The particularities of senior dog nutrition by Sophie Lavallée, M.Sc Agronomist

Sophie has a Masters in Animal Sciences and monogastric nutrition at McGill University – Macdonald Campus. She is passionate about pet food innovation with research and development expertise of more than 20 years, in which 7 of those years spent exclusively developing new complete and balanced food recipes for cats and dogs. She is most interested in the scientific aspect of living creatures and the proper use of resources. Her active role in the marketing of new products and to improve renowned brands enables her to consolidate her knowledge on the subject. Now an independent professional, she offers consulting services for pet food startup companies to help them offer the best products that meet known nutrition standards.

Did you know that we are living in an aging animal population reality? Indeed, more and more senior dogs and cats are users of pet products, food, and supplements! A lot of questions warrant a more in-depth conversation: What are the biological characteristics and diet considerations for senior dogs? Nutritional standards recognized by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) don’t emit the diet requirements for senior animals, so which are the elements of differentiation for products and commercial foods intended for senior pets? What are the latest discoveries supported by science in animal nutrition on senior dogs? Join us to learn more about this topic. Hope to see you there!

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Employees, Regulations and Compliance: Be Ready BEFORE the Inspector Shows Up by Michael Kirwin (CFIB)

Michael Kirwin is the Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). CFIB is the largest independent business association in Canada with over 110,000 member businesses. Mike has been with CFIB for 29 years and has held a number of positions including General Manager for Southwestern Ontario and then Senior VP Sales, supervising about 200 CFIB salespeople across Canada. Over the last 2 years, Mike has been working to promote the benefits of CFIB membership to franchise groups and associations.

Employee Discipline, Terminations, Sick Days, Absenteeism, Drug and Alcohol Policy, Privacy, Fraud, Employment Standards, Labour Laws… The list goes on and on! Where can business owners go for help with these problems?  Members of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) know that they can call CFIB Business Counsellors at any time – and as often as they like – for help with government compliance, regulation and employee issues. With over 110,000 members across Canada, CFIB is the largest independent business association in Canada. In this presentation, an experienced CFIB Business Counsellor will answer your questions to help you avoid some of the common pitfalls business owners face when dealing with difficult employees and government red tape.

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Pet Industry Perspective: Are You Ready for the New “Normal”? by Kenn Manzerolle (Marathon Consulting) and Niloufer Afzal (G2G Impact Group)

Niloufer studied the science of transformation across industry verticals and designed solutions to help organizations plan, perform, innovate, and lead in a disruptive world. As a Business Transformation Coach, Nilo leverages her 20+ years of experience in Strategic Planning, Marketing, and People Development to help businesses deliver the industry-leading top and bottom-line growth. Her involvement ranges across Fortune 500 companies, Small-Medium Sized Enterprises, and Start-Ups. Nilo has an MBA in Marketing & International Business and is a Certified Coach.

Kenn is a growth-focused Sales and Marketing Leader with over 25 years of experience working with major international companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry (including Pet Food). Kenn is a compassionate leader with a strategic focus on execution, coaching, and development. His high degree of integrity helps create strong cross-functional teams.

The impact of COVID-19 is unlike anything the world has ever experienced before, and it is affecting consumer sentiment and purchase behavior globally. First the virus, then the economic fallout – now, we are faced with an uncertain and unpredictable ‘New Normal’. During the early stages of the crisis, most businesses pivoted into survival mode. But as we emerge on the other side of the recession, not only are we faced with a new way of life but also a new way of doing business. A number of questions arise, including:

· What should businesses focus on while navigating the crisis?

· How will the ‘New Normal’ affect the pet industry and change consumer behaviors?

· What are the risks the industry faces as we tentatively step into this new era?

· What can we learn from history?

· Are there emerging trends and disruptors to watch and tap into i.e. innovation opportunities and white spaces?

· Can we and should we innovate in times of uncertainty?

· How can businesses emerge beyond COVID-19, poised for growth?

· What should be the considerations for a re-start plan and a multi-year growth plan?

This webinar examines the Pet Industry in the post-coronavirus world.

Content Marketing 101: What You Need to Know to Grow Your Pet Business by Stéphanie Dumont (StreetDog Marketing)

Stephanie Dumont is the Founder and Creative Director of a unique pet-focused marketing agency named StreetDog Marketing. After discovering a gap in the marketplace for pet based businesses, Stephanie set out to start one of her own, using her passion for animals as a driving force. Stephanie has over 16 years of experience in marketing and has worked with a wide variety of pet business owners to help them to achieve increased profits to allow for more time off, less stress, and more money.

From small, independently owned pet businesses to large pet brands, there’s one common goal we all have: attract customers rather than chase customers. By far, content marketing has grown to be one of the most effective strategies brands across industries are using to capture the attention (and buying loyalty) of customers, and pet businesses can do the same. In our webinar, “Content Marketing 101: What You Need to Know to Grow Your Pet Business”, we’re going to walk you through how you can use content marketing to capture leads and drive sales, with actionable tips and advice you can start implementing today.

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The Importance of Preventative Oral Care in Pets by Dr. Jean Gauvin, Chief Veterinarian at Kane Biotech

Dr. Gauvin received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and Small Animal Dentistry Certificate from the University of Montreal and his Certificate in Fish Health Management from the University of Georgia. His passion for pets and veterinary medicine was transmitted to him by his grandfather, himself a veterinarian, and pioneer of the profession in Canada. Dr. Gauvin has 40 years of experience in veterinary medicine. He is the Chairman of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) communications advisory group; immediate past President of the Association des Médecins Vétérinaire du Québec en pratique des petits animaux (AMVQ) and past Chairman and member of the AMVQ’s governance committee. Dr. Gauvin has been involved in veterinary associations, nationally and provincially, since 1984. In 2009, he became the Quebec representative on the CVMA Council, and became a member of the CVMA’s National and International Issues Committee the following year. After being elected as an executive member, he became President of the CVMA and chaired the CVMA Summit on Antimicrobial Stewardship in 2014. He sat on the board of the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (OMVQ, licensing body) from 2016 to 2018. Dr. Gauvin also has more than 30 years of experience in the field of broadcast (radio, television) and social media. He wrote a reptile practical guide. He co-wrote and realized four videos on the normal and abnormal behavior of cats and dogs. He taught in two universities and colleges for several years (1985–1996). For five years he co-hosted the popular TV show “Pas Si Bête Que Ça !” on the TQS network. From 2013 to 2016, he joined the team of the TV Show “Libre Service” aired on MAtv. He is currently a veterinary columnist for the Moteur de recherche (Search Engine) radio show that airs on Ici Radio-Canada Première. His blog is titled «The blog of a small animal veterinarian». In 1995, the AMVQ gave him the “Damasse Généreux” award. This distinction recognizes the importance of a veterinarian in the development of companion animal veterinary medicine in Quebec. In 2000, he was the recipient of the Small Animal Practitioner of the Year, awarded by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Gauvin is married to Lyne, has two sons Charles and Alexandre, a wire-haired Daschund named Maya, Gaston an orange tabby cat, and Caroline the turtle. In the newly created position of Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Gauvin serves as a liaison between Kane Biotech and industry, guide the Kane Biotech R&D team’s Animal Health research and product development, and is the media voice of Kane Biotech’s Animal Health business unit. Dr. Gauvin also serves as a member of Kane Biotech’s Scientific Advisory Board.

In this presentation, Dr. Gauvin will address the evolution of periodontal disease in pets and how it can easily be prevented. Did you know that one of the first signs noticed by pet parents suffering from dental periodontitis is bad breath? And yet, once it is noticed, it means that the disease has been going on for a while. You will also learn that the consequences of periodontal disease in pets goes far beyond bad breath. Without preventative dental care at home or professional dental veterinary services, animal welfare and health is seriously at risk. Dr. Gauvin will also give tricks to help convince pet parents to implement preventative oral care at home. If you want to learn about the importance of preventative oral care in pets, don’t miss this webinar.

Product Innovation and Pet Food Shopper Psychographics by David Sprinkle (Packaged Facts)

David Sprinkle is the research director and publisher for Packaged Facts, which covers consumer markets including the pet and veterinary industries. He manages Packaged Facts’ webinar and consumer survey programs and contributes a monthly market insights column to the trade magazine Petfood Industry.  David regularly gives conference presentations at pet trade shows such as Global Pet Expo, SuperZoo, Petfood Forum, PIJAC Canada National  Pet Industry Trade Show, and China International Pet Show, as well as at veterinary industry events such as VMX, NAVC E-Commerce Summit, AVMA Economic Summit, UVSA Annual Conference, and VetHealth Global.

Featuring new Packaged Facts consumer survey research on the Canadian pet market, this presentation explores usage rates for dog and cat food by type, formulation positioning, and product claims against the backdrop of pet food shopper attitudes about highly processed foods, natural/organic, and product safety and sourcing, including Made in Canada and local ingredients appeal.   In addition to providing an overall perspective on the Canadian market, the discussion charts variations by Canadian geographic region (especially Quebec) and between the Canadian and U.S. markets, providing a consumer insight-based mapping of pet food innovation trends and opportunities.

Canadian Pet Community Awards – Winner Announcement by PIJAC Canada

The Canadian Pet Community Awards presented by PIJAC Canada highlights the work of exceptional Canadian individuals and businesses who are 2020 PIJAC Canada members. These are the people who go the extra mile in educating their clients and readily offering support, whether it be related to animal well-being, the promotion of responsible pet ownership, product-related, customer support, or outstanding community involvement.

Join us for the presentation of the 2020 Quebec, Ontario, and Maritimes Award winners!