Posted on November 13, 2026
The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) is pleased to announce the establishment of the WEDA Canada Chapter, creating a national platform dedicated to advancing collaboration, technical excellence, education, and professional engagement across Canada’s dredging, marine construction, navigation, sediment management, and waterways sectors.
The chapter was conceived during discussions held at the Dredging Summit & Expo (DS&E) in Montréal, where industry leaders, government representatives, consultants, contractors, suppliers, port authorities, and project owners came together to explore opportunities for greater cooperation and knowledge sharing within Canada’s marine infrastructure community.
The WEDA Canada Chapter will serve as a forum for industry professionals from across the country to exchange expertise, address shared challenges, and promote best practices through technical programming, training initiatives, networking opportunities, and industry engagement activities. With participation expected from stakeholders representing diverse regions and disciplines, the chapter will help strengthen connections across Canada’s evolving marine and dredging sectors.
“The establishment of the WEDA Canada Chapter is an exciting milestone for our organization and a natural extension of the momentum generated at our 2026 Dredging Summit & Expo in Montréal. The conference demonstrated the strength of Canada’s marine infrastructure industry and the tremendous opportunity to build on the relationships, technical expertise, and enthusiasm shared by participants. As WEDA President, I am particularly excited to see us turn that momentum into a lasting platform for collaboration, technical education, and knowledge exchange. The Canada chapter will strengthen connections among industry, government, ports, and the engineering community while expanding WEDA’s reach and supporting the next generation of marine professionals across Canada and the Western Hemisphere”. Walt Dinicola, WEDA President
Canada’s marine infrastructure industry plays a vital role in supporting trade, navigation, environmental stewardship, resource development, and coastal resilience. The new chapter will provide an important mechanism for bringing together professionals and organizations working across these sectors while fostering dialogue on the opportunities and challenges unique to the Canadian market.
“Canada’s marine infrastructure industry has deep expertise from coast to coast. This chapter brings that expertise together to share knowledge, advance safety, and help develop the next generation of industry leaders”. Matthew Peyton, Canada Chapter Representative
The establishment of the WEDA Canada Chapter reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger and more connected industry community. Through collaboration, education, and professional development, the chapter will support current industry leaders while helping to cultivate and inspire the next generation of professionals.
As the chapter develops, it will explore opportunities to host educational programs, technical workshops, conferences, and networking events designed to deliver value to members and support the continued advancement of Canada’s marine infrastructure industry.
The launch of the WEDA Canada Chapter represents an important milestone for both WEDA and the broader Canadian dredging sector, creating a foundation for long-term engagement, knowledge exchange, and industry leadership from coast to coast.
About WEDA
The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) is a non-profit technical association dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and advancement of practices related to dredging, navigation, marine engineering, sediment management, and related disciplines throughout the Western Hemisphere. Through conferences, educational programs, and professional collaboration, WEDA promotes technical excellence and supports the sustainable development of marine and waterway infrastructure.
Contact: Matthew Peyton, WEDA Canada on info@westerndredging.org
