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

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…