups if registration exceeds 20.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to explore a national research facility and connect with peers over great food and conversation.

Register early—spaces are limited!

ATTENTION articling registrants!! The in-person event will be an excellent opportunity to network and meet with other branch registrants.

Please note that photographs and footage will be taken. These will be used by BCIA for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website, newsletters, and on social media. Should you not wish to have your photo taken and used for these purposes, please advise the photographer at the time.