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

2019 Spring Member Forum

The Art of the Possible: Thinking Creatively and Collaboratively about Supply Chains

Apr 30, 2019 – May 1, 2019
Hotel Grand Pacific, Victoria

Our Spring 2019 Forum will focus on providing a holistic perspective of the supply chain and encouraging collaborative action to needed improvements. To do so, we must first gain an understanding of the current capacity picture and the gaps between…

Hon. Lori Carr Roundtable, Saskatchewan

Welcome roundtable for new Manitoba Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, Hon. Lori Carr.

Apr 3, 2019
Regina

Stakeholders gathered in Regina to brief Minister Carr on the challenges and opportunities facing the Western transportation network and Saskatchewan’s role in helping to improve the system.

2018 Fall Member Forum

INFORMATION OVERLOAD: Distilling technology for transportation

Nov 13, 2018 – Nov 14, 2018
The Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver

A tidal wave of transformative technologies in transportation is washing over organizations everywhere. The pace of technological development with disruptive implications for the sector has never been so frenzied. However, it is safe to say for all…

Flood Hazards and Infrastructure Risk in the Lower Mainland - Fraser Basin Council Event

Flood Hazards and Infrastructure Risk in the Lower Mainland – Towards a Regional Strategy for Risk Reduction

Nov 5, 2018
Strategy Room #420 580 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3

The Fraser Basin Council is inviting management and operational staff who are responsible for infrastructure in the Lower Mainland to attend a workshop on November 5, 2018 in Vancouver to discuss flood hazards, infrastructure risk and opportunities for…