events

WESTAC brings together transportation leaders at a variety of events throughout the year.

  • Member Forums: WESTAC’s signature event is its bi-annual Member Forum, a one- to two-day member-only event offering in-camera presentations and discussions about topical issues. Featuring high-profile speakers, they allow for the lively exchange of ideas and opinions and provide opportunities for informal meetings between senior industry representatives and decision-makers.
  • Roundtables: WESTAC regularly hosts member-only roundtables for newly appointed ministers of transportation from across the region. The Council is called upon to convene and facilitate seminars and workshops on specific issues impacting transportation across Western Canada.

 

Upcoming Events

2025 Spring Member Forum

Charting the Course in an Era of Uncertainty

Apr 30, 2025 – May 1, 2025
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald/Government House, Edmonton

Global economic forces, shifting trade dynamics, and political uncertainty in the U.S. are redefining the landscape for Canada’s freight transportation and export sectors. WESTAC’s 2025 Spring Member Forum will provide a forward-looking…

2025 Fall Member Forum

Oct 29, 2025 – Oct 30, 2025
Chateau Nova Hotel, Yellowknife

A program and registration details will be available in early summer.

2026 Spring Member Forum

Apr 16, 2026 – Apr 17, 2026
Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina

A program and registration details will be available in early 2026.

2026 Fall Member Forum

Nov 18, 2026 – Nov 19, 2026
Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver

A program and registration details will be available in summer 2026.

PAST SPEAKERS


WESTAC hosts thought leaders and expert speakers at its annual forums. Below is a small selection of recent speakers.

  • Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist, Conference Board of Canada
  • Darrell Bricker, Chief Executive Officer, Ipsos Public Affairs
  • Hon. David Eby, Premier, Government of British Columbia
  • Louis-Vincent Gave, Founding Partner & CEO, Gavekal Research
  • Dr. Richard Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations
  • Karen Harris, Managing Director, Macro Trends Group, Bain & Company
  • Robert D. Kaplan, Geopolitical expert and best-selling author
  • Hon. A. Anne McLellan, Co-Chair, Coalition for a Better Future
  • Heather Paddock, Region 4 Transportation Director, Colorado Department of Transportation
  • Marie-France Paquet, Chief Economist, Global Affairs Canada
  • Stephen Poloz, Special Advisor, Osler
  • David Rosenberg, Chief Economist and Strategist, Gluskin Sheff + Associates
  • Christian Sinclair, First Nation Financial Planner, Opaskwayak Cree Nation
  • Jim Stanford, Economist & Director, Centre for Future Work
  • Peter Tirschwell, Vice President, Maritime, Trade & Supply Chain, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Top left: Pedro Antunes, top right: Robert D. Kaplan, bottom left: Heather Paddock, bottom right: Peter Tirschwell

PAST EVENTS

WESTAC addresses timely, strategic transportation issues through its Member Forums, roundtables and industry conferences. Follow the link below to see a full list of past events or browse through the most recent events listed below.

SEE PHOTOS FROM PAST EVENTS

2025 Compass Report Webinar

Jan 23, 2025
Zoom

WESTAC is hosting a special webinar unveiling the 8th Annual Compass Report. This unique WESTAC product is a barometer of the transportation industry’s health and trends. The 2025 Compass Report captures critical insights, expectations, and…

2024 Fall Member Forum

Pathways to Prosperity

Nov 21, 2024 – Nov 22, 2024
CPKC Headquarters/Westin Hotel, Calgary

Canada has many strengths—abundant natural resources, boundless sources of clean energy, and a highly educated workforce. However, the Canadian economy faces materially slower growth driven by its productivity problem. Over the past four decades,…

2024 Spring Member Forum

Managing through Collective Challenges & Opportunities

May 7, 2024 – May 8, 2024
Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria

Canada is a trading nation that relies on its abundance of natural resources and ability to move our goods to market promptly and predictably. As our transportation systems improve, so does our economic prosperity. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true.…

Hon. Lisa Naylor, Government of Manitoba

Jan 30, 2024
Winnipeg

A small group of freight transportation executives across the Western Canadian transportation industry gathered in Winnipeg for a roundtable for Manitoba's Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure, Hon. Lisa Naylor. The discussion focused on…