Vancouver Takes Center Stage
ITA World Tunnel Congress Heads to British Columbia

In 2010, Canada – and more specifically Vancouver – will be on the world’s stage. People recognized as the best in their field will be headed to this port city in British Columbia for the premier event of its kind. That’s right, the World Tunnel Congress is headed to Vancouver.
A few months after participants and spectators of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games pack their bags and leave Vancouver and the surrounding area, delegates from the tunnel community will converge on the city for International Tunnelling Association’s 2010 World Tunnel Congress and 36th General Assembly. This year’s event is being hosted by the Tunnelling Association of Canada (TAC) and organized by the National Research Council of Canada.

The event, themed “Tunnel Vision Towards 2020,” is being held May 14-20 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. It is the first time since 1996 that the Congress is being held in North America, and the first time it is being held in Canada since 1989 when Toronto hosted.

Vancouver was announced as the unanimous choice to host the 2010 World Tunnel Congress at the 2007 event in Prague. “We are very excited and it’s positive for the Tunnelling Association of Canada and the industry overall,” said Rick Lovat, Congress Chair. “Now we need to take care of the details to make sure it goes well.”

The World Tunnel Congress features a strong technical program, which spans three days, and the ITA General Assembly, which convenes twice during the event. In addition, there is an exhibition hall showcasing the latest products and services in the marketplace.

More than 500 abstracts were submitted for the technical program, Lovat said. He added that the program will have a uniquely Canadian flair. “Hard rock tunneling and hard rock caverns are of particular interest to Canadians because they are so important in mining and hydroelectric projects, and that will be reflected in the program,” he said. “But we will also be broad in what we cover. You will see presentations on the worldwide metro projects and transportation tunnels.”

The first General Assembly meets on Sunday, May 16, followed by the Welcome Reception that evening. The Opening Ceremony starts the technical program and exhibition on Monday, May 17, followed by the inaugural Muir-Wood Lecture. The Muir-Wood Lecture, named in honor of Sir Alan Muir-Wood, the founding president of ITA who died in 2009, will be given by Dr. Einar Broch of Norway. Brock will speak on the topic of “Tunneling for Hydropower Projects.” Following the lecture there will be keynote presentations on the Canada Line Transit Project (by Jeff Hewitt, C.Eng., Senior Vice President, Engineering, Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc.) and Tunneling Plans for Transit Expansion in Toronto (by Susan Reed Tanaka, Manager, Engineering Department, Toronto Transit Commission).

Among the highlights for Tuesday, May 18, is the Open Session, which addresses “Ground Reference Information for Bidding Tunnel Projects.” The session examines current practices from around the world. Presentations at WTC 2010 will cover: ITA View (Presentation of Summary of Current International Practice), Owner’s View, Engineer’s View/Practice and Contractor’s View and Requirements.

Wednesday offers technical sessions and the second General Assembly, followed by the Closing Ceremony. In addition to the WTC program, technical tours and post conference tours are available May 20-21. Spousal and social events, including the WTC 2010 banquet, are also available.

A pre-conference training course is also planned. The course is organized by ITA-CET Foundation and coordinated by Garry Stevenson, past president of TAC and a member of the WTC 2010 Organizing Committee. Numerous tunneling related subjects and case histories will be offered and presented by industry-distinguished professionals.

Exhibit sales have been strong, and judging by that and the large number of abstracts received, Lovat is expecting a strong turnout. He notes that there has been interest from a broad geographic range. “About one third of the interest we have seen has been from North America, one third from Europe and one third from Asia, so I think we will have a very diverse crowd.”