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As we look ahead to 2026, I am incredibly proud to reflect on a year that demonstrated the strength, resilience, and growing influence of the WTS Toronto Area Chapter. Our chapter continued to advance women and underrepresented groups in transportation through meaningful recognition, expanded scholarship support, and increased visibility on the international stage.

This year, our chapter was honoured with GOLD Chapter Award status, a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, partners, and members who consistently deliver high‑impact programming and mentorship opportunities. We also celebrated the achievements of exceptional leaders in our community, including Karla Avis‑Birch, P.Eng., recognized as our 2025 Woman of the Year for her decades of leadership in major rail projects, policy innovation, and her commitment to equitable access in transportation. Since our volunteers are the backbone of our chapter, we also introduced a 2025 Member of the Year with Tammy Smith as the inaugural winner. Tammy exemplifies everything WTS stands for: fostering meaningful connections, championing continuous learning, and promoting inclusive leadership.

Supporting the next generation of transportation professionals remains a cornerstone of our mission. We proudly awarded scholarships to outstanding students across the region for their contributions to transportation research and gender diversity advocacy. This year also marked an important milestone with the introduction of our first Indigenous Scholarship, awarded to an Indigenous student pursuing a transportation‑related career path with the support of the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre.

Our chapter’s impact extended well beyond Toronto. We were honoured to host WTS International’s first annual conference outside of the United States, welcoming more than 1,200 attendees from across Canada and the U.S. The event brought together leaders, innovators, and emerging professionals to share ideas, celebrate progress, and build connections that energized and empowered our local community. The conference showcased our region’s leadership within the global WTS network.

As we enter 2026, we remain committed to building a transportation industry that is inclusive, innovative, and reflective of the communities we serve. Our priorities for the chapter this year ahead include:

• Strengthening our volunteer community: As our membership grows, we will expand our volunteer base, match volunteers with committees that align with their interests, and create meaningful growth opportunities for existing volunteers.

• Increasing diversity within our programming: We will continue to offer programming that meets women where they are—both virtually and in person—while leveraging our international network to ensure our events feature leading‑edge content and thoughtful, relevant discussions.

• Diversifying our membership: Through collaboration with our honourary members and partners, we will work to connect with underrepresented sectors of Toronto’s transportation industry and broaden the voices represented within our chapter.

Thank you to our members, partners, and volunteers for your unwavering support. Together, we are shaping a stronger, more equitable future for transportation in a city where moving people is one of our highest priorities.

Please read on for a great opportunity that the Northeast Region Council has developed - a series of weekly (free!) virtual conference sessions to gain insights from across our region and warm up your winter.

Sarah Currie, WTS Toronto Area Chapter President