Agri-Food Forum | Township of Bonfield

The Township of Bonfield will be hosting its first Agri-Food Forum on Saturday November 22, 2025.

This one-day event will take place at the Bonfield Community Center, located at: 100 Yonge St, Bonfield, ON P0H 1E0.

The event seeks to pull together local area farmers and agri-food businesses; plus, regional experts and funding partners to discuss the key issues, constraints, and opportunities affecting the agri-food sector in the Township of Bonfield.

A locally sourced Harvest Lunch is also proposed to demonstrate a breadth of agri-food related products within the Bonfield Community.

The forum is FREE for Bonfield-based agri-food businesses and local residents to attend.

An entry fee of $25 plus applicable taxes and fees will be charged to non-residents.

RSVP your place today via the Eventbrite Page.

Why should you attend?

Bonfield has deep rural roots, and farming continues to be a proud part of our heritage. As Council works toward diversifying our local economy, we want agriculture to play a key role in that growth. This Forum is an opportunity to come together, share ideas, and explore how we can strengthen and expand Bonfield’s agricultural impact. Join us for an open, two-way discussion about the future of farming in our community - and how we can grow together.

The Agri-Food Forum proposes a full day of learning, information-sharing, and professional networking; plus, opportunities to collaborate through the development of local and regional plans and initiatives.

Come hear from our experts!

Township of Bonfield

Simon Blakeley, Planning and Development Officer

Simon Blakeley
Planning / Economic Development
705-776-2641 ex 126

Simon has over 20 years’ experience working for regional government agencies, non-profits, municipalities, and private businesses in the United Kingdom and the Province of Ontario. He emigrated to Canada in 2014, where he has since settled in the North Bay area.

Simon has wide-ranging experience, having practiced as a land use / strategic planner for more than 10 years, and also Economic Development-oriented roles for a further 10 years. He holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Environmental Design; an Undergraduate Degree in Geography and Planning; a Diploma in Business Administration; and several other post-graduate certificates in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability. He also recently successfully completed the AMCTO’s Primer on Planning Course and is on track to gain Ontario Professional Planning Institute (OPPI) certification - to replace the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) qualification he gained in the UK.

Simon is enjoying the opportunity to advance new sustainable economic growth by working in partnership with landowners and developers to advance new projects within the Township of Bonfield. He aims to apply his knowledge, practical experience, and regional connections to improve the quality of life of local residents - fostering enhanced resilience, while guiding and supporting new investment within the Township.

Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Stephanie Vanthoff, Member Service Representative - Northeastern Ontario

Stephanie Vanthoff
Member Service Representative - Northeastern Ontario
Tel: 1.800.668.3276 Ext. 303
Cell: 705.622.6049

Stephanie Vanthof is a Member Service Representative for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, supporting OFA farm members and seven local federations across Northeastern Ontario. Prior to this role, Stephanie managed the Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance, a non-profit organization that works to advance agriculture in Northern Ontario.

Stephanie was raised on a dairy farm in Northern Ontario and has experienced first-hand the unique challenges and opportunities faced by both large and small farms in Northern Ontario. Her education includes a Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Environmental Science in Environment and Business with a diploma in Human Resource Management from the University of Waterloo.

Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA)

Emily Seed, Executive Director

Emily Seed is the Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA), which oversees agricultural research projects and promotes agricultural opportunities in Northern Ontario. Emily graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, focussed on animal science, and is also a recent graduate of the Canadian Cattle Association's 'Canadian Cattle Young Leaders Mentorship Program' and the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council's 'Women in Leadership Skills Development Program'.

Emily was raised on a beef farm in Temiskaming, and now farms with her family near Englehart, Ontario. Together they raise direct-to-consumer beef, chicken and turkeys, and grow canola, oats, soybeans, and other crops. In her spare time, Emily likes to support the next generation of agricultural leaders as a local 4-H club leader.

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness

Julie Poirier, Economic and Business Advisor

Julie Poirier
Economic and Business Advisor

Julie Poirier Mensinga is an Economic and Business Advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

As a member of the Northern Agrifood Advisory Unit, Julie is servicing the Districts of Algoma, Manitoulin, Sudbury, Nipissing, and Parry Sound.

With over 25 years of experience working in the agricultural sector, Julie is grateful for the opportunity to share her knowledge and expertise on current government policies, and other best practices related to the Agri-food sector.

Nipissing University

Dr. Dan Walters, Associate Dean

Dr. Dan Walters
Associate Dean
705-474-3450 Ext. 4155

Dan Walters is a Professor in the Geography program at Nipissing University. His teaching and research are centered on integrated watershed management. His research interests include agricultural nutrient management, agricultural tile drainage, First Nations drinking water risks, and the management of cyanobacteria blooms.

Click Fork - Northeastern Online Farmer's Market

Chantal Lewington, Market Manager

Chantal Lewington
Market Manager

Chantal Lewington is the co-owner of Click Fork, an online Farmer’s Market started in 2018, currently serving a portion of North-Eastern Ontario from Sudbury to North Bay and underlying communities. She is also the co-owner of Dalew Farms in Lavigne, ON along with her husband Dave and 3 children where they raise grass-fed beef, bison, pasture raised pork, eggs, and certified organic cash crops.They have been farming together at this location for just over 21 years!

Chantal also has experience as a Radiographer in the medical field, sales, bookkeeping, marketing and more!

Her skills and persistence have served her well in her calling to distribute clean, local food - in a convenient, modern and feasible way - to her community.

Nipissing University

Dr. James Murton, Full-time Faculty

Dr. James Murton
Full-time Faculty
705-474-3450 Ext. 4402

Jamie Murton is an environmental historian in the History and Environmental Science / Studies programs at Nipissing University, specializing in the history of agriculture and food systems in modern Canada.

He was the recipient of the 2008 K.D. Srivastava Prize for excellence in scholarly publishing for his book Creating a Modern Countryside: Liberalism and Land Resettlement in British Columbia, and the 2002 Prix Guy et Lilianne Frégault for best article published in the Revue d’histoire de l’Amérique française.

Jamie’s current research, project entitled How Canadians Ate: Developing Food Systems in 20th Century Canada, asks how Canadians got their food following the rise of industrial capitalism in the 19th century, and how Canadians’ relationship to food and land changed as the country transitioned to a market-based food system.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!