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.
  • Conferences: Periodically, WESTAC hosts high-quality larger conferences that are open to the wider transportation community.


Upcoming Events


2020 Spring Member Forum - CANCELLED

Apr 29, 2020 – Apr 30, 2020

In light of ongoing developments regarding COVID-19 and consistent with precautions taken by Health Canada and other provincial and international health agencies, we have made the decision to cancel this year's Spring Member Forum.

For our Fall Forum, we will be developing an agenda that hopefully will reflect much of that which was missed in the spring. In the interim, I’ll look forward to any suggestions you may have for additional agenda items as issues arise. Details for the Fall Member Forum can be found on our Events page.

2020 Fall Member Forum

Oct 14, 2020 – Oct 15, 2020
Hyatt Regency, Vancouver

Program and event details will be available late summer.

2021 Spring Member Forum

Apr 28, 2021 – Apr 29, 2021
The Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina

Program and event details will be available in early 2021.

PAST SPEAKERS

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

  • David Bach, Deputy Dean & Professor in the Practice of Management, Yale School of Management
  • Nikolas Badminton, Futurist
  • Pieter Bottelier, former Chief of World Bank office in Beijing and former Professor, China Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
  • Brian Lee Crowley, Managing Director, Macdonald-Laurier Institute
  • Dr. Linda Duxbury, Professor, Sprott School of Business
  • Hon. David Emerson, Chair of Canada Transportation Act Review, former Federal Minister
  • Martin Ford, Futurist, New York Times Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker and Silicon Valley Entrepreneur
  • Dr. George Friedman, Founder & Chairman, Geopolitical Futures
  • Buzz Hargrove, Former President of the CAW, Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management
  • Patricia Mohr, ‎Vice-President, Economics & Commodity Market Specialist, The Scotiabank Group
  • David Rosenberg, Chief Economist & Strategist, Gluskin Sheff + Associates
  • Stijn Rubens, Senior Advisor, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors
  • A. Gary Shilling, Forbes and Bloomberg columnist
  • Dr. Laurence C. Smith, Chair of Geography and Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, UCLA and author of the World in 2050

 

Top left: Nikolas Badminton, top right: Dr. George Friedman, bottom left: David Rosenberg, bottom right: Martin Ford

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

2015 Fall Member Forum

Unlocking Capacity: Optimizing Western Canada's Transportation Network

Nov 9, 2015 – Nov 10, 2015
Calgary, AB

Any discussion on transportation system capacity in Western Canada requires an understanding of the outlook for the commodities that drive the demand for freight service.

2015 Spring Member Forum

Geopolitics & Trade: Shifting Markets – Impacts on Western Canada's Economy & Transportation Network

Apr 29, 2015 – Apr 30, 2015
Victoria, BC

Given current unsettling and dramatic changes in the world economy, this forum will seek to build better understanding of the larger geopolitical and global economic trends impacting trade.

2014 Fall Member Forum

Finding the Balance: The Roles of Regulation in Transportation

Oct 20, 2014 – Oct 21, 2014
Calgary, AB

Rules and regulations play an essential role in today's society and are necessary when competition and market forces are unable to achieve the objectives we set for ourselves. 

2014 Spring Member Forum

Demand Pictures: Trade Flows and Capacity Updates

Apr 1, 2014 – Apr 2, 2014
Winnipeg, MB

The ability of transportation system to have sufficient capacity to serve the needs of Western Canadian exporters and importers rests on having the best available demand outlooks. 

2013 Fall Member Forum

Supporting Continued Success: Disaster Management and Regional Transportation Priorities

Nov 6, 2013 – Nov 7, 2013
Vancouver, BC

Governments and private firms have invested billions in transportation infrastructure and information technology to build the nation and facilitate trade. This meeting considered two themes to support continued success of these valuable networks: disaster management and regional transportation priorities. 

2013 Annual Meeting

Building Blocks of Public Engagement & 40th Anniversary Gala

Apr 22, 2013 – Apr 24, 2013
Saskatoon, SK

Opposition to transportation projects and industrial activity is on the rise as more people question the need for any and every project. 

2012 Semi-Annual Meeting

The World As We Don't Know It: Game Changers & Transportation's Response

Nov 20, 2012 – Nov 21, 2012
Vancouver, BC

In an increasingly turbulent world with market volatility, economic uncertainty and environmental challenges, how do we plan?

2012 Annual Meeting

Moving Energy Products: Risks and Rewards

Apr 3, 2012 – Apr 4, 2012
Edmonton, AB

The ability to increase and diversify exports of Canada's energy resources is both a significant opportunity and a controversial issue. 

2011 Semi-Annual Meeting

Up to the Challenge: Building Capacity to Meet Demand

Oct 18, 2011 – Oct 19, 2011
Calgary, AB

2011 Annual Meeting

Understanding Demand: Forecasting Short and Long-Term Demand on Canada's Products and Transportation Response

Apr 5, 2011 – Apr 6, 2011
Winnipeg, MB