This year’s CCMTA’s Annual Meeting in Fredericton, New Brunswick, was a resounding success. Over the course of four days, close to 300 delegates bustled between two event sites and participated in several meetings and sessions demonstrating the effectiveness of pan-Canadian collaboration.
This year’s agenda included working meetings with CCMTA’s new and/or newly structured program committees: Carrier Safety Standards and Compliance (CSSC), Driver Programs and Standards (DP&S), Road Safety Research and Policies (RSRP), Data and Technology Services (DTS), Vehicle Strategy and Safety Initiatives (VSSI).
The Annual Meeting was designed to include industry participation in open sessions for a robust exchange of information and knowledge-sharing on topics like the updates to NSC 7, 14 and 15, focussed work underway to strengthen oversight of the carrier industry. These efforts will lay the foundation ensuring carrier data is collected in a consistent way so that we can expand our Carrier Data Exchange, allowing jurisdictions to share data in real time across the country. We also shared our progress on RSS 2035+, Stolen Vehicles, mDLs, Carrier Data Exchange, Micromobility, the Canadian Drivers Licence Agreement, NSC 6, and NSC 16. CCMTA continues to assess opportunities to accelerate key elements of our work where possible, without compromising quality or industry engagement.
Annual Meeting educational sessions were curated to weave the conversation through the most recent iteration of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2035+. Panelists and speakers led lively presentations:
Understanding RSS 2035+ Together: Driving Safety Forward as One Community:
Moderated by Kristin Ward-Diaz (AB), speakers Maria Campos (Vice President and Chief Customer and Product Officer, Manitoba Public Insurance), Roger Grove (Executive Director of Motor Vehicles and Registries, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, and Secretary, AAMVA Board), Sarah Wells (Executive Director, Transportation Association of Canada), and Steve Sullivan (CEO, MAAD) looked at the National Strategy’s vision, pillars, and the collective shared responsibility of making Canada’s roads safer. We know there is room for improvement.
Road Safety & Commercial Carriers – Training, Awareness, & Enforcement Under RSS 2035+:
Lynn Varty (AB) and Geoffrey Wood (Canadian Trucking Alliance) moderated speakers Chris McKee (Executive Director Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association), Kim Richardson (President, Professional Truck Training Alliance of Canada), Shelley Walker (CEO Women's Trucking Federation of Canada) and Rodney Weston (Chair, Board of Directors, Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA)) who explored how training, awareness, and enforcement must evolve in tandem to prevent fatal and serious injuries on Canadian roads.
The Safe System Approach: Smart Technology vs. The Human Factors Perspective:
Toby Louie (BC) moderated two of Canada’s leading road safety researchers, Dr. Brenda Vrkijan from McMaster University, and Dr. Tarek Sayad from the University of British Columbia, who offered a dual-lens view of the future of safe mobility in Canada.
In the coming weeks, we will be sharing videos of these education sessions so you can see how, together, we're staying on track and making measurable progress across CCMTA priority files.
The 2026 Annual Meeting closed with a celebration of the CCMTA's Awards and Service Recognition Program. Our awards program is designed to highlight outstanding individuals and organizations who have made substantial contributions in support of CCMTA’s mission and vision.
The Jennie Howie Government Member Award honours a CCMTA government member who has made significant contributions to CCMTA and whose primary role in their day-to-day work is directly associated with the coordination, administration, regulation and control of motor vehicle transportation and highway safety.
This year, we are pleased to celebrate two recipients of the CCMTA Jennie Howie Government Member Award – Teresa Churchill from Alberta and Michele Mills from Ontario.
Created in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025: Towards Zero, the Safest Roads in the World, the Road Safety Award recognizes individuals and organizations who have implemented strategies aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. This year, we are pleased to acknowledge two exceptional recipients – Yoassry Elzohairy from Ontario and the Government of Alberta for their Class 1 Learning Pathway.
Distinguished Service Recognition honours CCMTA government members who have completed their Chairpersonship term on the Board of Directors or on a Program Committee. Congratulations to Lynn Varty of Alberta who completed her term as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Sean McAlister Service Recognition honours an individual who has been an active member of the Board, program committee or project group for more than five years, upon their departure or retirement from a CCMTA volunteer position. As well, staff members are recognized upon completion of 15 and 25 years of service, upon departure after more than five years of service, and upon retirement. This year, we acknowledged Lyne Vézina (Québec) and Kwei Quaye (Saskatchewan) who retired on March 31, 2026, after lengthy and impactful careers in road safety. Martin Rochon, CCMTA staff, was also acknowledged for 25 years of exemplary service.
A warm thank you is extended to the New Brunswick planning team and to our Annual Meeting host, Nicole Shorrock, for their hard work this week. We thank our sponsors and exhibitors for their commitment to CCMTA’s mission to collaborate, and our speakers and delegates who uphold our vision to have the safest and most efficient movement of people and goods by road in the world.
While the delegates have boarded their flights, hopped into vehicles, and caught trains; the exhibitors are packed up and off to their next show; and the Board, members, and staff are buzzing with excitement over our next steps in our shared commitment to collaborate, innovate, and advance road safety across Canada.
Together, we’re working to ensure Canada’s roads are the safest in the world.
We look forward to welcoming you to next year’s CCMTA Annual Meeting in Victoria, British Columbia, June 14 - 17, 2027.
