ACR’s 90th Anniversary Conference and Banquet
Canada’s Resources Moment: Achieving Success in the Build Canada Era
April 9–10, 2026 | Fairmont Banff Springs
Featuring a Dynamic Speaker Lineup and ACR’s Inaugural Resource Leadership Legacy Award
Preferred pricing is available for half-table and full-table purchases.
Event Highlights
Thursday, April 9
3:00 – 4:00 PM
Annual General Meeting
6:00 – 10:00 PM | Mount Stephen Room
Special Reception
Reconnect with peers and partners across Alberta’s resource sectors during an elegant evening of celebration to open ACR’s 90th Anniversary event
Friday, April 10
Conference
Alberta/New Brunswick Room
Opening Remarks - Setting the Course for ACR’s Next Chapter
Session #1
Brian Humphreys,
President, Alberta Chamber of Resources
Welcoming the 2026–27 Board and outlining ACR’s new strategic direction for the Build Canada era.
Public Opinion & the Build Canada Agenda: Important Considerations for Resource Sector Development
Session #2
Nik Nanos,
Chief Data Scientist & Founder, Nanos Research
Drawing on national polling, this opening session examines how Canadians view the need for a stronger, more independent economy and the importance of diversity and stability in trade relationships, within the context of resource development. The discussion will explore the support for expanding Canada’s resource industries and markets, and what lies beneath that support, in the form of key conditions the public expects industry and organizations like ACR to address as we advance a Build Canada agenda.
Governing in the Build Canada Era: Understanding the Challenges of Policy Makers
Session #3
Randy Pettipas,
CEO, Global Public Affairs
Sonya Savage,
Former Minister of Energy and Minister of Environment, Government of Alberta
Drawing on senior government experience, this session examines the practical challenges governments encounter as they respond to trade disruption, economic uncertainty, and public expectations. The discussion will highlight what the resource sector should understand about government decision-making, constraints, and priorities, and how such an understanding can help companies and associations like ACR work with policy makers to advance the Build Canada agenda.
The Geo-political Case for Expansion & Diversification of Canada’s Resource Markets: Urgency, Opportunity & Wider Economic Benefit
Session #4
Robert (RJ) Johnston,
Director of Energy and Natural Resources, University of Calgary School of Public Policy
Canadian economic resilience will depend on access to diverse global markets. This feature session will explain the urgent need to expand and diversify our resource markets in response to geo-political developments; the scale of the opportunity for the various industries within the sector; and how resource market growth and diversification will support other industries and local supply chains across Canada, underpinning our longer-term prosperity and independence.
Session #5
Stronger Together: Aligning Resource Sector Advocacy
Brian Humphreys, (Moderator)
President, Alberta Chamber of Resources
Adam Legge,
President, Business Council of Alberta
Kendall Dilling,
President, Pathways Alliance
Sheila Harrison,
Vice President, Policy, Alberta Forest Products Association
John Rhind,
Chair Canadian Institute of Mining – Alberta Division
Resource sector associations play a critical role in advancing development, policy, and market access on behalf of their members. This panel brings together leaders from across the resource sector to reflect on what is working — and what is not — as organizations pursue their objectives in the Build Canada era. Drawing on the themes of the conference, the discussion will explore where greater coordination can strengthen outcomes and how cross-sector collaboration can enhance the effectiveness of industry advocacy and engagement
MORE TO COME!
Awards Banquet - Friday Evening
A limited number of full Conference + Banquet tickets are now available.
Award Recipients
Celebrate excellence in leadership, partnership, and longevity in Alberta’s resource community.
Resource Leadership Legacy Award — Ian Anderson
To honour and celebrate Ian Anderson’s profound contributions to the future development of Canada’s resource sector, the economic & social well-being of Canadians, and his leadership example for the Build Canada era.
Indigenous Resource Leadership Award — Steve Saddleback
Young Resource Leader Award — Emily Hicks
Book Your Stay
An allotted number of discounted rooms have been made available at the Fairmont Banff Springs for ACR guests.
Stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs
Enjoy a preferred event rate of $395 per night at the Fairmont Banff Springs, exclusively for ACR guests. Availability is limited — we encourage early booking.
Experience Banff
Set in the heart of Banff National Park, the Fairmont Banff Springs offers guests a world-class stay surrounded by mountain vistas and timeless elegance.
During your visit, enjoy:
The award-winning Fairmont Spa with thermal pools and treatments
Indoor lap pool, outdoor saltwater pool, and fitness centre
Fine dining at 1888 Chophouse, Castello Italiana, and Rundle Bar
Shopping & sightseeing in downtown Banff, just minutes from the hotel
Spring activities such as the Banff Gondola and scenic trails
Our Partners
Thank you to our partners who continue to support us and make these events possible.
Join Us as a Partner
Be part of history as the Alberta Chamber of Resources celebrates 90 years of leadership, innovation, and collaboration at the 2026 ACR Conference & Banquet.
This milestone event at the Fairmont Banff Springs offers a rare opportunity to align your organization with the people, companies, and ideas shaping the future of Alberta’s resource industries.
Through sponsorship, your organization will gain high-profile recognition among decision-makers from across the province’s energy, mining, forestry, and environmental sectors — while supporting ACR’s ongoing work to advance responsible resource development and cross-sector collaboration.
Available Opportunities
A range of tailored partnership options are available to suit your organization’s goals and visibility preferences, including:
Event Partner – Exclusive top-tier recognition throughout the entire two-day celebration
Video Partner – Branding across all event videos and features produced for the 90th Anniversary
Indigenous Partnerships Sponsor – Support Indigenous engagement and participation in this milestone event
Networking Partners – Recognition at the Welcome Reception, Breakfast, and other key networking moments
Awards Banquet Partners – Premier visibility at the evening celebration honouring Alberta’s leaders in innovation and collaboration
Each partnership includes brand visibility across digital, print, and on-site materials, recognition during key sessions, and the opportunity to connect directly with Alberta’s most influential resource leaders
Partner with Us
Show your commitment to Alberta’s resource future and help make this historic celebration truly unforgettable.
Partnership opportunities are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
To secure your partnership or request more information, please contact communications@acr-alberta.com.
Past Awards
Resource Leader of the Year
The Resource Leader of the Year is presented to an individual, organization or project that has been significant to the sustainable development of Alberta’s natural resources.
Past Winners:
Al Monaco (2022)
Nancy Southern (2020)
Steve Williams (2018)
Jim Ellis (2016)
Brian C. Ferguson (2014)
Peter Watson (2011)
Pat Daniel (2009)
Charlie Fischer (2008)
Indigenous Leader of the Year
The Indigenous Leader of the Year is presented to an individual, organization or project that has advanced the relationship between the Indigenous peoples of Alberta and the natural resource sector.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Past Winners:
Major Reclamation Award
The dedication of ACR members to the pursuit of improved reclamation techniques has led to many innovations and has provided increasing confidence to regulators and the general public about the long-term success of reclamation in Alberta. The Major Reclamation Award reflects the importance of long-term corporate commitment to reclamation. Selection for the Major Reclamation Award is made by Alberta Environment and Water in an independent process.
Past Winners:
Aboriginal Rewarding Partnership Award
The award was created by the Alberta Chamber of Resources and Alberta Aboriginal Relations to celebrate and recognize companies and their Aboriginal partners who have demonstrated excellence in innovation, best practices in Aboriginal programs, sustainability and capacity building.
Past Winners:
Environmental Award
This is given to organizations or individuals who have demonstrated sustained and stellar environmental stewardship. Selection for the Environmental Award is made by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development in an independent process.
Past Winners:
Young Resource Leader Award
Key to the positive future of our industry are the young leaders across the value chain of the natural resources industry who are advancing the technology, standards, skills, science, and communication necessary for our industries to thrive in an ever-changing environment.
Past Winners:
Technology & Innovation Leadership Award
We are immensely proud of the effort companies, communities and individuals make every day to responsibly research, innovate, develop, process, transport, market, and support our natural resources.
Past Winners:
MIAC Scholarships
Promoting the future of mining in Alberta
In addition to our annual awards, the Alberta Chamber of Resources also presents a number of scholarships to second-year mining engineering students enrolled in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering School of Mining, who have shown academic merit or extracurricular achievements. The Ian Muirhead Memorial Scholarship is presented to the student who best combines these attributes. The scholarships are sponsored by the mining companies in the Alberta Chamber of Resources.