CARS National Railway Day 2026
November 4–5, 2026 | The Westin Edmonton
This premier event brings together industry leaders, suppliers, and stakeholders to explore innovations, share insights, and strengthen connections.
Pricing
Conference Registration:
Member Rate - $499 Regular
Non-Member Rate - $599 Regular
Walk the Tradeshow:
Click to Register for a Complimentary Tradeshow Pass
CARS Annual Awards Dinner:
$180
Exhibitor Booths:
Member Rate - $1,950
Non-Member Rate - $2,950
Sponsorship Opportunities
From high‑profile partnerships to cost‑effective brand placements, National Railway Day sponsorships are designed for organizations of all sizes.
With opportunities at every level, we make it easy to showcase your brand, build meaningful connections, and demonstrate your commitment to the future of rail. Discover what’s possible in our sponsorship package.
Download the 2026 Sponsorship Package
CARS Annual Awards
Applications will open in March 2026.
Base Awards
Safety Award – For safety innovation and leadership
Diversity Award – For inclusive strategies and impact
Innovation Award – For advanced technologies and community impact
Special Recognitions
Future of Rail Award – For professionals under 40
Lifetime Achievement Award – For career-long contributions
Nominations: Send name, bio, and contact info to NRD@railwaysuppliers.ca
Travel & Accommodation
Travel Discount Codes
We’re pleased to offer exclusive travel discounts with our partner airlines and rail providers to help make your trip to National Railway Day more affordable.
Important: All discount codes are only valid for travel to Edmonton, Alberta, with travel dates between November 2 and November 7, 2026.
Discounts will only apply if travel occurs within this window.
Air Canada
Promotion Code: WE2TGVA1
To book, visit aircanada.com and enter the promotion code in the Promotion Code box during the booking process.
WestJet
Promotion Code: 7J8K3SQ
Book online at
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca
Porter Airlines
Promotion Code: NRD26
Book online at
https://www.flyporter.com/en-ca/?promocode=NRD26
VIA Rail Canada
Discount Code: 16095
Book online at
https://www.viarail.ca/en
All travel discounts are subject to availability and applicable fare rules.
We encourage booking early to secure preferred routes and fares.
Hotel Accommodations
Delta Hotels Edmonton Centre Suites
If you have not yet booked your accommodations, please make arrangements as soon as possible, as hotel availability in the area is becoming increasingly limited.
Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to welcoming you to National Railway Day 2026.
Speakers / Panelists
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Kurt Slocombe
President & CEO
Kurt Slocombe
President & CEO
The Prince Rupert Port Authority
Kurt Slocombe has played a key role in the growth of the modern Port of Prince Rupert since arriving in 2007 to help launch operations for the then newly converted Fairview Container Terminal. Following successive leadership roles at Fairview Terminal, Kurt joined PRPA May 2019 as Vice President, Operations, Planning and Infrastructure, leading major infrastructure projects like CANXPORT, and supporting the development of the Ridley Island Energy Export Facility and South Kaien Logistics Park. Kurt lives in Prince Rupert with his wife Julie and their four children.
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Rhea Adama
Vice President, Procurement
Rhea Adama
Vice President, Procurement
CPKC
Rhea Adama is Vice President, Procurement at CPKC, where she is responsible for leading the company's procurement and supply chain strategy across its North American network. In this role, she oversees strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier partnerships, fuel management, and programs that drive operational efficiency, reliability, and long-term value creation for the railway.
Since joining Canadian Pacific in 2010 as Director, Locomotive Maintenance, Rhea has held a succession of senior leadership positions spanning mechanical operations, locomotive reliability, strategic sourcing, procurement, safety, training, and operational support. Over the course of her career with CP and now CPKC, she has played a key role in advancing locomotive fleet performance, strengthening supply chain capabilities, improving safety outcomes, and supporting the integration and growth of the railway's operations across North America.
Prior to joining the railway industry, Rhea spent more than a decade with Alstom Transportation in a variety of project management, contract management, and operations leadership roles. Her extensive experience in transportation, procurement, asset management, and organizational leadership has made her a respected leader within the rail sector.
Rhea holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She is also Six Sigma Green Belt trained and has been recognized throughout her career for her commitment to operational excellence, leadership development, and advancing women in the railway industry.
In 2020, Rhea was recognized as one of Railway Age's Women in Rail, reflecting her significant contributions to the North American rail industry and her dedication to fostering strong teams, innovation, and continuous improvement.
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Ali Roghani
Research Leader
Ali Roghani
Research Leader
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Ali Roghani is a research leader at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), where he has spent over a decade advancing data-driven solutions for the railway industry. He leads initiatives focused on applying analytics, sensing technologies, and digital platforms to improve the safety, reliability, and performance of rail infrastructure and rolling stock. His work brings together multidisciplinary teams and partners across industry, government, and academia to translate emerging technologies into practical, field-deployable solutions. Ali holds a PhD in engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario. He recently graduated from MBA program at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa.
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Michael Brody-Waite
Founder & CEO, Addictive Leadership
Michael Brody-Waite
Founder & CEO, Addictive Leadership
Addictive Investments
Michael is a recovering addict, acclaimed speaker, Inc. 500 entrepreneur, award-winning, 3X CEO, and author of “Great Leaders Live Like Drug Addicts: How to Lead Like Your Life Depends on It.”
Michael’s Nashville TEDx Talk, “Great Leaders Do What Drug Addicts Do,” provides insight into his twenty-one-year journey from addiction to successful entrepreneurship. It is the #1 talk in the history of TEDx Nashville, with over 3 million views from people in more than 25 countries.
In 2010, Michael left a Fortune 50 company at the height of the recession to cofound and lead InQuicker, a healthcare SaaS company that allowed patients to self-schedule appointments online. Under his leadership, the organization experienced 20,000 percent revenue growth, earning InQuicker a spot on the Inc. 500 list of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Additionally, the organization was named one of the “Best Places to Work” four times and recognized as Healthcare Company of the Year. After selling InQuicker to a publicly traded company in 2015, Michael served for three years as the CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, a 501(c)(3) organization that helps over 2,000 entrepreneurs start or grow a business each year.
His accomplishments include being named a Most Admired CEO, recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40, and honoured by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce as Healthcare Entrepreneur of the Year.
Today, as founder and CEO of Addictive Leadership, Michael is employing a style that combines inspiration with practical implementation to revolutionize the principles of leadership. His Addictive Leadership programs, based on the three principles that saved his life, have been taught to hundreds of companies, including Google and Dell, as well as government agencies, nonprofits, and small businesses and startups. Michael and his team have helped over 30,000 leaders achieve balance, reclaim time, and reach their full potential.
Learn more at www.michaelbrodywaite.com
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Steve Smith
President & CEO
Steve Smith
President & CEO
Torq Energy Logistics Ltd.
Mr. Smith is Co-Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Torq Energy Logistics, and Co-Founder of Buffalo Rail & Infrastructure. Together, these companies deliver critical first-mile and last-mile infrastructure supporting the rail supply chain. Before founding Torq and Buffalo, he served as Vice President of Operations at a private equity real estate firm and as President of a private securities dealer. Earlier in his career, Mr. Smith held progressively senior roles at private equity real estate investment and asset management firms Interborder Holdings Ltd. and Walton International Group Inc. He is a graduate of Mount Allison University.
Member
Registration
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NRD 2026 - Member Registration This is an all-access pass to the full two-day conference and networking. Full Registration ticket holders will have access. NOTE: Awards Dinner Not Included. Early-bird rate is no longer available
|
$499.00 + tax | ||
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Exhibitor Booth Each booth comes with two NRD 2026 Registrations, two chairs, a black background and side dividers for a professional look, a waste paper basket for convenience, and one table for display purposes. |
$1,950.00 + tax | ||
| Proceed to Checkout | |||
Non-Member
Registration
| NRD 2026 - Non-Member Registration This is an all-access pass to the two days of conference and tradeshow accsess. NOTE: Awards Dinner Not Included. |
$599.00 + tax | ||
| Non-Member Exhibitor Booth Each booth comes with two NRD 2026 Registrations, two chairs, a black background and side dividers for a professional look, a waste paper basket for convenience, and one table for display purposes. |
$2,950.00 + tax | ||
| Proceed to Checkout | |||
Add-on
Registration
| NRD 2026 - Awards Dinner Gala Dinner Single Seat |
$180.00 + tax | ||
| NRD 2026 - Awards Dinner Table Awards Dinner Table of 10 |
$1,800.00 + tax | ||
| Proceed to Checkout | |||
Sponsorship
Registration
| Tour Sponsor As the Tour Sponsor, you'll receive social media recognition, your logo featured in the program and on the CARS website, and on-site acknowledgment during bus loading. |
$2,500.00 + tax | ||
| Nutrition Bundle Sponsorship The Nutrition Bundle sponsorship showcases the sponsor’s logo across conference breaks, materials, and online platforms for consistent event‑wide visibility. |
$3,000.00 + tax | ||
| Pen & Notepad Sponsorship Displays the sponsor’s logo on pens and notepads provided during speaker sessions. |
$750.00 + tax | ||
| Q&A Session Sponsor Provides logo placement on the Q&A screen, a verbal moderator mention, and recognition in the program as a Session Sponsor. |
$500.00 + tax | ||
| QR Code Sponsor Includes the sponsor’s logo on all event placed QR codes and within the event program. |
$350.00 + tax | ||
| Digital Program Sponsor Showcases the sponsor’s logo and brief message on the first page of the online agenda. |
$350.00 + tax | ||
| "Photo of the Day" Sponsor Features the sponsor’s logo on the digital frame of the day’s highlighted photo shared online. |
$250.00 + tax | ||
| Supporting Sponsor Logo added to the event page under “Supporting Sponsors.” |
$100.00 + tax | ||
| Community Supporter Supports five complimentary registrations for community organizations with name recognition in the program, on thank‑you slides, and on social media. |
$1,500.00 + tax | ||
| Workforce Access Partner Provides ten sponsored registrations with logo visibility across event materials, social media thanks, and the option to include a small branded item. |
$3,000.00 + tax | ||
| Inclusive Industry Champion Funds fifteen registrations with prominent logo placement, a dedicated social media feature, verbal acknowledgment, and the option to provide a branded item. |
$5,000.00 + tax | ||
| NRD26 Awards Dinner Sponsor The sponsor’s logo will be displayed at the CARS Award Dinner and includes two (2) dinner seats. |
$1,000.00 + tax | ||
| Proceed to Checkout | |||