Halifax Conference - 2026
List of Speakers
Wednesday June 3, 2026 Day 2
Tareq Hadhad
Tareq Hadhad is telling his story. He was a Syrian refugee and now living his new life with his entrepreneurial family in Canada’s east coast. He is the founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate, and most recently been recognized as one of the Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada by Atlantic Business Magazine. In 2012 the Hadhad’s home and factory that housed the family chocolate-making business were destroyed which forced them to seek safety in other countries. A former medical student at Damascus University and long-time peacekeeping advocate, Tareq joined medical relief efforts after arriving in Lebanon. A new life began when Tareq and his family were welcomed to Canada on a community-based sponsorship. Passionate about peace and entrepreneurship, his family relaunched the family business to recreate the chocolates they once exported across the Middle East and their story has turned into an international inspiring phenomenon. Tareq and his family have a focus on job creation, utilizing a network of local community members and refugees from across Nova Scotia and Canada to help support the local economy. Now that their chocolates are distributed across Canada, they look to offer more employment and exporting opportunities as their business grows. Tareq has spoken at the Summit of The Americas, Amnesty International’s Human Rights Conference, TEDx events, and Chambers of Commerce Dinners. He has delivered keynote presentations in the United States, Mexico, Jamaica, the UK, France and Denmark, spoke to several corporate and government organizations both in person and virtually, and done over 1000 interviews with various news teams across the globe. Tareq speaks on the compelling story of his family, the positive impact of newcomers, and the spirit of resiliency, entrepreneurship and giving back.
Asset Life Cycle Management: How Technology Improves Return and Reduces Risk Panel
Moderator: Victor Murty, Irving Equipment, Panelists: Rob Blois, Rebecca Dacres, Jack Curran, Jennifer King, Kyle Nape
Moderator: Victor Murty, B.Tech, IntET(Canada) - Irving Equipment Limited
Victor Murty, Asset Management Manager, Irving Equipment Limited, Chair, CCRA Membership Committee
Panelist: Asset Management: Rob Blois - A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment(1986) Limited
Rob Blois, Director of Sales & Operations at A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment, brings over 20 years of industry experience delivering exceptional customer service through tailored, client-focused solutions. With a background spanning diverse industries, Rob has a strong ability to anticipate hoisting needs and provide the right crane and rigging solutions to support safe, efficient operations.
Panelist: Asset Management: Jack Curran - Fleet Cost and Care Inc.
Jack Curran helps fleet management executives resolve operational deficiencies by helping them understand the value of technology and the benefits of implementing a centralized fleet management software system. He also nurtures our growing partner ecosystem by maintaining existing partnerships and seeking out other leaders in fleet management technology space to collaborate with. At Fleet Cost & Care (FCC), Jack has played a key role in scaling the company’s presence across the crane and rigging industry, helping secure partnerships with leading organizations and advancing the adoption of FCC’s platform. His work has supported the expansion of mobile and connected solutions, reinforcing FCC’s position as a trusted technology partner for fleet operators.
Panelist: Asset Management: Rebecca Dacres, BBA, CPA - Irving Equipment Limited
Finance Lead, Irving Equipment Limited
Panelist: Asset Management: Jennifer King - Penske
Director of Enterprise Sales, Penske
Panelist: Asset Management: Kyle Nape - Ritchie Bros. Crane & Rigging
Strategic Accounts Manager, Ritchie Bros.
Mohammed Elgammal - Bridge Formula Update
Lead Researcher, Faculty of Engineering, U of A
How New Emissions Policies Are Reshaping The Industry - Panel
Moderator: Mike Lavoie, Panelists: Jerry O’Neil, Maurice Connelly, Sébastien Girard-Pagé, Deon Strickland
Moderator: Mike Lavoie, Myshak Crane and Rigging
Mike Lavoie Operations Manager, Myshak Crane & Rigging, Co-Chair, CCRA Weights & Dimensions Technical Committee
Guillaume Gagnon - VP Guay Inc. - Provincial Association Updates
Executive Vice President of GUAY since 2011, Guillaume Gagnon has been part of the family business since the beginning of his career in 2001. Through his perseverance, he has gained in-depth knowledge of the organization and the crane rental industry, which has allowed him to rise through the ranks by taking on various strategic and operational responsibilities. His unifying leadership, combined with a long-term vision, actively contributes to the company’s growth and sustainability. A proud representative of the next generation of the family, Guillaume strives to blend tradition and innovation in every decision he makes.
Clinton Connell, BC Association for Crane Safety - Provincial Association Updates
Clinton is the Executive Director of BC Crane Safety. He has served on multiple boards, including not-for-profits, 9 years as Director with BCACS, and an active member of the BCTA Board since 2008. Clinton has over 25 years’ experience in senior management, commercial transport, construction, and the industrial services sector.
Thursday June 4, 2026 Day 3
Key Speaker - TBA
Crane Leadership Forum Panel
Moderator: Ryan Long, Panelists: Randy Moir, Erin McCabe, Ryan Beers
Moderator: Ryan Long - A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment(1986) Limited
Ryan Long President, A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment Ltd., Chair of the CCRA Board of Directors
Panelist: Crane Leadership Forum: Erin McCabe - Lampson Canada Inc.,
With almost a decade of leadership experience in the heavy-lift and crane industry, Erin McCabe is currently the Operations Manager at Lampson Canada Ltd. In this role, she oversees daily operations while playing a key part in project development, resource planning, and the execution of complex heavy-lift projects. Erin is deeply committed to mentoring and empowering team members, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and excellence. Holding Canadian Registered Safety Technician credentials, she combines strong operational leadership with a proactive focus on safety and process optimisation. She is passionate about succession planning and knowledge transfer—ensuring that the expertise and leadership required to manage tomorrow’s most challenging crane and heavy-lift projects are deliberately developed within the organisation today.
Panelist: Crane Leadership Forum: Randy Moir - Moir Crane Service Ltd.
Randy Moir is the President/CEO (and owner) of Moir Crane Service, a long-standing, family-run crane company based in Ontario. He is a fourth-generation member of the Moir family business, which dates back to 1890. He has been involved in growing and leading the company since the 1980s, overseeing major expansion and long-term operations. Randy was Chair of the Board of Directors in 2005 and Moir Crane Service has been a member of the Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA) since 1999.
CSA Update: Jason Brown - Kova part of Industrial Inspection & Analysis
Jason Brown is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the crane and hoist industry. Currently serving as Regulatory Affairs Manager at Kova Engineering Ltd., Jason's career began at Commercial Truck Equipment, where he built and tested various lift equipment. His passion for the industry led him to pursue a Mechanical Engineering Diploma from BCIT. During his tenure at Kova Engineering, Jason has been pivotal in the crane and NDT communities, actively contributing to standards and guideline development. Jason is currently a member on multiple committees and a constant contributor to the CCRA Technical Committee. He is actively involved in the CSA Z248 Code for Tower Cranes and CSA Z150 Safety Code on Mobile Crane committees, advocating for nationally adopted guidelines for crane inspections. His areas of expertise include structural inspection and certification, design of crane components, and consulting on safety code requirements. Jason is committed to mentorship, communication, and industry development.
Jalaja Shanmugalingam, P.Eng - Enigma Engineering Ltd
Jalaja Shanmugalingam, P.Eng., is a mechanical engineer and PhD researcher at the University of Waterloo’s Games Institute. Her research focuses on capturing expert knowledge in rigging operations and translating it into immersive virtual reality training to improve safety, decision-making, and skill development in the lifting industry. Presentation Synopsis When a load drops, fragmented training standards are rarely the headline , but they are often the cause. As part of the first study in a broader doctoral research agenda, this work surfaces the voices of Canadian rigging practitioners to expose systemic gaps in how workers are trained, and makes the case for national standardization and accessible, experience-based education that the industry urgently needs.
Rick Sikora, Cranemasters - Rise above the Risk
Rick Sikora is the President and CEO of Cranemasters which he founded in 2007: His relationships with the crane and rigging manufactures are part of his dedication to ensuring that all rigging information is accurate and supportable. Presentation: Rick Sikora, President and CEO of Cranemasters, will provide a perspective from the field using his observations of rigging and hoisting practices of incident investigations and site audits as well as his teachings in the classroom.
Lifting Leadership Panel
Moderator: Jen Mutas, Panelists: Justin Brown, Rick Sikora, Jalaja Shanmugalingam, Trenton Grover
Moderator Jen Mutas - BC Association for Crane Safety
Jen Mutas is a construction safety professional dedicated to strengthening safety culture across BC’s crane and hoisting industry. In her role with BC Crane Safety, she supports the crane community with practical guidance rooted in field experience and safety legislation. Jen is a strong advocate for industry collaboration, working to ensure workers have the knowledge and support they need. She brings a clear, approachable style to conversations and is committed to elevating the voices and innovations shaping the future of construction safety. Jen Mutas is the Field OHS Manager for BC Crane Safety, known for her practical expertise and commitment to strengthening safety culture in BC’s crane and hoisting industry. Jen is a strong advocate for competency and collaboration, driving industry efforts to ensure every crane and rigging professional has the knowledge, support, and standards needed to work safely
Panelist: Lifting Leadership Panel: Justin Brown - Unirope
Over the last 20 years, Justin Brown has worked extensively with crane manufacturers and end-users to improve the lifetime of their wire rope systems and troubleshoot potential and existing problems. He has performed countless failure investigations and is no stranger to the spectacular views from the top of a tower crane. Justin is President of Unirope Limited, a company on a mission to make workers safer through training, testing and supplying the best wire rope and rigging products. He is also President of the Associated Wire Rope Fabricators, member of the AWRF Technical Sub-Committee for Wire Rope, a member of CSA Z-150 and CSA Z-248 and is a management board member of OIPEEC - the International Organization for the Study of Ropes.
Panelist: Lifting Leadership Panel: Trenton Grover - BC Association for Crane Safety
Trenton Grover has worked in the rigging, hoisting, and craning industry since 1996, including more than 15 years offshore in subsea oilfield construction, salvage, and Inspection Maintenance Repair (IMR) operations around the world. Beginning as a Diver and later Deck Foreman on Dynamic Positioning (DP2) vessels, he developed a disciplined, high‑consequence approach to lifting built on planning, procedural clarity, and strict adherence to international standards. Today, Trenton serves as a Field OHS Advisor with BC Crane Safety, focusing on strengthening industry competency frameworks, supporting harmonized expectations for riggers in both British Columbia and Alberta, and working directly with industry to improve alignment between regulatory requirements and field practice.
Dean McDonald, Teufelberger-Redaelli - Ropes for Riggers
Dean McDonald is the founder of Vancouver Rigging Solutions, a North American agency focused on supporting premium manufacturers of wire ropes and rigging products within the crane, heavy lift, port, and offshore industries. Working closely with crane rental companies, fleet managers, OEMs, ports, and lifting professionals across North America, Dean has built a reputation for providing technical assistance on both above and below-the-hook wire ropes and rigging. His work focuses heavily on crane rope applications, slings and hardware, inspection practices, and data-driven maintenance across a wide variety of crane types and operating environments. Dean is also the founder of Ropes for Riggers, an industry initiative focused on supporting education, awareness, and opportunity within the crane and rigging sector. The initiative aims to recycle retired wire rope and lifting equipment into funding, training resources, and opportunities that support the next generation of skilled tradespeople entering the lifting industry. In Halifax, Dean will be speaking on the vision behind Ropes for Riggers, and the importance of supporting future tradespeople in an industry facing growing technical demands and an aging workforce.
Closing Remarks
Ryan Long President, A.W. Leil Cranes & Equipment Ltd., Chair of the CCRA Board of Directors)
Become a member of the Canadian Crane Rental Association
Devenez membre de l'Association canadienne de location de grues
The CCRA is the primary nationally structured Canadian crane association that represents crane rental companies, crane owners, manufacturers, and suppliers to the Canadian crane industry.
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