Food and Farming Canada » Canadian Farm Writers

World’s farm journalists come to Canada

Lilian — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:00:38 +0000

It’s finally here.

The International Federation of Agriculture Journalists (IFAJ) 2011 congress is now underway with several pre-congress events taking place in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Together with my colleague Owen Roberts (@theurbancowboy), I’m co-chairing this gathering of about 260 farm journalists from 30 countries around the world, which is taking place in Ontario this week.

The last [...]

Awards from the Canadian Farm Writers

Lilian — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:28:57 +0000

I’m not usually one for shameless self-promotion, but in this instance, I can’t help but share some very good news.

I was totally thrilled to learn this past weekend that I was the winner of not one but two writing awards at the Canadian Farm Writers Federation (CFWF) annual banquet on Saturday night.

The CFWF program recognizes the [...]

Ontario farm journalists honoured

Lilian — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:07:58 +0000

Two long-time Ontario agricultural journalists were honoured for their contributions to farm writing by the Eastern Canada Farm Writers’ Association (ECFWA) at its annual meeting last week.

Glenn Powell and Jim Romahn became Life Members, a designation awarded by the ECFWA to agricultural journalists who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture, to the ECFWA, to the journalism [...]

Farm writers elect new president

Lilian — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:22:42 +0000

There’s a new leader at the helm of the Eastern Canada Farm Writers’ Association (ECFWA). Clare Illingworth, a communications specialist with Syngenta Crop Protection, became president of the organization at its annual meeting this week.

Illingworth, who has served on the ECFWA board for several years, first as a director and most recently as Second Vice [...]

In a palace by the sea

Lilian — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:38:42 +0000

Well, we’ve finally arrived in lovely Ostende, a city on the Belgian coast and our home base for the next few days. And we are among the lucky ones – it looks like about half of our IFAJ colleagues either never got off the ground or are stranded at airports in various parts of the world. [...]

Using social media in agriculture

Lilian — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:58:31 +0000

I spent the day in Saskatoon today with reporters and editors from the Western Producer. Once a year, they all gather together for a staff conference – and today, I was on the agenda to do an introduction to social media.

I am generally quite intrigued by the endless possibilities posed by social media, excited by the [...]

Experience new world agriculture in Canada

Lilian — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:35:34 +0000

Canada is a land built on the foundations of agriculture and the hard work of generations of immigrants and farmers. These are the people who came to what was the “New World” to lay the groundwork for the life, culture and society we enjoy here today. Around the globe today, our country is admired as a [...]

A writing award from Canadian Farm Writers!

Lilian — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:20:14 +0000

And now for some shameless self promotion…

I was thrilled to be the recipient of a writing award at the recent Canadian Farm Writers Federation (CFWF) annual banquet. A news release I wrote last year called “What gardeners can learn from farmers” won a bronze in the Alice Switzer award category for news release writing.

The news release [...]

Farmers turn to alternative agriculture

Lilian — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:05:42 +0000

Growing numbers of farmers are turning to alternative agriculture and agri-tourism initiatives to help them earn a living. That message was illustrated by several speakers at the recent Canadian Farm Writers Federation annual meeting in Edmonton, Alberta earlier this month.

Ron Hamilton, Mary Ellen Grueneberg and Doug Livingstone have each found a different niche for themselves, [...]

Farm writers heading west

Lilian — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:58:35 +0000

Tonight, I’m joining about 100 of my colleagues and heading west for the next few days – to Edmonton, Alberta for the annual Canadian Farm Writers Federation conference.

Our hosts, the Alberta Farm Writers Association, have some wonderful farm tours and professional development sessions lined up for us and of course, it’s always great to meet other [...]