

2026 Alberta Liquor Industry Conference
Celebrating Resilience and Adaptability
OCT 8
Marriott Calgary

The Venue
Marriott Calgary
This year’s conference will take place at the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel. The venue offers dedicated conference facilities, multiple meeting and breakout spaces, exhibitor areas, and full audiovisual and catering support to accommodate the educational and networking components of the event.
The Alberta Liquor Industry Conference brings together liquor retailers, suppliers, agents, manufacturers, regulators, and industry service providers from across the province for a day of education, discussion, and professional development.
The program is designed to address current industry challenges and opportunities through expert speakers, panel discussions, market insights, regulatory updates, and practical business sessions relevant to Alberta’s beverage alcohol sector.
The conference has been scheduled during the same week as the Alberta Small Brewers Conference at the Westin Calgary to help attendees and industry partners coordinate travel and meeting schedules. This alignment provides an opportunity for participants involved in both sectors to attend multiple industry events within a single week while minimizing time away from their businesses.
In addition to the educational program, attendees will have opportunities to connect with peers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders, making the conference an important forum for relationship building, knowledge sharing, and industry collaboration.

The Agenda
8:00
Registration
OCT 8 2026
9:00
Connect Logistics for Retailers with Bob McDonald and Stephen Dougans,
Connect Logistics Services
10:00
State of the Union:
Alberta Liquor Industry with Jason Derry and Darcy Strang
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis
11:00
Connect Logistics for Suppliers and Importers with Bob McDonald and Stephen Dougans, Connect Logistics Services
12:00
Keynote Luncheon with Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Board Chair Larry Spagnolo
2:00
Building Resilience: Supporting Staff after Critical Incidents with Elaine Boyd, MSc, Psychologist
3:00
Pouring Into The Numbers - Liquor Sales Analysis with Rajeev Bastiampillai and Jeremy Robic, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis
4:00
Alberta Beverage Awards Reception celebrating the first Authentic Alberta Whisky Awards to commemorate the creation of the Alberta Whisky Act. Awards presented by Hon. Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction of Alberta
The Speakers
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

Larry Spagnolo, AGLC Board Chair
Keynote Speaker
2 PM | October 8

Bob McDonald
Client Services Manager
Connect Logistics
Connect Logistics for Retailers
9 AM | October 7
Connect Logistics for Importers and Suppliers
11 AM | October 8
Jason Derry

Senior Manager, Liquor Stakeholder Management at AGLC
AGLC State of the Union
10 AM | October 8

Darcy Strang
AGLC State of the Union
10 AM | October 8

Elaine Boyd, MSc.
Psychologist
Building Resilience: Supporting Staff after Critical Incidents with Elaine Boyd, MSc, Psychologist
2 PM | October 8

Rajeev Bastiampillai
AGLC
Pouring Into The Numbers
3 PM | October 8

Jeremy Robic
AGLC
Pouring Into The Numbers
3 PM | October 8

Our Sponsors
LEADING THE INDUSTRY