WestConnect Middle Market Growth Conference 2026
President's Reception
March 10, 2026 – 5:30pm to 8:30pm
The Vancouver Club
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WestConnect Middle Market Growth Conference
March 11, 2026 – 8:30am to 4:00pm
Fairmont Waterfront
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Closing Reception
March 11, 2026 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm
Fairmont Waterfront
As economic conditions continue to evolve and trade, tariff, and political dynamics shift, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Canada’s middle market. Business leaders are navigating uncertainty while seeking sustainable paths to growth, investment, and M&A.
Building on the 23-year history of ACG British Columbia’s Middle Market Growth Conference, last year marked the inaugural collaboration with ACG Calgary to launch the WestConnect Middle Market Growth Conference, now Western Canada’s premier M&A conference. The event welcomed over 280 attendees, making it the largest Growth Conference to date.
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The 2026 WestConnect Conference will once again bring together dealmakers, entrepreneurs, and advisors for a high-impact day of insight and connection, featuring timely macroeconomic perspectives and candid insights from business owners navigating growth and transition.​​
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2026 Program Highlights
Keynote
Join us for an engaging keynote conversation with Arlene Dickinson, a visionary entrepreneur and leader with a remarkable track record of success. She is the Founder and General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in innovative companies in the food & beverage and health & wellness sectors. Under her leadership, District Ventures Capital has become a leading force in the industry, with a portfolio of ground-breaking companies that are transforming the way we live and eat.
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Beyond her business ventures, Dickinson is a sought-after speaker, three-time best-selling author, and philanthropist. She is widely recognized for her role as a Venture Capitalist on the hit television series, Dragons’ Den, where she currently has starred for over 16 seasons.
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Dickinson's leadership and entrepreneurial prowess have earned her numerous accolades over the years, including induction into the Southern Alberta Business Hall of Fame, the Marketing Hall of Legends, recognition as one of Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Awards. Dickinson served as an honorary captain of the royal canadian navy for over 10 years visiting our troops overseas numerous times. With her unwavering commitment to excellence, her passion for innovation, and her deep dedication to her community and country, Arlene Dickinson is a true Canadian icon and a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and vision.
Opening Session
Robert Kavcic has been with the Bank of Montreal since 2006. He plays a key role in analyzing economic, fiscal and real estate trends in Canada. Robert regularly contributes to various department publications and is the main author of the Provincial Monitor and the sought-after Global financial trends in the media, and a regular advisor on economic issues to Canadian policymakers. Before joining BMO, Robert worked in the Research department at the Bank of Canada. Robert holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, and a Master's degree in Economics from Carlton University.
Speaker Highlight: Political Trends for 2026​
Crestview Partners Sarina Rehal and Dan Moulton will review the top trends in politics and government and what they mean for Canadian businesses in the year ahead.
​Sarina Rehal delivers winning strategies for some of Canada's largest corporations. With expertise in corporate reputation, stakeholder relations, and public affairs capacity building, she helps organizations navigate complex policy and political landscapes. An active leader in the industry, Sarina serves on the board of the Public Affairs Association of Canada's BC Chapter as immediate past president, and on the Regional and Civic Affairs Committee at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
Dan Moulton specializes in building strategies that win public opinion and secure policy victories. Dan leads Canada's largest corporations through periods of change, turmoil, and reputational risk. Based in our Toronto's Office, Dan's practice focuses on consumer-centric companies, disruptive technology, and energy. You have likely seen or heard Dan's political commentary on Canada's national networks, including the CBC, CTV, and Global. He serves as a Director of Canada's Club of Toronto and on the Board of the Canada Live Music Association. He serves on the Patrons' Council for the National Ballet of Canada and was a founding director of the young leaders' board for the UHN Foundation. Dan has served in politics for more than a decade. Across various roles, he provided strategic leadership on some of the highest-stakes files, including one of the largest initial public offerings in Canadian history, two minority government budgets, and a plan to cut the cost of electricity by twenty-five percent.
Conference Panel - Behind the Deal: Real Stories from Owners and Acquirers
​Step inside the transaction journey from both sides of the table. In this candid discussion, business owners and a search fund operator share their lived experiences preparing for an exit, navigating negotiations, and stepping into new roles post-close. From the early groundwork needed years before a sale, to surprises uncovered in diligence, to the realities of life after the deal, our panelists will unpack what really happens behind the scenes.
Panelist: ​Aaron Kennedy is a company builder focused on investing in and growing small to mid-sized businesses. He began his career in investment banking at Barclays before moving into private equity with DW Healthcare Partners, where he spent seven years working with founder-led companies.
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In 2021, Aaron co-founded Granite Shore to invest in and grow strong BC-based businesses. He acquired Mahler Machining in 2022 and Jeda Industries in 2025, building a precision manufacturing platform serving Canadian and U.S. OEMs. Aaron serves as Director of Mahler Machining and Partner at Granite Shore Partners.
Panelist: Vivian McCormick is the co-founder and CEO of Wilet, a Vancouver-based direct-to-consumer home essentials brand recently acquired by QE Home.
Prior to entrepreneurship, Vivian practiced law for over a decade with BLG and the Business Development Bank of Canada. She mentors entrepreneurs through The Forum and Spring Activator and advises several local businesses.
Panelist: Natalie Benson, alongside her husband and business partner Tim, recently completed the majority sale of Benson Cabinetry & Millwork to KV Capital, positioning the 50-year-old company for its next phase of growth. Over seven years, she helped scale and modernize the business to support multi-residential construction across British Columbia. Natalie previously worked in federal and provincial roles and as a consultant to private enterprises, and holds a BComm, MBA, and Graduate Diploma in Immigration & Citizenship Law while completing her ICD.D.
Moderator: Bryce Davis is Managing Director of Corporate Finance at MNP in Vancouver. He advises business owners on mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, leading transactions ranging from $3 million to $150 million across Canada and the U.S.
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Bryce works with companies across diverse industries including manufacturing, technology, retail, construction, and food and beverage. He holds a B.Comm and MPAcc and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).
Conference Panel - The People Side of Value Creation: Leadership, Succession & Change
This panel brings together experts in executive recruitment, personality and leadership assessment, and organizational change to explore how companies can prepare for transition. Moderated by a Trust & Estate Planning professional, the discussion will dive into succession planning, building effective executive teams, and the communication strategies that drive alignment during periods of growth, ownership change, and M&A activity.
Panelist: ​Ben Gaster is a Partner in KPMG in Canada’s Operations Mergers & Acquisitions practice and leads the Strategy & Deal Execution team, covering synergies, deal strategy, operational due diligence, integrations, separations, and value creation. With more than 20 years of experience, he supports clients through the full deal lifecycle, from preparing businesses for sale to identifying risks and opportunities and implementing post-merger strategies. Before joining KPMG in Canada, Ben worked in the UK with clients across Europe and Africa and completed a placement with a major UK clearing bank supporting corporate credit teams on mergers, restructuring, and refinancing.
Panelist: Paul Gibbons is the Managing Partner of McDermott + Bull Canada and a senior member of the firm’s Private Equity Practice. With more than 25 years of experience in executive talent acquisition across North America, he works with private equity firms, family offices, and portfolio companies to recruit senior leaders who drive growth, value creation, and successful exits. Paul is the immediate past President of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association and currently serves on the board of EMBERS, a social enterprise focused on creating employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to work.
Panelist: Michelle Marsden is the President of Grandlark Group, a high-performance psychology platform. She provides boards, investors, and business owners with predictive, data-driven insights into the specific traits that drive executive success. By leveraging the proprietary TAIS (Attentional and Interpersonal Styles) inventory, proven in business, elite sports, and the military, Michelle specializes in mitigating people and organizational risk, enabling leadership teams to sustain high performance across their portfolio.
Moderator: Rhys Webb is a Trust & Estate Consultant with BMO Private Wealth with more than 15 years of experience in the trust and estate industry across jurisdictions including Jersey, New Zealand, and Canada. He provides clients and beneficiaries with professional trust and estate services that require deep technical expertise and thoughtful discretionary decision-making. Through BMO Private Wealth, Rhys helps clients develop integrated wealth solutions, including banking, lending, investment management, and estate and succession planning, to achieve their long-term financial goals.
Conference Panel - Beyond the Border: Getting Cross‑Border M&A Deals Done in a Shifting Market
Cross‑border M&A is still a growth engine for Canada’s middle market but the path to closing is evolving fast. In a year shaped by evolving economic conditions and shifting political dynamics, this panel brings dealmakers and advisors together to share their insights into what’s working right now on cross‑border transactions
Panelist: ​Elaine Barsalou is Managing Director and National Head of the Private Company M&A team at National Bank Financial, advising Canadian entrepreneurs and private businesses on achieving their M&A goals. With more than 25 years of investment banking experience, she began her career at Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets before joining NBF in 2016. Throughout her career, Elaine has advised on complex M&A transactions as well as corporate equity and debt financings and is known for her client-focused approach and collaborative leadership.
Panelist: Dave Connolly is a Partner at TriWest Capital Partners, where he joined in 2011. He currently serves as Chair of the Board for Outdoor Adventure Group and sits on the boards of The Fastener Group, Coast Appliances, Kayden Industries, and Broda Group. Prior to TriWest, Dave worked in investment banking at Blackmont Capital in Toronto and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University, where he graduated with First Class Distinction.
Panelist: Mackenzie Regent is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Kalos LLP, a firm focused on delivering value to the mid-market. She has advised on more than 350 transactions representing over $65 billion in deal value across North America, Europe, and Asia. Mackenzie sits on the board of the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) Institute and was recognized in 2021 as one of The Top 100 Finance Professionals in the world by The Top 100 magazine.
Moderator: Pavan Jawanda is a Partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Business Law Group and Co-Head of the firm’s National Tech M&A Group. He advises public and private companies and private equity firms on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions. Drawing on experience practicing in New York and Hong Kong and his CPA designation, Pavan brings a global perspective to deal structuring and execution and also teaches accounting and finance for lawyers as an Adjunct Professor at UBC’s Allard School of Law.
​2025 WestConnect Middle Market Growth Conference
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our WestConnect Middle Market Growth Conference 2025!
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