The British Columbia Food Protection Association held its 2021 Annual Meeting as a virtual event on February 1, 2022.

The event started off with AGM Business, with David Mahoney leading the meeting minutes and agenda. David presented a summary of events from 2021, with an honourable mention of the BCFPA receiving the 2021 IAFP Communications Award, followed by board member nominations.

The BCFPA and Scholarship Awards were also presented to the following recipients:

2021 BCFPA Food Safety Award - Pascal Delaquis
Pascal was awarded the BCFPA Food Safety Award for his outstanding work, expertise and mentorship that he has contributed in BC with respect to the food microbiology of fresh fruits and vegetables, and is nothing short of instrumental to the success of this field of work. He has also published articles on this topic, and the guidance that he has provided to technicians and graduate students has led them to go on to successful careers. His contributions to expert panels from a regional, national and international scale, as well as his devotion as an exceptional mentor to his students and peers, has demonstrated his long history of outstanding commitment and contributions to food safety.

and

2021 BCFPA Scholarship Award Recipient - Bailey Morin
Essay topic: "Food Safety and Food Systems in Indigenous Communities"

A variety of speakers and topics were included throughout the event, including the presentation, “Commissary Kitchens: The Fraser Health Experience.” Fraser Health Authority’s Stephanie Szeto, Environmental Health Officer, and Connie Banting, Practice Consultant, were presenters.

Justin Falardeau, Past President and Ph.D. candidate at the University of British Columbia, presented his findings on “Investigation of cheese microbiome for the inhibition of L. monocytogenes growth in soft-ripened cheeses."