News

B.C. Lean for Food Processors Program

Applications are being accepted while funding lasts.

What is B.C. Lean: The B.C. Lean for Food Processors Program supports specialized business skill development to enable processors to make more informed decisions, optimize operating procedures, improve production capacity, labour productivity and strengthen their business. Lean is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of local food and beverage processing firms in the sector.

Why participate B.C. Lean: The B.C. Lean Program has a proven track record of improving participating companies, the average return on investment is 400% in the first year.

Cost-shared Funding: The Ministry will provide successful applicants up to $7,000 for services from a Qualified Business Consultant. Successful applicants are required to pay $1,500 upfront to the Qualified Business Consultant.

What to learn more or apply?: Connect with a Qualified Business Consultant now! https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/programs/bc-lean-program-for-food-processors/lean_consultant_list.pdf

Application Instructions

Step 1: Complete application form, and review and approve project proposal created with Qualified Business Consultant, which is to be submitted to Agribusiness@gov.bc.ca.

Step 2: B.C. Ministry of Agriculture Staff evaluate application and the Project Proposal.

Step 3: After receiving email confirmation the Project Proposal is approved, the applicant pays the Qualified Business Consultant upfront.

Step 4: The Project is completed as outlined in the Project Proposal (90 days). Ministry staff reserve the right to conduct mid project review and feedback from applicant(s).

Step 5: Qualified Business Consultant submits final draft report to Applicant.

Step 6: Applicant reviewed and approves draft report and signs claim form.

Step 7: After performing the training, Qualified Business Consultant submits the approved claim form (DOCX) and final report by email.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/programs/agribusiness-planning/final_claim_business_development.docx

Step 8: B.C. Ministry of Agriculture pays Qualified Business Consultant directly.

Step 9: Program Staff contact applicant for feedback.

The Fall 2020 Affiliate View is now available on the IAFP website under the Publications tab at: https://www.foodprotection.org/publications/affiliate-view/

17th Annual & 1st Virtual Guelph Food Safety Seminars Symposium

Thursday, November 5th, 2020 10:30 AM to Thursday, November 26th, 2020 12:00 PM

More information: https://www.uoguelph.ca/foodscience/events/2020/11/17th-annual-1st-virtual-guelph-food-safety-seminars-symposium

Visit our new BCFPA Instagram account and don’t forget to give us a follow!

You can follow our Instagram account here:
https://www.instagram.com/bcfoodprotectionassociation/

Our newsletter is now out! You can access and read about the latest events, our fall event plans and other BCFPA-related news here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/17H5492eGce4mxhnxRh1t7hoCTvF2CDup/view

The IAFP's Spring 2020 Affiliate View is now out! The BCFPA Annual General Meeting was even mentioned!

https://www.foodprotection.org/upl/downloads/publications/affiliates-view/spring%202020.pdf

Hello everyone!

We would like to thank you for attending our Spring Speaker's Evening Webinar Series #1!

In our continued effort for improvement and to bring seminars and events in that are interesting, we ask that you take a few minutes to complete our survey. We also ask that those who did not attend also complete the survey if you wish to provide suggestions for future events.

We will leave our survey open until May 31, 2020. We thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions!

Please visit our website www.bcfoodprotection.ca for the latest updates.

Click below to start the survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1TB4jfA0m5Cp-6VwkLHN9zD7suD1CP-w0oIxQHOdIJkU/edit?usp=sharing

Sincerely,

The BC Food Protection Association Executive Board

Hello everyone!

We hope you enjoyed our Webinar #1 of our Spring Speaker's Webinar Series! We have 2 webinars remaining left! Registration is open for webinar #2 and #3!

Register today to take part in these FREE events! Our next webinar is coming up on Thursday, May 14th!

Update: We will be sending a separate email for all registrants on our Zoom link and how to join our webinar. If you want to join us, please register today!

Our next webinar event is coming up on:

WEBINAR #2
MAY 14, 2020 - 4:30 pm PT
Environmental Monitoring
Speaker: Ana Lozano, Food Safety Division, 3M
Register here: https://www.bcfoodprotection.ca/event-3819233

Free for BCFPA Members
$30 for Non-Members
Note: Each webinar is a separate registration

Speaker bios and topic abstracts are available on our website.

For more information and to register, visit our website: www.bcfoodprotection.ca

The webinar link will be sent to registered members when the event gets closer. Stay tuned!

Registrants are welcome to send in their questions to our webinar speakers ahead of time - you can email your questions to us at info@bcfoodprotection.ca

The BC Food Protection Association would like to present:

Spring Speaker's Evening Webinar Series

The BC Food Protection Association is thrilled to host a series of webinars to our members.

Webinar #1:

Food Production During a Pandemic: Lessons learned from COVID-19

Speaker: Aljoša Trmčić, Cornell University
April 30, 2020
4:30-5:30 pm PT

Sponsored by

Registration:

Free for BCFPA Members
$30 for Non-Members
Note: Each webinar is a separate registration
https://www.bcfoodprotection.ca/event-3813537

Webinar Series Schedule:

APRIL 30, 2020 - 4:30 pm PT
Food Production During a Pandemic: Lessons Learned From COVID-19
Speaker: Aljoša Trmčić, Cornell University

MAY 14, 2020 - 4:30 pm PT
Environmental Monitoring
Speaker: Ana Lozano, Food Safety Division, 3M

MAY 28, 2020 - 4:30 pm PT 
Safety of Low Water Activity Foods
Speaker: Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, University of Georgia

For more information and to register, visit our website: www.bcfoodprotection.ca

The webinar link will be sent to registered members when the event gets closer. Stay tuned!

BCFPA Members are welcome to send in their questions to our webinar speakers ahead of time - you can email your questions to us at info@bcfoodprotection.ca

Spring Speaker's Evening Webinar Announcement

Given the growing concerns surrounding COVID-19 and the precautionary measures being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have decided to put on hold any upcoming public events such as our popular Spring Speaker’s Evening. Our top priority to our members and volunteer executive board has always been their health and safety. As such, we feel this is the right decision to make in these difficult times.

However, we are still intent on planning an event. We are thrilled to unveil our plan to "host" our Spring Speaker's Evening as a webinar!

Our upcoming webinar will be FREE for BCFPA members!

More details will be provided once logistics have been finalized, so please stay tuned. But for now, here is a sneak peek:

Newsletter "The Grapevine" Vol 5 Issue 5 Is Now Out!

Click the link here to read our latest newsletter, with new announcements, event summaries, scholarship award essay, and more!

Refer A Colleague Or Friend, Get A Promotional Discount To Your Next Event!

Lastly, in an effort to increase our membership, we are offering the following promotion to our current members: Refer a colleague or friend to the BC Food Protection Association today! As a thank you, you will receive a promotional discount code of $25 which you can use towards your next event (valid through the end of 2021)! Details will be explained in our newsletter which is now out (click the link).

Sustaining Membership Renewals

Interested in becoming a sustaining member? Forget to renew your sustaining membership for 2020? Want to advertise your company in our upcoming webinar? Now is the time to renew today! Talk to us at info@bcfoodprotection.ca to discuss potential sponsorships or ask us more about how you can become a sustaining member!

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you online soon.

Sincerely,

The BC Food Protection Association Executive Board