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Gain Exceptional Thought Leadership
Discover new insights and practical knowledge from industry leaders to enrich your understanding of zero emissions transit strategies.
Okotoks, Alberta · SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
Special discounted pricing for active CUTRIC members and partners.
Full access pass for general industry attendees and stakeholders.
Leaders driving utility partnerships, zero emissions fleets and transit innovation across Western Canada. Tap a card to read the full biography.
Additional speakers and panel moderators for WTIS 2026 will be announced in the coming weeks. Check back for updates, or register now to be notified as the programme is confirmed.
Driving collaboration between energy providers, legal frameworks and transit infrastructure innovators across Alberta, British Columbia and the Prairies.
One day. Eleven working sessions. The people deciding how Western Canada's transit gets to net zero.
MC Intro, including the land acknowledgement
Keynote: Demand Charges and Electrification of Transit and Transportation in British Columbia: Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Deployment
From global pandemics to devastating wildfires, the nature of emergency response has evolved and public transit is frequently required to act as a frontline resource. A panel of leaders from impacted municipalities will discuss their on-the-ground experiences before, during and after severe weather events.
Cities in Canada are setting the national standard for high-performance transit through ambitious Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) expansions. Industry leaders will discuss the unique technical and operational strategies behind successful deployments, with a focus on integrating zero emissions technology into rapid corridors.
As transit agencies prepare to transition to zero emissions fleets, hydrogen propulsion technology is rapidly evolving. This session examines the technical realities of deploying hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) alongside innovative diesel-to-hydrogen retrofits. Industry experts and transit operators will explore advancements in vehicle architecture, fuel cell integration and real-world performance metrics required to ensure route reliability in Western environments.
This intimate discussion would dive into the realities of grid capacity and the energy infrastructure needed to support zero emissions transit in Western Canada. The chat would explore innovative energy-as-a-service models, advancements in charging infrastructure and how transit agencies can better collaborate with major regional utilities to ensure reliable power for their growing electric fleets.
Five posters, three minutes each.
A successful hydrogen transit deployment relies entirely on a secure, scalable and cost-effective fuel supply chain. This session explores the hydrogen production landscape, spanning large-scale industrial supply, high-efficiency electrolyzers and modular fuelling infrastructure technologies. Panellists will discuss the engineering and supply chain strategies needed to build robust fuelling infrastructure and support fleet-scale decarbonization.
Tapping into the West's robust energy sector, this session evaluates the evidence and economics that support Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) as practical, low-carbon and even zero-carbon solutions for public transit agencies looking to reduce emissions and domesticate fuel supplies in a time of uncertainty.
Western transit agencies are at a critical inflection point, balancing rapid population growth with ambitious climate mandates. This session brings together leaders in the sector to explore how federal funding timelines are directly affecting transit operations.
Focusing on harsh winters in the Prairies and the BC Interior, this session addresses seasonal battery degradation and the massive energy draw of HVAC systems in sub-zero temperatures. Panellists will discuss how auxiliary heating is an essential tool to prevent range loss, comparing academic data with real-world transit agency experiences.
Location: The George Traditional House
A focused, single-day programme built so every attendee leaves with decisions made easier — not a longer reading list.
Discover new insights and practical knowledge from industry leaders to enrich your understanding of zero emissions transit strategies.
Leave equipped with actionable frameworks, regulatory roadmaps and utility blueprints to advance your agency's decarbonization goals.
Connect with like-minded transit executives, utility partners and technology leaders passionate about Western Canada's net-zero future.
Learn from live deployments showcasing the operational, financial and severe-weather performance of zero emissions fleets.
A record of the panels, keynotes and networking that defined last year's summit in Alberta. Click any slide to expand it full-screen.
Hosted by the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), the Western Transit Innovation Summit 2026 is an in-person gathering dedicated to the operational, geographical and technological realities of transit across Alberta, British Columbia and the Prairies.
From sub-zero battery performance and hydrogen fuel cell electric buses to Energy-as-a-Service utility models, the summit brings together transit leaders, municipal decision-makers and technology providers for action-oriented discussions.
One day, one room and the people deciding how Western Canada’s transit gets to net zero.
Position your organization at the forefront of clean transit innovation in Western Canada. Reach decision-makers from transit agencies, municipalities, utilities and technology providers across Alberta, British Columbia and the Prairies. Sponsorship tiers are available with custom activations.
