Shutdowns Turnarounds Superconference

The Shutdowns Turnarounds Superconference is presented by the Canadian Institute, part of the C5 Group of Companies, and is organized by the Shutdowns Turnarounds Superconference Series team. The event brings together Canada’s shutdowns, turnarounds, outages, and maintenance community for peer-led learning, benchmarking, and networking.

The 25th Annual Shutdowns Turnarounds Superconference is focused on improving the planning, execution, safety, cost control, reliability, and performance of industrial shutdowns, turnarounds, and outages. The program combines case studies, technical and leadership sessions, interactive discussions, an expo, and specialized add-on experiences for the STO community.

The main conference will take place December 1–2, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre Street SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 5P6. Pre-conference workshops, the STO Executive Summit, the Hands-On Safety & Workforce Lab, and the Icebreaker Welcome Reception are scheduled for November 30, 2026.

The conference is designed for professionals responsible for planning, executing, and improving shutdowns, turnarounds, outages, and maintenance events. Attendees include shutdown, turnaround and outage managers; maintenance and plant managers; operations leaders; planners and schedulers; reliability and inspection specialists; project managers and project engineers; asset management professionals; health, safety and industrial hygiene leaders; contract and workforce management professionals; and EPC leaders.

Industries represented include oil and gas refining and upgrading, midstream and pipelines, chemical and petrochemical processing, fertilizer manufacturing, mining and metals, power generation and utilities, pulp and paper, and other continuous-process industries. The event brings together owner/operators, contractors, engineering firms, EPC organizations, vendors, and solution providers.

The program covers turnaround planning and governance, scope development, cost management, contracting models, workforce coordination, safety, QA/QC, reliability, digital execution, AI and analytics, real-time decision-making, closeout, and continuous improvement. Sessions also address resilient teams, multigenerational workforce management, contractor strategy, robotic material movement, work packaging, and shutdown readiness.

Attendees will gain practical approaches for building realistic budgets, controlling scope, strengthening governance, improving contractor alignment, managing execution risk, and using data for faster decisions. Sessions also address safer work practices, stronger QA/QC and handover processes, execution-ready work packages, resilient turnaround teams, and disciplined closeout practices that improve future performance.

The faculty includes experienced turnaround, maintenance, reliability, operations, procurement, planning, safety, workforce, apprenticeship, consulting, and technology leaders. Current speakers include turnaround directors and specialists, operations executives, senior advisors, business leaders, educators, and solution experts with practical experience in industrial shutdowns and turnarounds.

Organizations represented on the current faculty include Borouge International, North West Redwater Partnership, NorthRiver Midstream Inc., Nutrien, Becht, Overland Container Transportation Services, FLINT Corp, Adduco Inc., 1st Quality Safety, Cleopatra Enterprise, Canadian Women in Energy, ILF Consulting Engineers, Kewazo, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Progressive Plan, and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

Networking opportunities include the November 30 Icebreaker Welcome Reception, and on December 1 and 2: breakfast briefings, networking lunches and refreshment breaks. Attendees can also connect with peers throughout the conference in the Expo Hall and through Networking for Prizes. Attendees can also continue networking on December 1 after the conference sessions at the Casino Cocktail Reception and in the evening at the Hard Hats Off: BBQ & Drinks evening at The Palomino Smokehouse.

Yes. Groups of 4–8 attendees from the same organization who register together receive a 10% discount on the conference fee, while groups of 9–12 receive a 15% discount. Larger teams can contact the Canadian Institute for group pricing; group discounts apply to the conference fee only and do not apply to workshops or other add-ons.

The cancellation policy allows substitution requests in writing at least 5 days prior to the event. For in-person registrations, cancellations received 11 or more days before the conference start date are eligible for either a full credit memo or a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 11 days before the event are non-refundable. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to [email protected].

A limited number of rooms are available for conference delegates at a negotiated rate at the Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre Street SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 5P6. To access the conference rate, contact the hotel directly and quote “G-CI58”; the guest room block cut-off date is November 6, 2026, and availability and the negotiated rate cannot be guaranteed after that date or once the block is full.

Licensed engineers and engineering technology professionals can earn annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits by attending the two-day conference. The Canadian Institute will provide a certificate of attendance after the event, and each attendee is responsible for confirming the number of credit hours based on the sessions attended. CLE and CME accreditation are not currently specified.

Attendees can extend their learning beyond the main conference through specialized add-on experiences on November 30.

Two workshops are also available on November 30, providing focused, practical learning for professionals involved in shutdowns, turnarounds, outages, safety, and workforce management.

The STO Executive Summit is designed for senior leaders responsible for turnaround outcomes and focuses on governance, readiness, contractor strategy, cost, schedule, labour availability, and executive decision-making.

And the Hands-On Safety & Workforce Lab provides practical learning focused on strengthening safety culture and managing workforce and high-risk shutdown activities.

Yes. The Shutdowns Turnarounds Superconference is part of a broader series of STO learning opportunities. Professionals can also participate in the Virtual Shutdowns Readiness Clinic, focused on assessing readiness and identifying execution risks before a turnaround, and the Shutdowns Turnarounds Superconference Houston, which brings the conference format to the U.S. Gulf Coast STO community.