The Canadian Polyurea and Coatings Association is proud to announce the 2026 CPCA National Conference, scheduled for October 15–17 at the Westin Calgary Airport Hotel in Calgary, Alberta. Under the theme “Polyurea at Scale — Building Canada’s Infrastructure Future,” this year’s conference will be the association’s largest to date, with over 300 registered delegates expected and a program covering technical, business, and policy dimensions of the industry.
Conference Highlights
Day 1 — Technical Excellence
The opening day will focus on technical advancement, featuring keynote presentations from leading researchers and master applicators. Confirmed sessions include:
- Advances in polyurea formulation technology for extreme environments
- Lessons from five years of polyurea in Canadian water infrastructure — a performance retrospective
- The emerging role of polyurea in renewable energy infrastructure (wind tower foundations, solar ballast systems, hydrogen storage)
- Hands-on surface preparation and spray technique workshops (limited capacity)
The Technical Excellence day builds directly on content from our ongoing Ask the Expert series and will feature several CPCA Technical Committee members as presenters.
Day 2 — Business Development and Market Opportunities
The second day addresses the business side of the industry. Sessions will cover:
- Navigating municipal procurement: how to win public sector contracts
- Pricing strategy and margin management in a competitive market
- Building a certified applicator brand that commands premium pricing
- The 2025–2030 market outlook — detailed sector analysis and regional forecasts
Day 3 — Policy, Regulation, and Industry Advocacy
The closing day will address the policy environment affecting the industry. Infrastructure procurement reform, NSF/ANSI certification updates, and provincial regulatory changes affecting secondary containment and potable water applications will be covered. This day is particularly valuable for business owners navigating compliance challenges — building on our resources covering Canadian polyurea regulations and secondary containment compliance.
Tradeshow and Exhibition
The conference will feature a 60-booth trade exhibition running across all three days. Equipment manufacturers, raw material suppliers, safety equipment vendors, and service providers will be exhibiting. This year, CPCA is introducing a dedicated “New Technology Showcase” section for companies presenting innovations that have not been previously exhibited at CPCA events.
Exhibitor registration is now open. Contact the CPCA national office through the Contact page for exhibitor prospectus.
Awards Gala
The second evening will feature the CPCA Excellence Awards Gala, recognizing outstanding contributions in application quality, innovation, safety, and community engagement. Nominations are open until August 31st. Categories include:
- Excellence in Application (commercial/industrial and infrastructure categories)
- Emerging Applicator of the Year
- Technical Innovation Award
- Safety Leadership Award
- Association Volunteer of the Year
Registration
Early bird registration (before August 1st) is available at a reduced rate for CPCA members. Non-member registration is also available. Group rates for companies registering three or more delegates will be offered.
Visit the Events & Meetings Calendar for the registration link and full program details as they are confirmed. Hotel room blocks at the Westin Calgary are available at the conference rate until September 15th.
Pre-Conference Workshop
CPCA is offering a pre-conference applicator certification workshop on October 14th for candidates who wish to complete their certification prior to the main conference. Space is limited to 20 participants. This is an excellent opportunity for newer applicators pursuing certification to combine their exam with the networking benefits of the national conference.
We look forward to seeing the Canadian polyurea community in Calgary this October. This is the event that defines the direction of our industry — don’t miss it.
We’ve been to the last two national conferences and they keep getting better. Already blocked the October dates for four of our team. The renewable energy session is exactly what we need — we’ve been approached about wind turbine foundation work and don’t yet have the expertise internally.
Très heureux de voir que la conférence nationale inclura du contenu en lien avec les nouvelles réglementations. Nous attendons les détails sur l’atelier du 14 octobre pour nos techniciens en cours de certification. La collaboration avec le CÉGEP a vraiment dynamisé le marché québécois!
The MB/SK Chapter is organizing a group registration for the national conference this year. Anyone in Saskatchewan or Manitoba who wants to travel with the chapter group and coordinate accommodation, reach out through our chapter coordinator. We have 12 confirmed so far and are looking to get to 20 for the group rate.