Start your day with a good cup of coffee! A perfect time to meet, chat, and connect before the event begins.
Kick-off with a welcome from our host, Alexane Drolet
Passionate about the news world since a very young age, Alexane recently became the first full-time news content creator on YouTube in Quebec. She contributed to the creation of Noovo’s newsroom and has spent the past few years producing digital content at Radio-Canada.
Nominated as an Emerging Talent at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards, Alexane constantly strives to strike the right balance between rigor and fun. For her, promoting information is just as essential as maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As a host, she will undoubtedly convince you that “staying informed is cool,” as she often says!
Partners’ Panel: Cultivating Our Cooperative Future
Mr. Richard Ferland, President, Sollio Cooperative Group
Mr. Jean-Yves Bourgeois, First Vice President, Desjardins
Mr. Roger Massicotte, President, Agropur Cooperative
Mr. David Beauvais, President, Quebec Young Farmers’ Federation
10:00 : Opening Conference "Cultivating Our Cooperative Distinction"
Join us for this inspiring conference on the importance of cultivating our cooperative distinction. Claude-André Guillotte, Director of the Research and Education Institute for Cooperatives and Mutuals at the University of Sherbrooke, is not only an active cooperator in the field but also an academic who has been dedicated to cooperative research for over 15 years. Passionate, committed, and an excellent communicator, he will share insights on cooperative engagement, from the perspective of both the members and the cooperative itself.
By Claude-André Guillotte, LL.L, M. Adm, DBA
Claude-André Guillotte is the Director of the Research and Education Institute for Cooperatives and Mutuals at the University of Sherbrooke (IRECUS) and a management professor at the University of Sherbrooke’s School of Management. He has been a researcher at IRECUS since 2008, and his research interests mainly focus on cooperatives, social economy, strategy, and governance.
IMPORTANT: These workshops will take place simultaneously. Participants attending in person must select their preferred workshop at the time of registration.
Please note :
- Only the workshops presented by Agropur Cooperative and Desjardins will offer on-site simultaneous translation.
- Only the Agropur Cooperative workshop will be live-streamed and include translation for online participants.
WORKSHOP 1 – Sustainability Without Detours: Measuring, Implementing, and Transforming Agriculture
Presented by Agropur Cooperative, available with on-site simultaneous translation and live streaming.
In a world where market expectations are rapidly changing, sustainability is becoming an essential strategic lever for young agricultural leaders. This dynamic workshop, led by Diane Bertrand and Sophie Neveux, will immerse you in the concrete realities of the agri-food sector.
Using inspiring examples from Agropur and the broader industry, you will discover:
- Why buyers now demand data on the carbon footprint and environmental, social, and economic risks associated with agricultural products.
- How producers can become key players within a sustainable value chain.
- Financial incentive models that encourage producers to measure and improve themselves, while supporting communication about actions in the value chain.
Hosts: Diane Bertrand and Sophie Neveux
Diane Bertrand has been part of Agropur's management team since 2019 and is currently serving as Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Cooperation. In this role, she oversees member relations, institutional relations within the dairy industry, legal services, and Agropur's sustainability program. She also serves as board secretary.
Prior to joining Agropur, Diane spent nearly 20 years as a partner at a Montreal law firm. She is a business law attorney specializing in mergers and acquisitions, financing, and cooperative law.
Sophie Neveux, agronomist, holds a master’s degree from the University of British Columbia in dairy cattle welfare and behaviour. With over 15 years of experience in sustainable agriculture, she is recognized for her strategic leadership in implementing ESG initiatives, animal welfare programs, and cross-sector collaborations. As Director of Global Sustainability at Agropur, she is committed to aligning sustainability goals with business outcomes, influencing policy, and delivering impactful knowledge transfer across the dairy value chain.
WORKSHOP 2 – Be The Hero of Your Own Transfer!
Presented by the Desjardins Group, available with on-site simultaneous translation.
An interactive workshop where the audience is guided through the process of transferring a farming business. Each decision influences how the story unfolds… and reveals the many faces of a successful transfer. A participatory, lively, and eventful experience where everyone becomes an agent of change.
Hosts: Annie Gagnon and Myriane Garon
Driven by her desire to make a difference for agricultural entrepreneurs, Annie Gagnon joined the Desjardins business transfer team in 2022. An agronomist by training, she spent 15 years as an account manager in Estrie and 5 years in turnaround and farm business transfers. Her direct, creative, and transparent approach is a valuable asset to the businesses she supports.
An agronomist and MBA graduate, Myriane Garon has over 15 years of experience in agricultural financing, notably at Desjardins and other financial institutions. Recognized for her commitment to the next generation and her active involvement in the agricultural community, she uses her creativity to deliver concrete solutions — turning challenges into successes, both in her professional work and on her family farm.
WORKSHOP 3 – Better Communication for Better Understanding: Practical Tools to Cultivate Healthy Relationships in Family Farming Businesses
Presented by the Fédération de la relève agricole du Québec.
In the whirlwind of family farm life, the boundaries between personal and professional life can quickly blur, sometimes creating tension, conflict, and relational fatigue. This interactive workshop explores the family dynamics unique to the agricultural environment, through practical scenarios and tailored tools. You will discover simple and effective strategies to improve communication, express your needs, defuse conflicts, and foster a harmonious work atmosphere… even in the midst of the busy season!
Host: Marie-Michèle Patry-Gobeil
Marie-Michèle is passionate about work–family balance (and proud of it!). She has worked for over 15 years in the community and non-profit sector, always driven by values of social justice, feminism, and equity.
Panel – Agricultural cooperation to take your business further!
Presented by Sollio Cooperative Group
Join us for an authentic and inspiring discussion with four committed individuals who will share their experiences within their businesses and cooperatives. During this panel, they will talk about the tangible benefits of working with their cooperative, the challenges they face in the field, and the growth and solidarity opportunities offered by this model. This is a unique opportunity to discover how agricultural cooperation can become a powerful lever to take your business further!
Moderator: Andréa Renaud, Director of Cooperative Affairs at Sollio Cooperative Group
Élise Gagnon, Advisor in Technological Tools and Sustainable Agriculture at Sollio Agriculture.
Jean-Philippe Côté, Dairy Producer, Board Member at Vivaco Cooperative Group and Sollio Cooperative Group, and Vice President of the Estrie Agricultural Machinery Cooperative (CUMA).
Nadine Groulx, Maple Syrup Producer, Board Member at Desjardins and President of the Quebec Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals.
A one-of-a-kind family cooperative story!
Discover the inspiring story of a family that successfully passed on the cooperative spirit from one generation to the next. Danielle Breton and Mathieu Couture achieved the remarkable feat of transferring their agricultural business to two of their four children – Marie-Pier and Félix – while partnering with a stepson and an employee in a brand-new business structure.
The result: their two dairy farms, Ferme Filcout and Ferme Counard, now total 350 kg of quota and 526 hectares of crops. A third entity, Ferme Agricouture, now oversees all fields and buildings.
An inspiring journey where business succession becomes more than just a next-generation takeover: a true transmission of values of solidarity at the very heart of the enterprise.
Stay until the very end for a chance to win a door prize and make the most of the day’s enriching discussions and networking opportunities!