Home / News Releases / RAC President and CEO Michael Bourque to discuss rail safety at International Level Crossing Awareness Day conference in Montreal

RAC President and CEO Michael Bourque to discuss rail safety at International Level Crossing Awareness Day conference in Montreal

WHEN: Friday, June 2, 2017, 9:00 – 9:20 a.m.

WHERE: Hôtel de l’ITHQ – 3535 Rue Saint-Denis, Montreal

Every year, dozens of Canadians are killed or injured when they put themselves in unsafe situations at roadway-railway crossings. The Railway Association of Canada invites the media to attend the opening of the International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) conference, where representatives of Canada’s rail industry will speak under the theme “How to improve safety at and around level crossings.”

In 2016 alone, 19 people were killed and 24 people were seriously injured in 133 collisions at roadway-railway crossings across Canada.

Speakers representing Canada’s railway industry will include:

  • Michael Bourque, President and CEO, RAC
  • Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, President and CEO, VIA Rail

Following the opening speeches, media will have the opportunity to interview speakers about safety at rail crossings in Canada.

About the Railway Association of Canada

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) represents more than 50 freight and passenger railway companies that move close to 82 million passengers and more than $280 billion worth of goods in Canada each year. The RAC advocates on behalf of its members and associate members to ensure that the rail sector remains globally competitive, sustainable, and most importantly, safe. Learn more at railcandev.wpengine.com. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada’s national rail passenger service, VIA Rail (viarail.ca) and its 2,700 employees are mandated to provide safe, efficient and economical passenger transportation service, in both official languages of our country. VIA Rail operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking over 400 communities across Canada, and many more communities through intermodal partnerships, and safely transports nearly four million passengers annually. The Corporation was awarded seven Safety Awards by the Railway Association of Canada over the last eight years. For more information, visit: www.viarail.ca/en/about-via-rail.

Media Contacts:

Alex Paterson
Railway Association of Canada
(613)564-8111
apaterson@railcan.ca

Mariam Diaby
VIA Rail Canada
(514)209-0680
Mariam_Diaby@viarail.ca