To help break down the barriers that prevent students from attending its annual conference, TAC offers at least one student grant to enhance their educational opportunities outside the classroom.
In 2025, Rob Maxwell, a student pursuing a Master of Urban & Regional Planning at Queen’s University, was randomly selected from among the eligible applicants to receive the TAC Student Grant to attend the 2025 TAC Conference & Exhibition in Québec City, October 5–8.
Rob received a full conference registration, free accommodation, and travel to the conference. He provided the following as a summary of her Conference experience.
Q. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your Conference experience and why?
A. Definitely a 10! My experience at the conference was great from beginning to end. The conference had such an incredible range of professionals from across Canada, representing a breadth of professions and backgrounds within the transportation space. I had the chance to engage with practitioners shaping practice and policy in areas directly related to my academic work in Transportation Demand Management (TDM). The sessions exposed me to new ideas and approaches, and the many informal conversations throughout were also very valuable. I finished the conference tired… but also energized, and excited to continue my research with a clearer sense of how it may fit into the broader professional landscape.
Q. How was the Conference beneficial educationally and professionally?
A. Educationally, I gained a great deal of knowledge in my research area, TDM, which will directly translate into a fuller, more thorough research project. The conference gave me the opportunity to discuss this research with practitioners who shared insights from their work in municipalities, consultancies, and other agencies across the country. These conversations will help me shape the direction of my research and make it even more relevant to the industry’s current needs.
Professionally, I was constantly meeting new people —over lunch, during breaks, at the exhibition area, and beyond! It was a great chance to grow my network, gain a clearer sense of potential career paths within the sector, and was invaluable in shaping my own professional trajectory.
Q. Tell us why you feel students should attend the Conference.
A. Students should absolutely attend this conference, as it’s where classroom theory ‘comes to life’ through the case studies and projects featured across different sessions. Having tangible examples of the concepts learned in the classroom and the opportunity to discuss them directly with the professionals who practice them is an inspiring and eye-opening experience that is very hard to replicate in the classroom.
Q. What did you enjoy the most at the Conference?
A. It’s hard to choose just one highlight! So many amazing new connections and conversations, and incredible sessions giving me new perspectives. Outside the conference, exploring beautiful Quebec City added yet another layer to the experience! All of this made for an incredible and memorable few days.
Q. What did you value the most at the Conference?
A. The people. Everyone I met was welcoming, generous with their time and knowledge, and genuinely enthusiastic about all things transportation. The sense of shared purpose and passion for building and supporting communities through sustainable transportation was present throughout these conversations, and these interactions made the conference memorable for me.
Q. Did you attend the Student & Young Professional Meet & Greet? If yes, please describe your experience.
A. Yes, I was glad that I could attend the Meet & Greet.
It was a great chance to meet other students and young professionals, along with a number of TAC committee members, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. I appreciated the smaller event (a change of pace from some of the larger networking moments over lunch and during the breaks). I enjoyed chatting with people from across Canada and a wide range of professional backgrounds. Really glad that I could attend!
Q. Were you able to network & connect with TAC members, organizations, and other young professionals? If yes, please describe.
A. Yes. Networking was a constant throughout the conference. I had many great conversations with municipal staff, consultants, and members of various organizations, some of whom shared perspectives and advice on my academic work in TDM and my career interests. The Meet & Greet event added to this, connecting me with many early-career professionals. I left the conference with many new contacts, a long list of people to follow up with, and a sense of belonging within this incredible professional community!
Q. Other thoughts or anecdotes related to the Conference you would like to share?
A. I would encourage students to take advantage of joining TAC as student members (it’s free!), and to attend future editions of this conference! It’s a fantastic opportunity to deepen your knowledge of a huge range of transportation-related areas, meet professionals from across Canada, and see firsthand how the ideas we are studying are taking shape in projects and communities across the country.
A huge thank-you to TAC for this amazing opportunity, and I look forward to attending future editions!