Schedule

Invitation-only programming

General attendee programming begins Thursday.

Explore Vancouver on Your Own

OR

Bonus Tour Featuring:

• The Patch Brewery

  • The Patch Brewery Website

  • Tour The Patch Brewery and discover how their craft beer is brewed, from ingredients to final product, in a behind-the-scenes setting

• Hopcott Farms

  • Hopcott Farms Website

  • Tour Hopcott Farms in Pitt Meadows and explore their third-generation, family-run operation. Learn how they raise, finish, and process their own BC beef on-site with a focus on quality, traceability, and local food production. The visit includes a farm-fresh lunch featuring Hopcott Farms beef and locally sourced ingredients.

• The Greater Vancouver Food Bank

  • Greater Vancouver Food Bank Website

  • Visit the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and learn how donated food is sorted, processed, and distributed across the region to support individuals and families in need. See how their facility also transforms surplus and recovered food into value-added products like juices and prepared items to reduce waste and extend shelf life. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the logistics and impact of large-scale food recovery and distribution.

• Granville Island

  • Granville Island Website

  • Enjoy free time at Granville Island, one of Vancouver’s most vibrant waterfront destinations. Explore the Public Market, artisan shops, galleries, and waterfront pathways at your own pace. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience local food, culture, and creativity in the heart of the city.

• Welcome Reception

  • Join us at The Lamplighter in downtown Vancouver for a welcome dinner to kick off the program. Enjoy a relaxed evening of food and conversation in a classic Gastown pub setting.

• COYF Forum Panel Discussions Featuring:

  • BC Stories of Farm Resilience 

  • Succession Stories from COYF Alumni 

• Presentations from the 2026 Canada's Outstanding Young Farmer Honourees

• Gala Evening to Celebrate Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers

Featured Tours & Experiences

• Riley Park Farmers Market

  • Learn more about the Riley Park Farmers Market

  • Discover BC agriculture at Riley Park Farmers Market, a vibrant gathering place featuring local farmers, food producers, and artisans. Explore fresh, seasonal products and experience Vancouver's thriving local food community.

• Houweling's Greenhouses

  • Take an inside look at one of North America's leading greenhouse operations at Houweling's Greenhouses. This tour offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative growing practices, advanced technology, and sustainable production methods that are helping shape the future of agriculture.

• Academy Farms Tour & Lunch

  • Academy Farms Website

  • Explore the fascinating world of bison production at Academy Farms in Langley. This tour will highlight the unique characteristics of bison, the challenges and rewards of raising them, and the management practices that make this operation successful. A farm-fresh bison lunch will be served following the tour.

• BC Fresh Facility Tour

  • BC Fresh website

  • Tour BC Fresh and see how locally grown vegetables are packed, marketed, and distributed across Western Canada through a grower-owned network. Learn how BC family farms work together to deliver fresh produce year-round.

Evening Experience

• Dinner at the historic Harris Barn