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

2022 Fall Member Forum

Driving Future Change in Transportation

Nov 21, 2022 – Nov 22, 2022
Hyatt Regency, Calgary

The past two years have had a lasting impact on the future of work and our understanding of what a better future for Canada might look like. Workforce issues appeared as a top transportation challenge for the first time in last year's Compass survey.…

Hon. Prasad Panda, Government of Alberta

Sep 2, 2022
Vancouver

A small group of freight transportation executives across the Western Canadian transportation industry gathered in Vancouver for a roundtable for Alberta's Minister of Transportation, Hon. Prasad Panda. The discussion focused on strategic issues…

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill, Government of Saskatchewan

Aug 30, 2022
Regina

Welcome roundtable for the new Saskatchewan Minister of Highways, Hon. Jeremy Cockrill. Stakeholders briefed Minister Cockrill on issues and opportunities in the Western Canadian transportation system, with a focus on Saskatchewan.

2022 Spring Member Forum

Rethinking & Reimagining Canada

Apr 21, 2022 – Apr 22, 2022
Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina

At the 2021 Fall Member Forum, we focused on how today’s decisions dictate our future. We discussed the headwinds facing our economy, infrastructure challenges, and Canada’s slowing economic growth. We also spoke about the need for a bold plan…