Calgary’s BMO Centre, one of several Stampede Park venues for the famed Calgary Stampede in July, serves as the 2016 site for the 91st annual Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention & Trade Show, April 12-14.

With five exhibit halls and 10 breakout rooms, the facility is the largest convention center in the Alberta city and sits in the Beltline district south of downtown.

According to Vanessa Sherry, communications manager for CPMA, the Calgary event has drawn major retail participants, and she said the program once again will feature “Learning Lounges” set up on the floor show.

The 91st annual CPMA Convention and Trade Show will take place April 12-14 in Calgary.“We had over 3,500 attendees last year [in Montreal], and we understand that Calgary is a smaller show,” Sherry noted. “However, all the major retailers have registered to attend, and we are looking forward to a vibrant send off to Calgary.”

As of March 10, retailers registered included Calgary Co-op, Canada Safeway, Colemans Food Centres, Costco Wholesale Canada, Freson Market Ltd., IGA, The Grocery People Ltd., Loblaw Cos. Ltd, Longo Bros. Fruit Markets Inc., Market Street Vulcan, Metro Richelieu Inc., The Produce People Ltd., Quality Foods, Real Canadian Superstore, Save On Foods, Sobeys National Procurement, Sobeys West / Safeway, T & T Supermarkets and Walmart Canada Corp.

The event kicks off Tuesday, April 12, with the Annual General Meeting from 12:45-1:30 p.m., followed by the Members Annual General Meeting from 1:30-2:30 p.m., both held at the Westin Hotel. A retail tour is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon, and that evening attendees will be treated to the Half Your Plate Hockey Game, featuring Calgary PMA vs. CPMA at the Father Bauer Arena in Calgary.

The Chairman’s Welcome Reception will be held Tuesday night from 8-11 p.m. at the Telus Sparks Science Centre.

Wednesday gets underway with the Freggie Fun Run 5K run or 2K walk from 6:30-7:30 a.m., and the Delegate and Companion Breakfast will start at 8 a.m. at the BMO Centre. Keynote speaker is Arlene Dickinson, one well-known independent marketing communications entrepreneur and author.

Dickinson’s speech is entitled, “Leadership and the Path to Growth: My Story,” and she’ll share highlights of a career built through “a creative and innovative approach to business.” In Canada she is best known as one of the venture capitalists on two CBC reality series, “Dragons’ Den” and “The Big Decision.” She also is known for her marketing expertise on “Recipe to Riches.”

As an author of two books, the number-one bestseller “Persuasion” and her most recent best-selling release, “All In,” Dickson will provide an inside glimpse into what she’s learned from those media experiences as well as what it means to be a leader in today’s marketplace.

Two business sessions will be presented during the day Wednesday. Session 1 is “Creating Choices” and will look at business owners’ proactive planning during times of transition, including the sale of the business. The session will be led by Brent VanParys and Hali VanVliet, who will explain The BDO SuccessCare Program, a collaborative process to help business owners “manage each change or transition so that your business is always ready for sale and you are able to build a bigger future for their families.”

VanVliet is a senior consultant for The BDO SuccessCare Program, and “applies her skills to help leaders of family businesses understand their options and move forward with the transition from one stage of the business lifecycle to the next.” VanParys, CPA/CA/FEA, brings a unique skill set to the forum as well.

Sherry said the Retail Produce Managers’ sessions held Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30-11:15 a.m. are open to retail produce managers and independent store owners.

“The sessions were developed to provide key insights so that produce managers can demonstrate value to consumers through product knowledge,” she said. “Our learning objectives are to improve knowledge of the produce industry supply chain, learn more about all things produce, network with the industry, and discover new ways to offer value to customers. The morning educational session will focus on produce commodity groups such as bananas, celery and leafy greens, hot house, and exotics. The overall day is a really great opportunity to improve knowledge and network with the industry.”

Just after the Delegates Lunch on Wednesday, the trade show floor will open with CPMA’s traditional ceremonial entrance. The ceremony will run from 1-1:30 p.m., and the floor will be open from 1:30-5:30 p.m.

An After Party will be held at the Westin Hotel from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

Thursday’s convention schedule will begin with the second Retail Produce Manager Education Session from 9:30-11:15 a.m., and the Awards Brunch will run from 9:30-11:30 that morning. The trade show floor opens at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m.

In describing the “Learning Lounges,” which will be presented during Thursday’s trade show at different times between 12:30-3:15 p.m., Sherry said they will cover “key issues and trends affecting the industry.”