CILTNA
Pacific Chapter
Recent News
Developing Talent for Tomorrow’s World
CILTNA’s Pacific chapter held its first in-person event since the pandemic began in the evening of 28 November 2022.  Some 70 students, educators and industry professionals met on the theme Transport, Mobility, Logistics, Supply Chain: Developing Talent for Tomorrow’s World. The event was generously sponsored by SULMONA Holdings Limited (SHL).
Hiring Talent to Run A Railroad
After a networking reception, Mr. Chad Rolstad, VP Human Resources and Chief Culture Officer of Canadian Pacific Railway spoke. He is a fifth-generation railroader who has worked 12 years for BNSF and 6 for CP.
Mr. Rolstad outlined CP’s extraordinary effort in 2022, in a very competitive labour market, to hire the talent to run the railway. Highlights include:
- CP has attracted 97,000 applicants to date using mainly social media, notably Facebook, and through 65 network-wide hiring fairs;
- after shortlisting, interviews and checks, 3,064 people have been hired to date, 85% for union jobs;
- intensive 6- to 7- month paid training gives new front-line engineering-mechanical-operations workers the right knowledge and skills to work safely;
- housing can be an issue; in Revelstoke BC, CP is building 48 fully furnished employee homes;
- CP considers immigration key to labour supply; and works with government on employer-sponsored work permits and temporary foreign worker programs.
Mr. Rolstad also spoke to CP’s current acquisition of Kansas City Southern railroad, noting:
- public hearings by the US Surface Transportation Board were held in late September 2022;
- STB approval for CP control is expected Q1 of 2023, then CP would acquire voting rights and full control of KCS;
- a future CPKC network will have vast reach through Canada, US and Mexico, bypassing congested Chicago, accessing multiple ports, and creating new single-line routes.
Gordon Payne Achievement Award at BCIT
CILTNA’s Pacific Chapter then announced the inaugural Gordon Payne Achievement Award. Gordon, who passed away in 2021, was a Chapter member and a legend of the Vancouver waterfront. He rounded out his career as founder of Harbour Link Container Services Inc. The Chapter decided to honour his memory with the award at the BC Institute of Technology. Working with the BCIT Foundation, the Chapter exceeded its fundraising target to establish a permanent endowment.
A $1,000 cheque goes annually to an outstanding student entering the second year of the International Business Transportation management Program at BCIT. The first recipient, Hni Ngo, is an international student from Vietnam.
The Dr. Ken Denike Award In Transportation Studies at University of BC
Chapter member Joe Sulmona first paid tribute to the late Dr. Mike Tretheway, an intellectual giant and friend of many in the audience. Members of Dr. Tretheway’s family were present.
Dr. Sulmona then announced a very generous founding contribution by SHL, his family’s business, to endow The Dr. Ken Denike Award In Transportation Studies to fund an annual award towards a UBC undergraduate’s tuition fees. In addition, SHL will match contributions from new supporters to a maximum figure. Please find details of this opportunity elsewhere in this newsletter.
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Generously Endowed: Dr. Ken Denike Award in Transportation Studies at UBC
At the CILTNA Pacific Chapter meeting in Vancouver on 28 November 2022, Joe Sulmona, Chartered Member, announced that his family business, SULMONA Holdings Ltd. (SHL) has permanently endowed the Dr. Ken Denike Award in Transportation Studies at the University of British Columbia.
The Award will be granted each year to deserving undergraduates who demonstrate interest and capability in the public or private aspects of mobility for both movement of people and goods, and at all scales from micro-active, to urban, regional, national, and international cross-border networks. Students from a variety of UBC undergraduate schools may apply that encourages an interdisciplinary approach to student achievement.
Dr. Sulmona further announced that in addition to its $80,000 contribution, SHL will match new Award supporters’ contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to another $20,000. SHL’s contribution is nearly sufficient to grant an Award for an entire year’s undergraduate tuition, and more can be done.
As this UBC award advances CILTNA objectives to encourage new professionals to join our industry, please consider a contribution at this link (https://give.ubc.ca/dr-ken-denike-award). If you require further information, please contact Daniel Galpin (He, Him, His), UBC Development Office, Senior Director, Awards, Phone 604 822 3846, Email daniel.galpin@ubc.ca
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Mr. Chad Rolstad of Canadian Pacific Railway addresses CILTNA Pacific chapter 28 Nov. 2022
From L to R:Â Joe Sulmona of SHL Holdings (the meeting sponsor and benefactor endowing the Dr. Ken Denike Award in Transportation Studies at UBC); his spouse Cathy; and Mr. John Dymond, former BCIT faculty member.
Mr Jackie Li (left), BC Institute of Technology faculty member, with BCIT students attending the CILTNA Pacific meeting 28 November 2022 on Developing Talent for Tomorrow’s World, at which the recipient of the Gordon Payne Achievement Award was announced.
L to R: John Bourbonniere, Executive Vice President, Harbour Link Container Services Inc. (HLCSI); Ajay Hayer, Employee Relations Manager (HLCSI), David Payne, President (HLCSI) and Bill Wehnert, VP Tidewater Container Services Inc. an HLCSI Company.
Pacific Chapter Fall Reception
On October 23 more than 50 Pacific chapter members and guests enjoyed a presentation by Gerry Bruno, Vice President, Federal Government Affairs, Vancouver  Airport Authority. At a reception At the Terminal Club, Gerry talked about the bi-national coalition which is working on the future of the Canada/US border and how to make it secure,while ensuring that it is efficient for passengers and cargo…the  audience was fascinated to hear about drone technology, advances in facial recognition and seamless movement through airports. Several students from Capilano U, BCIT, and UBC were sponsored to attend by generous members.
Presentation from the International Convention 2019 in Manchester, UK
The following slides used at the Manchester Convention by our International President, Sir Peter Hendy, CBE, and the CILT (UK) President Paul Sainthouse are available to view. Also enclosed is a communications script for use with the presentation slides and a terms of reference for the reference group referred to by Peter and Paul.
Click here to view:
Presentation Slides
Communications Script
Terms of International Reference Group
If you have any questions, you can email International Secretary General, Keith Newton, at:Â keith.newton@ciltinternational.org
BCIT Students from the Visited the Aviation Campus to Hear Presentations and Tour the Campus
On September 28, BCIT students from the Burnaby campus visited the Aviation campus to hear presentations and tour the campus. The students were from the International Business Management Program and the Airline Operations Program. Three members of the Pacific Chapter Executive were the speakers. Colin Laughlin who spoke about International Trade Technologies, Marian Robson, who talked about the Canadian Transportation Agency and its role in aviation, and Martin Crilly, who gave a pitch to encourage the students to sign up for membership in CILTNA. Jackie Li, another member of the Executive organized the event and acted as MC. Cheryl Cahill, and Airline Ops Instructor was the host.
CILTNA at Cargo Logistics Canada Trade Show and Conference 2019
Marian Robson, Chair, and Wafaa Barakat, Executive Committee member, at the CILTNA (Pacific Chapter) booth at Cargo Logistics Canada Trade Show and Conference February 6-7, 2019 in Vancouver, BC. Â Â

Visitors learned about the benefits of a CILTNA membership through literature provided at the booth along with chats with CILTNA members and student volunteers from Capilano University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Two draws were made for prizes donated by the Port of Vancouver.
CILTNA Conference Session: What it takes to be Big Ship Ready
Interest was high for the CILTNA Pacific Chapter’s session: What it takes to be Big Ship Ready, at the Cargo Logistics Conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre February 7, 2019. A four-person panel, moderated by Session Chair Robert Lewis-Manning, addressed a sold-out room on the issues facing the cargo transportation chain in preparation for Ultra Large Container Ships arriving at Canada’s sea ports. Among challenges facing port terminals, rail and truck stakeholders, and inland destinations were common themes of expansion: terminal ship berths and container yards; increased rail and trucking capacity; increased labour; and information technology solutions. Tony Boemi, Vice President, Growth and Development at the Port of Montreal, said the port was now focused on developing artificial intelligence to predict port activity. Jordan Kajfasz, Assistant Vice President of International Intermodal and Automotive at CP Rail, identified the need to have sufficient land reserved at inland destinations to avoid failure in the supply chain. Tabare Dominguez, Commercial Director for DP World’s ocean terminals in British Columbia described expansion plans at ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert. Jude Correa, Vice President, Risk and Insurance, Seaspan Ship Management Ltd., Jude Correa, Vice President, Risk and Insurance, Seaspan Ship Management Ltd., provided the audience with a detailed examination of the engineering and design changes that have taken place in recent years to develop the new Ultra Large Container Ships, some of which carry more than 22,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units).
CILTNA (Pacific Chapter) member, Harbour Link Container Services Inc., donated a grand prize for a draw at the end of the panel session: a sight seeing airplane flight over Vancouver’s port facilities on the Pacific Coast and the Burrard Inlet waterway.
Photos courtesy of Cargo Logistics Canada
Upcoming Chapter Events
Past Chapter Events
Date | Time | Event |
---|---|---|
Sep 18, 2013 | All Day | Port Metro Vancouver Logistics Interface: Looking To The Future |
Nov 6, 2013 | 7:30 am UTC - 9:30 am UTC | Jeff Scott, President & CEO of Fraser Surrey Docks |
Mar 27, 2014 | 11:45 am UTC - 1:30 pm UTC | Do we have the railway and port capacity to capture our resource export opportunities? |
Apr 24, 2014 | 11:45 am UTC - 1:30 pm UTC | Collaboration in the Pacific Gateway Supply Chain |
Sep 17, 2014 | All Day | The Rewards & Risks of Western Resource Trade |
Jun 23, 2015 | 12:00 pm UTC - 2:00 pm UTC | Captain Gordon Houston |
Oct 28, 2015 | 7:30 am UTC - 9:30 am UTC | Andy Smith, Former BC Container Trucking Commissioner |
Mar 22, 2016 | 12:00 pm UTC - 2:00 pm UTC | Craig Richmond, President & CEO Vancouver Airport Authority |
Jun 22, 2016 | 11:45 am UTC - 2:00 pm UTC | Lunch Meeting with Guest Speakers |
Oct 9, 2016 | 12:00 pm UTC - 2:00 pm UTC | Kevin Desmond, President & CEO, TransLink |
Services and Membership
Periodic forums and Conferences on transportation issues
National and international network of transportation professionals
Monthly luncheon meetings
Transportation education
CSL gold medal for student achievement
Becoming a Member of CILTNA
Membership in CILT is by designation including Student, Associate, Member, and Fellow on the basis of education, experience in transportation and/or contribution to the industry or CIT.
For more information on CILTNA, contact head office at: admin@ciltna.comÂ