WEDNESDAY OCT. 8, 2025

7:00 am - 8:00 am  |  Exhibitor Booth set up

8:00 am – 9:00 am  |  Registration and Exhibitor Showcase

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION 1

BALLROOM BC

Ecological Forestry and Importance of Managed Forests

Managed forests are key to the implementation of Ecological Forestry in Nova Scotia. This session will explore the relationship between Ecological Forestry and intensively managed forests

Importance of Managed Forests & Why We Need to Plant Trees! (mitigate climate change, address environmental degradation, reforest large areas devastated by natural disturbances and to accelerate development of the bioeconomy).
Bevan Locke - Port Hawkesbury Paper.

Implementing Ecological Forestry in Nova Scotia; setting up for success. 

What does this look like with respect to Provincial Targets & Outcomes i.e. silviculture investments, the role of HPF i.e. plantations, density regime/management.
Brad Butt, NS Department of Natural Resources.

Incentivizing Landowner Engagement & Accountability. 
John Pineau, Ontario Woodlot Association

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10:30 am to 12:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION 2

BALLROOM BC

Effective Planning

An overview of tactical planning considerations in managed forests, building on the principles of intensive forest management from initial site selection to treatment approaches and timing.

“Getting the Whole Cycle Figured Out” - Need for collaboration, treatment timing, logistics, matching species and stock type to site, key considerations.
Francois van Deventer, AtlanTIC

Impacts of Climate Change. Soil productivity, drought, species adaptability and migration. Loic D’Orangeville, Université Laval

Dealing with Hylobius. - Association for Sustainable Forestry

HPF Site Identification. Makele McLellan, Westfor

Infield Validation. Scott Maston, Association for Sustainable Forestry

Supplier Presentations

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12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Lunch -

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION 3

BALLROOM BC

Canadian Woodlands Forum Member Health Plan
Presented by Rob Shea, Senior Group Benefits Advisor Belmont Health and Wealth

State-of-the-Art Practices: “Best Tree, Best Place” – Establishment

Regulating the Practice of Professional Forestry in NB
Presented by Blake Brunsdon, ARPFNB

Stewardship in Action: Developing the Forestry Workforce for the Future
Presented by Dennis Bedford, Owner/Operator , D. Bedford Forestry Services Inc.

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Refreshment Break and Exhibitor Showcase

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

CONCURRENT SESSION 1

SHEDIAC C

Strengthening Forestry: Benefits, Regulations, and Workforce Development

Improving Transportation Efficiency for Canadian Forest Industry: Research Activity Updates
Presented by Pape Masseck Thiam, Senior Research Engineer /Project Lead, FPInnovations

Spotlight on Innovation: Equipment and Technology
Equipment Suppliers:

A.L.P.A. Equipment, presented by (TBC)
Log Max, presented by Carl Tingley
Brandt, presented by (TBC)

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

CONCURRENT SESSION 2

SHEDIAC AB

Strengthening Forestry: Benefits, Regulations, and Workforce Development

Supporting Sustainable Growth in Nova Scotia’s Forestry Sector
Presented by Harvey Gray, Executive Director, Forestry Economic Task Force

Using Harvester Head Data to Predict the Yields of the Next Cut Block
Presented by Jean-Martin Lussier, Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service

Modernizing Forest Inventories with AI and Remote Sensing
Presented by Rakesh Mishra, Head of Research-Remote Sensing & AI, Northern Hardwoods Research Institute Inc.

THURSDAY APRIL 10, 2025

7:30 am - 8:30 am | Buffet Breakfast and Exhibitor Showcase

8:30 am to 10:00 am

PLENARY SESSION 4

BALLROOM BC

Emerging Threats & Climate Challenges: Protecting Eastern Canada's Forests

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: A New and Important Threat to Atlantic Canada's Hemlock
Presented by Lucas Roscoe, Research Assistant, Natural Resources Canada

Increased Wildfire Activity Could Trigger Strong Changes in Eastern Canada's Forests and its Forest Sector
Presented by Yan Boulanger, Research scientist in forest ecology – Natural Resources Canada

10:00 am - 10:30 am  |  Refreshment Break and Exhibitor Showcase

10:30 am to 12:00 Pm

PLENARY SESSION 5

BALLROOM BC

Advancing Forest Operations: Harnessing On-the-Ground and Remote Data for Precision Management

Data as the Oxygen to Business Intelligence
Presented by Sébastien Maranda, General Manager, GSF

Seeing the Trees for the Forest: Advances in Remote Sensing
Presented by Maurice LeBlanc, Production Solution Specialist, Forsite Consultants

12:00 pm  |  Spring Meeting Closing

12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

COMMITTEE MEETING

SHEDIAC A

Sustainable Forest Initiative Committee Meeting