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 Fall Member Forum

WHAT’S NEXT? The Aftermath of the COVID-19 Crisis

Oct 14, 2020 – Oct 23, 2020
October 14, 16, 21 & 23 - Online Event

The COVID-19 pandemic is, first and foremost, a global health crisis that triggered enormous economic consequences. The World Trade Organization estimates that global merchandise trade plunged 18.5% in the second quarter of 2020 and forecasts an overall contraction of 13% for the year. In Canada, unemployment reached 13.7% in May, and GDP is likely to have plunged by a record of 12% in the second quarter. These indicators will improve as the economy recovers from earlier lockdown measures.

The 2020 Fall Member Forum will address the pressing concerns that Canadian transportation leaders have as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts will provide their insights on the scale and permanency of damage caused by the pandemic, and outline responses for businesses and governments to thrive in the coming years.

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

20th Annual Fields on Wheels Conference

Grain Exports to 2035: Is Western Canada Ready?

Dec 2, 2015
Winnipeg, MB

(presented by University of Manitoba Transport Institute & WESTAC)

The world demand for Canadian grain could look very different two decades from now.

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.