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Welcome to the 2023 CRAC ANNUAL CONFERENCE Information Page

Check out our host hotel, The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver - Photo Gallery

The Westin Bayshore Amenities

Once registered, your will receive your confirmation e-mail which includes the link to The Westin Bayshore Hotel. The cut off date for the Hotel bookings for CRAC Conference is on or before April 17, 2023.

Early Bird Pricing effective until April 14, 2023 at 12:00 midnight

Member registration               $1,175                    After April 14 - $1,300

Spouse/Partner/Companion     $750                    After April 14  -   $850

Your registration includes 2 continental breakfasts, 2 lunches & health breaks, accessibility to the evening Hospitality Room "The Spreader Bar", AV services, meeting room rental fees, Wifi services, photographer for professional portrait, all meetings and educational sessions and the all inclusive The Get Together and Closing Banquet. Golf and Tour are additional. 

Furry Creek Golf Event - $275  

Golf Club Rentals - $60 (no shoe rentals available)

Our Golf Event will be held at the beautiful Furry Creek Course. Transportation will leave from the Bayshore Hotel at 7:30 am Tuesday morning. If you require golf cub rentals (Taylor Made for $60 plus GST) please book early as there is a limited number available this year.  The $275 fee includes, golf fees, golf cart, practice balls, water, continental breakfast, lunch, and transportation.

Vancouver Site & Grouse Mountain Tour  - $220  

For the Vancouver Site and Grouse Mountain Tour , we will be leaving from Bayshore Hotel at 9:00 am Tuesday morning. Our day will begin with a discovery tour of Vancouver winding through the North shore to the base of Grouse Mountain. Making our way out of downtown, we will drive through Stanley Park with a photo stop to see the famous Totem Poles and views over the marina and Coal Harbor. We will be arriving at the base of Grouse Mountain around 11:00 AM. The wilderness paradise is located 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver and the famous Grouse Mountain Skyride (North America’s largest aerial tram system) takes visitors on a one-mile aerial journey to the Alpine Station, 3,700 feet above sea level. Breathtaking panoramic views of the city, sea and surrounding mountains unfold, culminating with a summit altitude of 4,100 feet. From shopping to dining, to entertainment, to walking trails, the vistas are endless. Walking shoes, sunscreen, fleece and wind breakers recommended. Included in the admission are the world-famous lumberjack show and the visit to the wildlife Refuge. This tour also  includes continental breakfast, transportation, driver/guide, Vancouver sight tour, tram to Grouse Mountain, and lunch. It is important to stay hydrated in higher altitude.

The return to the hotel will be around 3:30-4:00 pm

Special Events

Get Together / Wednesday, May 17th at 6:45 pm        (Included in your registration) 

Our evening will take us to a sanctuary in the heart of Stanley Park. The renown Vancouver Aquarium brings you face to face with aquatic creatures. Great Entertainment by talented musician and song writer Ryan McAllister. Our Get Together is our time to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Food stations throughout the galleries will provide plenty of food and refreshments for everyone.

The Vancouver Aquarium is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Westin Bayshore, a beautiful stroll along Cole Harbour. A shuttle bus service will also be available. It’s Vancouver in May, we hope you’ll enjoy being outdoors! Casual and comfortable wear.

We will leave the lobby of The Westin Bayshore at 6:45 pm.

Closing Banquet / Thursday, May 18th at 6:00 pm      (Included in your registration)

An evening of celebration and music!

In an elegant formal setting in silver, black and white, we will celebrate our 25th Anniversary with great entertainment and Awards Ceremony. 

Cocktails will be served in the Foyer of the Stanley Park Ballroom starting at 6 p.m.

Other activities to consider

Hop on Hop off Sightseeing 

Vancouver Restaurants

Grandville Island

Bike Rentals – 2hr free bike rental from the Westin Bayshore

Coal Harbour Bikes

Spokes Bicycle Rentals

E-Scooter Rentals

Note : All prices are subject to the GST 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 CRAC Annual Conference - Vancouver

  • May 16 - 18, 2023
  • 1601 Bayshore Drive
    Vancouver, British Columbia
    Canada
    V6G 2V4

Event Workshops

Arrival - Monday May 15th

May 15, 2023  09:00 - 21:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:59

On arrival, visit the Registration area in the Chehalis Room. This allows us to confirm your presence on-site and your participation to various activities.

The Hospitality Room, our traditional "Spreader Bar" will open in the Hotel Lobby area at 8:00 pm

The Spreader Bar, located in the H Tasting Lounge, is a great networking location and everyone is invited to mingle and make connections. 

Included: Cash Bar. 

Agenda - Tuesday, May 16

May 16, 2023  07:00 - 04:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:23

Breakfast for Golfers and Tour Participants 7:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Bus leaves for Golf - Hotel Lobby 7:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Bus leaves for Vancouver Site Tour - Hotel Lobby 9:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Free time 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception & Networking - Stanley Park Foyer 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Spreader Bar - H Tasting Lounge 8:00 p.m. - till closing

 

 

Agenda - Wednesday May 17

May 17, 2023  09:00 - 17:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:14

Scroll down for Speakers' Biographies

Networking Breakfast 7:00 -   9:00 am
Board of Directors Meeting - Oak Room 8:00 -   9:00 am
Opening Remarks / Joe Roberts - Keynote Speaker 9:00 -   10:15 am
Networking Break  10:15 - 10:30 am
Technical Presentations: AI and autonomous technology  
BlokCam-Peter Hird, The Crosby Group 10:30 - 11:00 am
PSIORI-Dr. Sascha Lange 11:00 - 11:30 pm
Safer&Faster Lifting Operations-Casey Savlov, Vita Industrial 11:30 - 12:00 pm
   
Networking Lunch 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Thomas Benjoe – Indigenous Engagement Framework and Procurement                                                                                  1:00 - 2:00 pm
Networking Break   2:00 - 2:150 pm
Canadian Lift of the Year Presentations                                                                                   2:15 - 5:00 pm
   
Free Time 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Get Together at the Vancouver Aquarium 6:30 - 10:00 pm
Spreader Bar - H Tasting Lounge 10:00 pm-closing

 

Joe Roberts - Keynote Speaker

 

 

Peter Hird -The Crosby Group

Peter Hird has been in the crane and lifting business for 38 years, starting out at the family business Peter Hird & Sons in 1983 and progressing into specialist lifting and rigging project management.

In 2015 he and Ben Windass launched Blokcam after seeing a gap in the market for a high quality camera system that would fit to the hook block of many types of cranes. Blokcam is a multi-million dollar business and has a distribution network in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Australia.

In 2021 they sold Blokcam to The Crosby Group, where he now works as business development director. Crosby has been in the lifting and rigging business for more than 130 years, and manufactures a wide range of products including shackles, hoists, hooks, wire rope fittings, sheaves and blocks.

 

 

Thomas Benjoe – Indigenous Engagement  

Thomas Benjoe is the President & CEO for FHQ Developments and is from Muscowpetung First Nation. Through his leadership, FHQ Developments is growing Indigenous capacity through investments in new businesses across multiple sectors, and leading strategy in economic development and Indigenous HR.

Thomas currently serves as the Past-Chair of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, Board of Director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Board of Director of Economic Development Regina, SIIT Indigenous Innovation Advisory Council, Saskatchewan Roughriders Indigenous Task Group, and is a Member of Leaders Council at the Hill & Levene Schools of Business, University of Regina.

Thomas recently received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for contributions to Business & Commerce, was recognized in The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine as a Top 50 Changemakers in Canada, and was recognized as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Economic Developers by Treaty 4 News.

 

Agenda - Thursday May 18

May 18, 2023  08:45 - 16:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:15

Scroll down for Speakers' Biographies 

Networking Breakfast 7:00 - 9:00 am
    

Opening Speaker - Economic Update

Bob Collins - Senior Economist BuildForce Canada

9:00 - 9:45 am

ELD Panel Discussion 

9:45 - 10:30 am
Health Break 10:30-11:00 am
Annual General Meeting 11:00-12:00 am
Lunch  12:00 - 1:00 pm
 

Provincial Updates -

Alberta All-Terrain Pilot Project Update - Justin Andrews & Mike Lavoie

Assoc. des propriétaires de grues du Québec (APGQ)

Crane Rental Association of Ontario (CRAO)

BC Crane Safety - Clinton Connell

1:00 - 2:00 pm
Health Break 2:00 - 2:15 pm

CSA-Z150 Canada Wide Assessment:

Paul Walchuk, Darin Richards, Jason Brown

2:15 - 3:00 pm

Vancouver Risk Assessment Pilot Project Panel

Doug Younger, Frank Carr, Clinton Connell, Chalys Joseph, Crane Rental Company

3:00 - 4:00 pm
Closing Remarks 4:00 - 4:10 pm
   
Free Time 4:10 - 6:00 pm
Cocktails - Foyer of the Stanley Park Ballroom 6:00 - 6:45 pm

Closing Banquet

Longevity Awards Presentations

Security Awards Presentations

Canadian Lift of the Year Awards Presentation

Presentation of the Talking Stick

6:45 - 10:00 pm
 

Spreader Bar -  Foyer of the Stanley Park Ballroom

 

10 pm - till closing

Bob Collins - BuildForce Canada

Canada’s construction industry rebounded quickly post-pandemic with strong levels of activity and recruiting challenges as employment growth outpaced the available labour force. In addition, industry retirements are expected to reach their highest levels over the next few years as workers from the baby boom generation exit the industry, a significant loss of skills and experience. Join Bob Collins, a senior economist with BuildForce Canada, as he presents Build Force’s 2023 construction outlook and expected market trends across Canada.  Bob received his undergraduate degree from Memorial University (Newfoundland and Labrador) and a Masters in Economics from Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia).  He has over 30 years of experience as a consultant and business economist with extensive experience in the construction industry, tracking construction investment and assessing labour market trends.

 

Indigenous Engagement

 

 

 

Jason Brown - Kova Engineering

 

Jason Brown is a Mechanical Engineer Technologist with Kova Red Utl Engineering and most recently was awarded with his 10 year tenure. He began his career in the crane and hoist industry shortly after high school and has been forging a name in the industry for over the past 15 years.

His experience began working on the floor of Commercial Truck Equipment as he built various types of lift equipment before returning to BCIT – Institute of Technology. He pursued his Mechanical Engineering Diploma and was then hired by Kova Red Utl Engineering and has been a predominate and passionate team player in the crane community. 

Jason believes in the power of communication, mentoring those new to the industry and developing his education. He recently earned his CWB Level 3 Weld Inspector status while building and maintaining his career. His passion for connection with others, the development of the crane industry and the sites he has seen remains to be his source of inspiration in his field.

 

 

   

 

Departure - Friday May 19 - Breakfast - Not Included

May 19, 2023  07:00 - 09:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:63

Pay as you go Breakfast

Should you choose to join friends over breakfast, please make a reservation. This will allow the restaurant services to serve you better. The cost of this breakfast in not included in your conference registration.

Safe Travels and we look forward to seeing you next year!!!