Opening reception – Connect and catch up

Pre-tours:

Walking

Walking Tour of Winnipeg’s Grain Exchange – Join us on a guided tour through the city’s historic and modern agricultural hubs, where industry meets innovation and architecture tells the story. Free, but you will need to select this on the CFWF 2025 registration form. Limit of 25 participants.

The Forks – Within easy walking distance of the hotel, this Winnipeg icon is lined with local shops featuring a dynamic selection of Manitoba-made products and locally-owned restaurants and culinary options. Free unless you’re in a shopping mood!

Canadian Museum for Human Rights – Walk over to the Forks to visit the Museum’s 10 core galleries on seven floors, diverse special exhibitions and stunning architecture. Adults $22.00

Take a cab/ride service

Assiniboine Park Zoo – With 80 parklike acres, the Zoo provides visitors with the opportunity to interact with animal species from all corners of the globe. Journey to Churchill, the zoo’s award-winning northern species exhibit, brings you nearly nose to nose with playful polar bears, seals and other Arctic animals. Adults $25.20

The Leaf – Also located in the Assiniboine Park, The Leaf features horticultural wonders, flaunting Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall cascading past towering palms in the verdant Tropical Biome, along with a Mediterranean Biome and butterfly garden. Adults $16.85

The Royal Canadian Mint – The Winnipeg Mint is a world leader in circulation coin design and innovation. Every single Canadian circulation coin is produced here, as well as circulation coins for countries around the world. Walk up tours available but pre-booking recommended. Adults $12.00

The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada – Are planes your passion? You’ll want to check out this newly renovated museum that features a staggering collection that includes bush planes, military aircraft, commercial aircraft, and more than 70,000 artefacts. Adults $16.00

Raise a glass

Winnipeg’s brewing scene has exploded in recent years. We’ve compiled a list of ones within a walk or short ride from the hotel:

• Devil May Care Brewing Company – 155 Fort St
• Nonsuch Brewing Company – 125 Pacific Ave
• Little Brown Jug – 336 William Ave
• Lake of the Woods Brewing Company – 221 Carlton St
• Good Neighbour Brewing Company – 110 Sherbrook St
• Kilter Brewing Company – 450 Rue Deschambault
• Barn Hammer Brewing Company – 595 Wall St

Opening reception – Connect and catch up

Hospitality suite – Hoist a glass with fellow farm writers in the Vice-Regal Suite

Bus Tours – Pick from your choice of three routes:

Tour 1 – NORTH: Explore Manitoba’s “Interlaken”

Manitoba’s Interlake region between Lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba (we’re good at recycling names) is almost as famous as the Swiss resort town, Interlaken. On this tour, you’ll get inside the cockpit of a modern field machine, get close to the most Manitoban of livestock – bison, and taste rye two ways – kernels and Crown Royal. Your tour guide will also have a couple of extra surprises.

Tour 2 – SOUTH: The Land of Milk and Honey

Journey to southeastern Manitoba, a hub of animal agriculture. Travel back through time from ultra-modern agriculture at the University of Manitoba’s Glenlea research station to the days of steam-powered farming at the Mennonite Heritage Village, where you will enjoy a traditional meal. Then learn about the ancient art of wool processing in the modern era at one of Manitoba’s few artisanal fibre mills.

Tour 3 – CITY: Food for Home and Abroad

Starting with a walk to downtown Winnipeg, you’ll visit Cereals Canada and the Canadian Grain Commission to learn more about how they welcome hundreds of international visitors every year to learn more about how to use Canadian grain. Before you leave the building, you’ll have a tour of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre’s brewery. After a visit and lunch at Red River Polytechnic’s Culinary Arts program, a bus will take you to some local food-processing and transportation facilities.

Dinner – All buses will meet up for a Manitoba-themed meal

Hospitality Suite – Swap tales of the tour day with fellow writers over a beverage in the Vice-Regal Suite.

Professional development –

We asked ChatGPT: Which country has the highest-quality wheat exports? Answer: As of the most recent data, Canada is widely considered to have the highest-quality wheat exports in the world.

ChatGPT gave three reasons why, but if you attend CFWF 2025, you learn a lot more about what may be Canada’s most successful international brand — the world’s top merchant of “The staff of life.” Speakers from Cereals Canada and the Canadian Grain Commission will explain how and why customers use Canadian wheat, and what’s needed for them to continue using it in future.

Other topics on Saturday will include a journey into Manitoba’s Indigenous and Métis agricultural roots, and a peek into the future of crop breeding. The day will round out with a session on the challenges of marketing to farmers at a time when the agricultural world is facing massive turmoil, presented by David Lazarenko, partner and executive VP of the award-winning ag marketing firm Think Shift.

Awards banquet – Dress up for the banquet and presentation of CFWF awards, followed by music, relaxed networking and celebration.

Hospitality suite – Last chance to gather with friends new and old in the Vice-Regal Suite