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Summer came in with a bang this year as CAAR kicked off its new Ag Retail Management Certificate Program at the start of July in Saskatoon with program participants also attending the opening reception for Seeds Canada's annual conference.
CAAR’s Executive Director Myrna Grahn spent another week on the road in July meeting with ag retailers in Eastern Canada. Myrna attended the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s (CFA) annual summer meeting and policy summit in Halifax on July 15 and 16, where she met with agriculture industry representatives from across the country. The CFA meeting focused on providing input to federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers, which culminated in the release of the Halifax Statement. See CAAR’s response to the Halifax Statement, which sets the stage for the Next Ag Policy Framework.
Expanding CAAR's national presence
While she was in Halifax for the CFA meeting, Myrna traveled across Nova Scotia to meet with ag retailers in the province to learn more about agriculture in Eastern Canada and expand CAAR’s national reach and membership in Eastern Canada. She shared CAAR’s strategic priorities for 2026-27 and all of the retailers she met with were aligned and expressed interest in CAAR’s advocacy and training initiatives.
Myrna will continue to build CAAR’s profile in Eastern Canada when she is back in the Maritimes in September for Fertilizer Canada’s annual conference in PEI. CAAR is also planning a day-long training session for ag retailers in Atlantic Canada to further engage ag retailers and expand our membership.
Meeting with members
CAAR’s staff team met with several ag retailers in July, including visits to Q-Line trucking in Saskatchewan and a tour of Meridian Manufacturing’s operations in Manitoba. CAAR is committed to continuing to meet with its members and strengthen relationships across Canada.
At the end of July, Myrna and a group of ag retail members attended a special meeting on bulk fertilizer labeling requirements. A working group of key stakeholders including some of CAAR’s ag retail members are meeting bi-weekly with CFIA to develop solutions to the Customer Formula Fertilizer regulations. This committee is developing and testing alternative bulk fertilizer labelling methods before the CFIA’s compliance deadline, which was extended to July 31, 2027. CAAR’s advocacy committee also met at the end of July to work on strategic priorities, which will be discussed at the CAAR board meeting at the end of August.
As always, if there are issues or concerns that you'd like to raise, please reach out to Myrna anytime at myrna@caar.org. CAAR is your member association and we want to represent your interests as the voice of ag retail in Canada.
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Myrna with The Honourable Heath MacDonald,
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
| Myrna at Cavendish Agri Services in Nova Scotia. | | |
Myrna and Kallie Wood, President and CEO of the
National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food
| Myrna at Antigonish Farm and Garden Co-op. | | 2026 CAAR Connect Convention | |
Mark your calendar!
Registration for the 2026 CAAR Connect Convention will open on September 1. Join us at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina from November 17 to 19!
We've got an exciting line up of speakers and sessions to keep you updated on the issues and trends impacting the ag retail sector. Key speakers include RealAgriculture's Shaun Haney, ADAMA Canada's Cornie Thiessen, Canterra Seeds' Brent Derkatch, CropLife Canada's Pierre Petelle, FCC's Desmond Sobool and Krista MacLean from Stratus Ag Research. You'll hear about the global outlook for agriculture from industry leaders, learn about the newest innovations and get insights into farmer perceptions to help enhance your business. To view the full program and learn more, click here.
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Become a sponsor!
The annual CAAR Convention wouldn't be possible without the support of our generous sponsors. Thank you to ADAMA Canada, BASF, Canterra Seeds, FCC, Meridian Manufacturing and SeCan for sponsoring the 2026 CAAR Connect Convention.
There are still plenty of opportunities to get involved. Check out the sponsorship package to learn more or contact Tracey Shelton, Communications & Convention Manager, at tracey@caar.org.
| Ag Retail Management Certificate Program | | |
CAAR's inaugural Ag Retail Management Certificate Program, which is sponsored by FCC, started in Saskatoon on July 6 and 7. The 12 participants kicked off their learning journey in person, which will culminate at the annual CAAR Connect Convention in Regina in November. The program combines practical learning, industry expertise, and meaningful networking opportunities to help participants grow as confident, capable leaders.
The first class has already completed sessions including AWSA Audit Preparedness, DiSC Workplace, professional networking, and personal and professional branding with LinkedIn optimization. The journey is just beginning, with upcoming sessions on financial awareness, sales and customer service, mental health awareness, leadership development, and business strategy. Participants will also complete self-directed online learning, engage in collaborative learning activities, attend CAAR Connect webinars, and work together on a capstone project designed to apply their learning to real-world ag retail challenges. We'll introduce you to the 2026 participants in the next three editions of the CAAR Communicator.
Meet the class of 2026!
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"I enrolled in CAAR's Ag Retail Management Certificate Program to broaden my perspective, strengthen my communication and leadership skills, and learn from the experiences and viewpoints of others in the ag retail industry.”
Chase Smith
Retail Manager, The Rack / Rack Petroleum Ltd.
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"I want to develop the tools to help me manage a staff of full-time and seasonal employees.”
Kyla Lafreniere
Territory Manager, McEwens Fuels & Fertilizers
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"CAAR's Ag Retail Management Certificate Program is a good opportunity to refresh my leadership and management skills, learn something new, and connect with other managers in the industry.”
Cory Laird
Branch Manager, Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers
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"I am new to management in the ag retail space and want to expand my knowledge and skill set so I can best lead my team.”
Madelena Chenier
Business Development Lead, The Rack / Rack Petroleum Ltd.
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Planning is now underway for the second session of the Ag Retail Management Certificate Program, anticipated to begin in January 2027.
If your organization is considering investing in future leaders, we invite you to complete this expression of interest form to indicate your interest in participating in the next session of the program. This is for planning purposes only. It's not an official registration and does not commit your organization to the program, but it does help CAAR plan program capacity and ensure that we can meet industry demand. Organizations that complete the form will receive priority notification when the 2027 program details, including the schedule, tuition, and official registration package, become available.
To learn more about the current Ag Retail Management Certificate Program, including the curriculum, facilitators, and program structure, visit the Ag Retail Management Certificate Program page.
Help us shape the next generation of ag retail leaders!
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| Supplier Spotlight: Hi Tech Installations Ltd. | | |
Established in 1996, Hi Tech Installations Ltd. has been a trusted partner to Canada's agricultural industry for more than 25 years, delivering turnkey solutions for grain, seed, fertilizer, and feed handling facilities. From design and engineering through construction, commissioning, maintenance, and facility upgrades, Hi Tech provides complete project solutions that help our clients improve operational performance while minimizing risk and downtime.
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| | Do More Ag Foundation blog | |
Caring for a loved one living with mental illness can be an invisible, often isolating role — especially in rural communities. From navigating long distances and limited access to care to carrying the weight of stigma and supporting your loved one through difficult moments, caregivers often do far more than anyone sees.
In this heartfelt piece, Merle Massie, Executive Director of The Do More Agriculture Foundation, recognizes the strength, resilience and quiet care of rural caregivers, while reminding them of something equally important: your wellbeing matters, too.
Read the blog post here.
| In memorium: Senator Todd Lewis | |
The agriculture industry lost a strong advocate this past weekend. Senator Todd Lewis was a strong voice for the agriculture industry and a dedicated community leader throughout his life. A farmer in Saskatchewan for over 40 years, Senator Lewis was the fourth generation to work on his family farm in Gray, just south of Regina. To learn more, read this article from the Western Producer.
The CAAR team and board of directors is saddened to learn of his passing, and sends our condolences to his family and friends. He will be remembered as a true champion of Canadian agriculture.
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August 25: CAAR board meeting - Virtual
September 14 - 16: Fertilizer Canada Annual Conference - Charlottetown, PEI
November 17 - 19: 2026 CAAR Connect Convention - Regina, SK
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Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers
205 – 1 Wesley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6
Toll Free: 800-463-9323
Phone: 204-989-9300
Email: info@caar.org
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