2025 Agenda

2025 ABC Conference & Trade Show Agenda

(DRAFT – Subject to change)

Monday, November 17, 2025 - Annual General Meeting & Conference Welcome Drinks
STARTTOPIC DURATION
1.00pmABC 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING(Closed session – open to Eligible Producers only)4 hours
5.00pmSOCIAL EVENT

Welcome drinks in the tradeshow hall - all guests welcome!

Featuring craft cocktails made with pure Canadian honey from Calgary's Burwood Distillery.

PRE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Check-in early and pick up your name tag during our pre-event check in!
Available for all guests, vendors, speakers etc.
Trade Show Hall2 hours
7.00pm END OF DAY
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Conference & Trade Show | Day 1
STARTTOPICSPEAKERDURATION
7.00amBREAKFAST
Enjoy a full hot breakfast in Room 6. Included as part of your event ticket.
All guests90 min
7.30amAlberta Pollination Group - Breakfast Meeting Closed session, Alberta Pollination Group members only.
Room 6
60 min
8.30amConference Welcome & Opening RemarksABC President5 min
8.35amHow pesticides hurt bees and societies.Dr. Humberto Boncristiani40 min
9.20amFat and happy? The impact of Lotmaria passim on the diet consumption and survival of four honey bee stocksCourtney MacInnis20 min
9.45amUpdates from the Government of Canada for BeekeepersTom Rosser, Assistant Deputy Minister, Market and Industry Services, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada20 min
10.05amMORNING BREAK30 min
10.35amPANEL DISCUSSION
SWEETENING THE DEAL: Expanding the Reach of Canadian Honey in Domestic and Global Markets
Moderator: Ray Bergstra

Panelists:
Tom Rosser
Peter Awram
Rod Scarlett
Marko Cilic
40 min
11.20amVarroacide Development Project: Progress UpdateDr. Rassol Bahreini20 min
11.45amInvestigating Different Pad Materials With Oxalic Acid and Glycerin for Varroa Mite ControlMaren Vickers & Isabela Bernsdorf20 min
12.05pmLUNCH60 min
1.05pmCanadian Honey Quality & Authenticity Standard Project updateDr. Ray Bergstra20 min
1.30pmProject Update: Detection of Miticide Resistance in Varroa destructor Populations in Canadian Apiaries.Patricia Wolf-Veiga20 min
1.55pmPANEL DISCUSSION
SMOOTH OPERATOR: Operational tactics for a successful beekeeping season
Moderator: Curtis Miedema

Panelists:
Ron Greidanus
James Hoetmer
Dan Pala

45 min
2.40pmAFTERNOON BREAK30 mins
3.10pmAdapting to Change: The New Landscape of the Temporary Foreign Worker ProgramMark Chambers20 min
3.35pmHoney bee viruses, the invisible honey bee killer.Dr. Humberto Boncristiani40 min
4.20pmHeat and Drought Disrupt Canola Flowering, Reduce Pollinator Attraction, and Lower Seed YieldFairo Dzekashu20 min
4.45pmPANEL DISCUSSION
Building a Sustainable Workforce: Recruiting and Retaining Skilled Labour in Beekeeping
Moderator: Mark Chambers

Panelists:
Kevin Nixon
Rod Scarlett
Ryan Hicks
40 min
5.25pmBREAK 5 min
5.30pmPRESIDENT’S BANQUET
5.30pm – 6.30pm | Happy Hour Drinks
6.30pm – 7.00pm | Program
7.00pm – 8.30pm | Buffet dinner
8.00pm – 10.00pm | Entertainment
10.30pm END
OPTIONAL

BUY TICKETS HERE
5 hours
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - Conference & Trade Show | Day 2
STARTTOPICSPEAKERDURATION
8.00amBREAKFAST
Enjoy a full hot breakfast in Room 6. Included as part of your event ticket.
All guests90 Min
8.00am DRONES HOCKEY GAME! Bring your gear, open to all guests.All guests90mins
9.30amBusiness Risk Management - Program UpdatesManglai and Jason Wood20 min
9.55amPresenting Meli - a Fast & Easy Bioacoustics Varroa Sampling Method Nico Coallier20 min
10.20am A nutritionally complete pollen-replacing diet protects honeybee colonies during stressful commercial pollinationTaydin Macon40 min
11.00AMMORNING BREAK30 min
11.30amPANEL DISCUSSION
Building Better Bees: Advancing Honey Bee Breeding in Alberta
MODERATOR: Grace Strom

PANELISTS:
Dr. Olav Rueppell
Glyn Stevens
Curtis Miedema
Martin Howes
40 min
12.15pmUpdate from Beaverlodge Research FarmDr. Steve Pernal35 min
12.50pmLUNCH60 min
1.50pmProvincial Apiculturist updateDr. Renata Labuschagne20 min
2.15pmComprehensive analysis of honeys using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)Kouadio Gerard Bedie & Wilmer Perera25 min
2.45pmFieldWatch updateAnton Grechukha15 min
3.05pmAlberta Government Honey Testing Lab updateJohan van der Heever20 min
3.30pmClosing remarksABC President5mins
3.35pm END