Annual Conference

Grant Writing & Fundraising Expert, Deborah Griffiths, coming to speak at BC Fairs Conference!

Deborah Griffiths started GNG Communications Inc. in 2010 to work with clients to create optimistic approaches for non-profit advancement, successful operation, confident management and step-by-step strategies for funding and grants. She has also worked with funders for grant application reviews. From the ground up, Deborah has been involved in B.C.’s museum industry in the Okanagan and on Vancouver Island for over thirty-five years and has a good sense of big dreams on small budgets. For the past thirty years, she has been a museum Executive Director and, in her business, has worked with numerous clients on community projects.

Because funding is fundamental to non-profit work, she’s written numerous grants and two books on grants including the Grant Writing and Funding Coach, a Self Counsel Press BC bestseller which explores practical steps for non-profit funding and crowdfunding.  She has also worked on capital projects over 2.5 M.  She has an M.A. in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

With an enjoyable, collaborative style, she will walk participants through practical, time-saving steps for writing and applying for grants and will discuss crowdfunding opportunities and setting up a campaign.

Opening Keynote Speaker:  Mr. Brian Casey

After graduating from Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 1976, he and his father bought a dairy farm. This led to the start of showing dairy cattle.  During this time, he became involved with the dairy and draft horse committees at his local exhibition.  In 2005-2006 he was president of the Hants County Exhibition, North America’s oldest agricultural fair.  In 2007-2008 Brian was elected president of the Exhibition Association of Nova Scotia; he was then elected to the CAFE board in 2008.  In 2014 he was re-elected to the position of president of the Hants County Exhibition and helped guide this fair to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2015 as the oldest Agricultural Fair in North America.

Brian’s involvement in various community organizations has been constant throughout his career.  He is a past president of the Hants County Federation of Agriculture; the West Nova Holstein Club; the Nova Scotia Holstein Association; and the Nova Scotia Animal Breeders Association.  His efforts are not limited to the world of agriculture, although he does offer farm tours for various local 4-H groups, school groups, and local community groups.  He also sings in the church choir and is President of his local cemetery association.

Although retired from the CAFE board, Brian is still involved in fairs and exhibitions, sitting on various boards and committees.  Brian is a firm believer in small fairs; it is the small fairs that are the backbone of the industry and it is the small fairs who need to continue to educate the public on the importance of the agricultural industry.

We need to preserve our heritage and continue to impress upon the ever-growing population, the important role that agriculture plays today.  The trick is, we need to educate and entertain at the same time so people will have fun and learn … a daunting task to say the least.