May 5th – Last Day $169 Conference Hotel Rate

The last day to enjoy the BCAC preferred conference rate for your hotel stay at the new Courtyard Marriott Prince George is May 5th. Reserve now to enjoy the hotel's many amenities including comfortable, well-appointed rooms, free WIFI, "The Bistro" restaurant and lounge, fitness centre, indoor pool and hot tub, as well as laundry and dry cleaning service. With over 6,558 square feet of total event space, the Courtyard Marriott Prince George is an excellent choice as a conference venue.

Our group rate can be applied to stays from June 2nd through to June 11th, 2023, and is a very attractive $169 - $179CAD per night (plus taxes).

Call 1-250-596-6274 and mention that you are attending the BCAC June 5-7 Conference or Reserve Online.

Find more information about Accommodations, Travel Partner promotions, Activities and the Draft Agenda on the Conference Registration Page.

Questions? Contact us at info@bcaviationcouncil.org

Airfare Price Watch: YVR-YXS $228!

(Return, including all taxes, fees and charges)

If you're flying into Prince George from YVR to attend the BCAC June 5-7 Conference, book your flight now to secure the best rate (ahead of Tourist Season!).

Our Travel Partners – Air Canada, Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines – are offering generous promotional rates so be sure to check out our "Travel Partners" tab under "Event Details" on the Conference Registration Page. Plus don't forget to use our cross-Canada, year-round rates at Park 'N Fly and our discount hotel program for YVR airports plus Coast and Sandman across Canada.

Questions? Contact us at info@bcaviationcouncil.org

Canada-U.S. Border Community Mourns the Loss of Luc Portelance

We note with sadness the passing of Luc Portelance, former President of the Canada Border Services Agency, and champion of Canada-U.S. border relations. As Luc’s obituary notes, “He was a natural leader and mentor, always willing to offer guidance and advice to those around him. He relished a good debate and was never one to shy away from a lively conversation.”

Luc had a distinguished 36-year career with the Canadian government, including five years as President of the Canada Border Services Agency (2010 – 2015). He began his career with the RCMP in Shediac, New Brunswick, in 1979, and later moved to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in 1984, holding several key leadership positions, leaving as the Deputy Director of Operations.

Here are some remembrances from Luc's colleagues:

We who were fortunate enough to cross Luc’s path, professionally and personally, mourn his far too early passing. Canada and North America have lost with Luc his keen mind, stout heart and wry sense of humor that contributed significantly to improved border management of people and cargo over the past generation. He was a ‘doer’ who vigorously defended Canadian interest but never lost sight of the bigger story that he was engaged in writing. May he rest ever in peace.

Alan Bersin,
Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Policy & International Affairs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2012-2017)
 
It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Luc Portelance.  I first met Luc in 2005 where he made an immediate and lasting impression of someone who wanted to make a difference. His commitment to Canada and improving the border was profound. Even after his retirement as the President of the CBSA, he kept energizing that commitment by helping bring partners from government and industry together to tackle the problems of the day. Indeed, when I became the President of the CBSA in 2016 he gave me a long letter of things I should keep in mind as I navigated my new role.  It was sage advice.  Luc left us far too soon, but few have done so much.
 
John Ossowski,
President, Canada Border Services Agency (2016-2022)

Tributes, donations, and condolences may be made at https://www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Luc-Portelance

BCIT Students Develop an Artificial Intelligence Model for YVR

BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) Business Information Technology Management (BITMAN) students Stuart Barnes, Yuri Fedoruk, and Will Karapetyan collaborated with Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model that could predict transportation demand. Specifically, a system that would identify the number of taxis and carshares required at YVR every hour. Through this work, BCIT students are helping the airport to better serve passengers through reduced taxi wait times, while supporting YVR’s Net Zero Carbon 2030 goals by way of insights into idle time of vehicles thus promoting more efficient movements.

As a major hub with round-the-clock operations for over 118 non-stop destinations from around the world, YVR needed data about its transportation demand to better manage traffic throughout the airport.

Stuart, Yuri, and Will explored several hypotheses based on historical datasets of taxi utilization. Through the Centre for Internet of Things (IoT) at BCIT, and with the support of BCIT School of Business + Media faculty Amy Goldlist, they developed an AI model by analyzing data gathered from the number of incoming flights alongside the number of taxis entering YVR every hour. After numerous iterations, the students successfully pitched their final AI model to YVR at the end of the term. READ MORE

(Source: BCIT News, Lester De Guzman)