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Learn first-hand the key issues in our region by participating on policy tours in the greater Saskatoon area.
There is still space available on some tours. We will be accepting sign ups for tours onsite at the Summit. Please stop by our registration desk to check for availability.
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Cancellation policy: Policy tours are not refundable on or after July 1.

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Ag in motion

Ag In Motion Tour - Western Canada's Farm Expo 
Monday, July 22 | 2:30pm - 5:30pm

PNWER attendees have a special opportunity for private access of Ag in Motion- the largest agricultural trade show in Western Canada that brings innovation to the field through interactive exhibits and live demonstrations. The Ag in Motion team works with the industry to identify trends and issues that are on the minds of farmers in Western Canada. The expo was created to empower farmers by providing the knowledge on the latest in agricultural innovations in order to make informed decisions. Ag in Motion’s outdoor setting means farmers can see the latest technology in real time in real situations; some products even making their debut at Ag in Motion. See Technology. Touch Innovation. Be Empowered. 

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 Canadian Light Source and
VIDO-Intervac

Canadian Light Source  and 
​Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac)
​Wednesday, July 24 | 2:30pm - 5:00pm

The University of Saskatchewan has built an international reputation in many areas of innovative health, agriculture, environment, and advanced materials research. On this participants will get a first hand look at two of the world renown research facilities located on the campus.

The Canadian Light Source produced the brightest light in the country enabling research in mine tailing remediation, food security, cancer research, to drug development and cutting edge-materials, like semi conductors and future battery technology. 

VIDO-InterVac is dedicated to human and animal infectious disease research and vaccine development, and is home to some of the world's most advanced vaccine research infrastructure.
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Planting the Future: How Conservation Protects More than the Land 

Meewasin Valley Authority and Wanuskewin 
Wednesday, July 24 | 2:30pm - 5:30pm

On this interactive tour you can participate in maintaining biodiversity at an active conservation site by planting native vegetation and experience live Indigenous performances at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, the longest active archeological dig site in Canada. Meewasin protects ecological, historical, and cultural aspects of the Saskatchewan River Valley through active conservation. There will be opportunities to learn about the importance of these areas to the economy, education, culture, and the environment. Meewasin is a conservation organization that specializes in partnerships with government, business, and public to protect natural habitat within an urban setting. 

Tour will include a moderate amount of walking (~1.5km/1 mile). Wear comfortable walking shoes.

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Gardiner Dam

Gardiner Dam
Wednesday, July 24 | 2:30pm - 5:30pm​
**This tour is now full. Please email elizabeth.mayer@pnwer.org to be added to a waitlist

As arguably the single most influential infrastructure project in Saskatchewan’s history, this is your chance to see up close an integrated project which dramatically shifted the Province’s destiny, Gardiner Dam and the Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Project.
 
Opened in 1967, the five kilometre Gardiner Dam remains of one of world’s largest earth-filled dams, rising 10 meters higher than Niagara Falls.  The project created Lake Diefenbaker, which today supplies drinking water to 60 per cent of Saskatchewan residents and two years later, the hydroelectric station which supplies enough clean electricity to power up to 150,000 homes every year.
 
Guests will tour the dam structure and spillway, followed by SaskPower’s touring its renewable energy facility, a key ongoing component in the Province’s efforts to reduce electricity-based greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Closed toe shoes required. Hard hats and protective gear will be provided.

Livestock and Forage Centre
​ of Excellence

LFCE
Wednesday, July 24 | 2:30pm - 5:30pm
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The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) brings together all aspects of beef cattle research into one entity, providing researchers, faculty, students, industry and producers with a broad-based platform for research, teaching, and extension activities. Research will encompass all aspects of raising livestock on the Prairies from choosing the proper feed to understanding biology of full-grown cattle. 

The LFCE focuses are cow - calf production, beef cattle production and forage production, grazing and pasture management. It is designed to be the largest and most comprehensive centre for work on cattle and forage in Canada. 

Situated on 27 quarters of land in two locations, the LFCE has a 1500-head feedlot. To understand reproductive impacts, it also has 300 breeding cows. Facilities include a 24-stall metabolism barn, a cattle handling area equipped with a hydraulic chute system, 44 pens in the feedlot, and an environmental monitoring unit. 

Tour participants will get a personal look at the Clavet site, with hands on experiences in the metabolism barn, a walking tour of the feedlot, and a presentation of the cow calf centre. 

​The CBLH tour will conclude back at the University of Saskatchewan with a tour of the Rayner Dairy Research and Teaching Facility. Located on campus, the facility accommodates approx. 100 lactating cows with both robotic, parlor and tiestall milking capacities, animal handling and teaching areas, and research and staff space. A viewing gallery allows public access and education on modern dairy agriculture production systems. Research at the facility includes dairy nutrition and feed development, animal fertility and health, animal management, technology development, application of information technologies, and development of green technologies for improved sustainability.

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Nutrien Allan Potash Mine

Nutrien Allan Potash Mine
Thursday, July 25 | 6:45am - 1:30pm
**For legislators only.  Preference given to visiting legislators from U.S. and Canada outside of Saskatchewan. ​

As the world's largest provider of crop inputs, services, and solutions, Nutrien plays a critical role in growing our world from the ground up by helping growers to increase food production in a sustainable manner. The Allan potash mine is a conventional underground mining operation. You will travel 1000 metres below the surface and observe the continuous mining machines as they cut out the ore, and then hoist it to the surface through the production shaft.  Next, you will tour the surface mill to see how the raw potash is processed and concentrated before being sold and shipped to markets in North America and around the world. 

Unfortunately, due to limited space this tour is limited to legislators only. Preference given to visiting legislators from U.S. and Canada outside of Saskatchewan.

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Boundary Dam Power Station Unit 3 & Carbon Capture Tour

SaskPower Boundary Dam 3 CCS Facility (BD3)
Thursday, July 25 | 7:00am - 2:00pm (Tour will return to Saskatoon Aerocentre by 2pm; please schedule your afternoon flights no earlier than 4pm). 

Boundary Dam 3 (BD3), the world’s first coal-fired power station with a Carbon Capture (CSS) facility, located in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada, is the world’s first carbon capture facility, and remains the only facility that is fully-integrated with a coal-fired power plant – a ground-breaking effort for large-scale capture. The Carbon Capture Facility captures carbon dioxide (CO2), instead of being released into the atmosphere.  This reduces carbon emissions from the coal-fired power plant, while producing a reliable, clean source of energy. 

BD3 is renowned for its full-chain approach. It has a coal plant, capture facility, transportation infrastructure (pipelines), enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and pure storage capabilities. On this tour, you will be flown to Estevan and given the opportunity to take a tour of both the BD3 dam facility, as well as the CCS facility. After an overview presentation over lunch you will be flown back to Saskatoon in the afternoon!

​Please Note: This tour will be taking a chartered flight down to Estevan. Because seats are limited, we are unable to invite spouses on the tour. If you are interested in driving to Estevan on your own, please contact PNWER separately to register. ID, long sleeved shirts and pants are required for this tour. Boots will be provided.