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


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.…

2024 Fall Member Forum

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

Program and registration details will be available in early fall.

2025 Spring Member Forum

May 6, 2025 – May 7, 2025
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald/Government House, Edmonton

Program and registration details will be available in early 2025.

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
  • 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
  • Hon. Scott Moe, Premier, Government of Saskatchewan
  • Marie-France Paquet, Chief Economist, Global Affairs Canada
  • Stephen Poloz, Special Advisor, Osler
  • Christian Sinclair, First Nation Financial Planner, Opaskwayak Cree Nation
  • Jim Stanford, Economist & Director, Centre for Future Work
  • Hon. Heather Stefanson, Premier, Government of Manitoba

Top left: Marie-France Paquet, top right: Robert D. Kaplan, bottom left: Christian Sinclair, bottom right: Pedro Antune

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

Hon. Doyle Piwniuk, Government of Manitoba

Apr 7, 2022
Winnipeg

The roundtable is an opportunity for Minister Piwniuk to hear from select freight transportation executives across the Western Canadian transportation industry. The discussion focused on strategic issues facing the sector and opportunities for…

2021 Fall Member Forum

A Legacy in the Making: The Impact of Critical Decisions on Canadian Prosperity

Dec 8, 2021 – Dec 9, 2021
Westin Bayshore, Vancouver

Decisions of today will dictate our future. They should be guided not only by what we know but shaped by the risks we anticipate and the future we desire. The 2021 Fall Member Forum seeks to bring insights into the economic and tectonic forces shaping our…

Serge Bijimine, ADM, Policy, Transport Canada

Dec 7, 2021
Vancouver

A roundtable was held with Transport Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Serge Bijimine. The objective of this roundtable was to have a frank discussion about freight transportation in Canada, including current supply chain challenges,…

Hon. Rajan Sawhney, Government of Alberta

Nov 29, 2021
Edmonton

A roundtable dinner was held for the Hon. Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Transportation for the Government of Alberta. National members joined via Zoom to discuss the need for a concerted focus on resiliency, redundancy and recovery. Participants discussed…