The 2026 Online Open House: Careers in Transportation for Students was held January 27 and 29 and brought together employers and students from across the country for two days of presentations, questions, and career exploration. This year’s event featured strong representation from provincial, territorial, municipal, and private-sector organizations, giving students a broad view of opportunities in the transportation sector.
A total of 22 employers participated, including seven provincial and territorial departments of transportation, four major municipalities, and eleven private-sector engineering and consulting firms. Employers were asked to present on their organization and department, what makes it an attractive workplace for young professionals, and the types of roles available. They were also encouraged to consider covering factors such as career growth, workplace culture, the purpose and impact of the work, compensation and benefits, networking opportunities, and application tips in their presentations.
Interest among students was strong: 311 registered and 123 students attended live, representing 36 institutions across Canada. Civil and environmental engineering students were the largest group of participants, complemented by others in programs including project management and construction engineering, supply chain and international management, and computer science, math, geography and statistics. Graduate students made up 61% of attendees.
Engagement metrics highlight the event’s reach and value. On average, students attended 7.1 presentations (about 1/3 of the available presentations) and spent 134 minutes logged in to sessions. Breakout rooms — designed to encourage informal conversation with employers — saw lower but still meaningful participation, with an average of 3.2 sessions attended per student and 38% of attendees visiting at least one.
Feedback from employers was largely positive. Many noted that the event ran smoothly, the facilitators were well prepared, and the breakout rooms encouraged more candid student questions. Several organizations reported connecting with promising candidates afterward, particularly through LinkedIn. At the same time, employers identified opportunities to improve, including reducing scheduling conflicts between presentations and breakout rooms, offering longer Q&A periods, and exploring alternative platforms such as Microsoft Teams. A few also suggested broadening student outreach to boost attendance and expanding participation from francophone institutions.
Despite varying experiences with breakout room traffic and audience size, most employers agreed that the Open House provided valuable exposure and increased awareness of careers in transportation and them as employers. Many saw it as an important national initiative that supports both student development and sector-wide talent attraction.
We appreciate the participation of the 22 organizations in the event and are grateful to them for representing both themselves and the transportation sector as an attractive career choice.
Students who were unable to attend can access the Employer Directory on TAC’s website for the duration of 2026, and may also wish to watch the webinar recording featuring Canadian transportation leaders on what makes their work rewarding, and what advice they’d offer others as they forge their own path.