1000 Delegates Attend the 2016 TAC Conference & Exhibition

Thursday, October 20, 2016

The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel welcomed almost 1000 delegates at the 2016 Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) Conference & Exhibition, from September 25-28.

Highlights included several international guest speakers, the first-ever TAC Town Hall meeting, and well-attended events. More than 50 technical sessions, panels and workshops covered a variety of topics, including connected and automated vehicles, applying the science of road safety, roundabout design, and more. Papers presented as part of the conference sessions are available in a new, searchable format at http://tac-atc.ca/en/conference/papers

Speakers of note during the three and a half day event, included: 

  • The Honourable Stephen Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation, welcomed delegates to the conference at the Monday Opening Plenary, which also featured a keynote address on the future of vehicle automation in the 21st century by David Ticoll, Distinguished Research Fellow, Innovation Policy Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. The second part of the plenary presented an interactive panel discussion on adopting and exhibiting ethical behaviours. Five representatives discussed ethics and compliance issues, from an academic, public and private perspective, as well as the professional associations sector and young professionals. The audience participated by voting on a series of questions.  
  • At the Tuesday Lunch, a presentation by keynote Dr. Greg Wells, Associate Scientist of Physiology, The Hospital for Sick Children / Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, University of Toronto, offered delegates insights into better performance and health, and how exercise and nutrition can benefit those effected by chronic diseases. The TAC Foundation updated delegates on new initiatives supporting the education and development of tomorrow’s transportation leaders and the generosity of donors providing scholarships. 
  • Gerry Chaput’s last task as TAC President was providing delegates with an overview of last year’s key TAC accomplishments at the September 28 lunch, before introducing newly-elected President Paul LaFleche, Deputy Minister, Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.       

Show-stopping Events

  • Sunday Welcome Reception provided an opportunity to visit over 100 transportation-related booths and table tops at the W. H. Yeates Exhibition, which showcased the latest in transportation and roads-related products and services.  
  • Ontario Night at Casa Loma offered the perfect backdrop to tour the castle, get connected with the Intelligent Mechatronic Systems (IMS) Connected Car, eat fabulous food, and enjoy memorable musical performances by Matt Zaddy, Shakura S’Aida, League of Rock, and the night’s legendary headliner, the Jim Cuddy Trio.  
  • A student day, hosted by TAC’s Education and Human Resources Development Council and supported by the TAC Foundation, was held for post-secondary students interested in pursuing a career in transportation. TAC’s new student grant program also encouraged the involvement of students at the event, by providing full travel and conference registration expenses two students: Daniel Dickson from McGill University; and Czarina Sharmaine Catambing from the University of Saskatchewan. 
  • An early-career professionals reception was also held for university students and TAC members, providing an ideal opportunity to network and learn about how to become involved in TAC’s councils and committees and build the next cohort of TAC leaders.
  • The first-ever Town Hall meeting was held to share preliminary findings from surveys and interviews conducted as part of TAC’s strategic planning process. This open discussion forum enabled delegates and members to ask questions, and provide feedback to help guide TAC in the final stages of development of its next strategic plan.
  • Wednesday’s Closing Event kept delegates and companions wanting more with the Adam Growe Quiz Show, and Toronto's premiere party band, Soular, kept us dancing with classic sounds of Motown, Soul, Rock and Top 40.

Focus on Award Recipients

Executive Director, Sarah Wells, hosted the Monday lunch which recognized technical excellence and volunteer recognition award recipients.

  • Technical Excellence Awards – Recognizing the importance of member technical excellence in Educational Achievement (Ontario Good Roads Association); Environmental Achievement (Ontario Ministry of Transportation), Sustainable Urban Transportation (City of Hamilton) and Road Safety Engineering (City of Toronto.
  • Volunteer Recognition Awards – TAC presented a number of awards to recognize the contributions of its volunteers including the Award for Service to France Bernard, Ville de Montréal; Terry Bidniak, formerly with Yukon Highways & Public Works; Chris Blackwood, formerly with Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology; and Claude Carette, Ville de Montréal.  Seven Distinguished Service Awards were also presented to: Walter Burdz, Manitoba Infrastructure; Eric Christiansen, Manitoba Infrastructure; Peter Dzikowski, formerly with Alberta Transportation; John Hammer, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff; Shiraz Kanji, City of Edmonton; Rod Sanderson, City of Chilliwack and Howard Yea, Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure.

Delegates were encouraged to join in the conversation using the TAC conference hashtag, #TACconf.  A compilation of posts that used the #TACconf hashtag can be found online.

TAC thanks the many organizations who supported its conference and exhibition – the pre-eminent annual event for the Canadian transportation and roadways sectors – by sending delegates or speakers, or participating as official sponsors and exhibitors.


TAC would like to thank the following sponsors for their support.

PREMIER


PRINCIPAL

 


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Arup

Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI)

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Thank you to our Premier Sponsors