GHGT-17 took place in Calgary in 2024 Delivering as Needed
For Suzanne Killick, Events Programme Manager at IEAGHG, the city was the right fit geographically and thematically. “The GHGT conference series rotates continents, and after France in 2022, Canada was next in line. With Alberta’s concentration of organisations working in CCUS, Calgary made sense. We needed a venue large enough to host the event with strong infrastructure for hotels and accessibility. Calgary ticked the box,” she explains.
Hosting 1,500 international delegates required flawless execution. IEAGHG’s UK base made time-zone differences challenging, but Calgary’s ecosystem delivered. Suzanne emphasises the crucial role played by the CTCC: “Once the venue was selected, we appointed a local PCO to manage our requirements. The TELUS (CTCC) always delivered on time, with excellent on-site support – particularly with last-minute AV adjustments – ensuring a positive delegate experience.”
The results exceeded expectations. One of IEAGHG’s objectives was to surpass 2022’s attendance numbers. The outcome? The highest registration in the conference’s history. The CTCC’s location in Calgary’s downtown connected core contributed significantly. Surrounded by restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions, it kept delegates engaged, while some even joined the ‘First Responders Half Marathon’ on the eve of the conference, a reminder that accessibility extends well beyond the meeting room.
For delegates, Calgary’s role as host offered convenience and security. Carys Blunt, who attended GHGT-17, recalls the sense of place. “The proximity to industries developing CCS made Calgary a great choice. There were exciting opportunities for site visits and to engage directly with people at the forefront of the sector. The energy at the conference was reflective of this.”
Carys also points to the balance between global expertise and local contribution: “There were so many Canadian businesses in attendance. It was invaluable to share knowledge with local companies while also experiencing Calgary’s cultural and historical context, which was woven throughout the week.”
A Convention Centre with Purpose
The GHGT-17 case highlights the strengths of the CTCC, a facility that has anchored Calgary’s business events sector since 1974. As Canada’s first purpose-built convention centre, it has consistently acted as a “place of possibilities”, a phrase that encapsulates its role as both a venue and a catalyst for impact.
President & CEO Kurby Court describes it best: “The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre is really a vessel for holding the events, and it’s the hosts – our clients – who pull people together to do great things that resonate well beyond our walls.”
That legacy is central to the CTCC’s philosophy. Whether hosting global congresses in energy transition, summits in life sciences, or symposia in digital industries, the centre views itself as an enabler of knowledge transfer. When experts convene in Calgary, the exchange enriches local communities, industries, and research ecosystems long after the departure of the delegates.
The CTCC’s prime location reinforces this role. Situated on Stephen Avenue, Calgary’s historic pedestrian street, the centre is directly linked to over 1,100 hotel rooms and to the city’s extensive +15 indoor walkway system, the world’s largest enclosed pedestrian network. Delegates move seamlessly between sessions, hotels, restaurants, and cultural attractions, regardless of weather.
Equally important are the centre’s commitments to accessibility and inclusivity. The CTCC works with local advocates and partners such as Pedesting, a navigation app for accessible routes, and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion to ensure that every delegate feels welcome. As a certified Living Wage Employer, it extends that spirit to its staff, proving it is a community-driven institution. And every large-scale event held at the centre activates its neighbourhood creating ripple effects for surrounding hotels, restaurants, shops, and cultural spaces.
A City that Matches its Ambition
Calgary itself strengthens the CTCC’s international appeal. With more days of sunshine than any other Canadian city, the Rockies on its doorstep, and a thriving culinary and arts scene, it offers a distinctive delegate experience. Major investments in infrastructure – from the revitalization of the Glenbow Museum into the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture, directly connected to the CTCC, to the transformation of Arts Commons into the Werklund Centre across the street – are enriching the city’s cultural core and ensuring every business event is complemented by vibrant experiences.
For international associations seeking a venue that is well-connected and fully committed to creating lasting impact, Calgary and the CTCC stand out. They offer scale, expertise, and legacy opportunities that can elevate meetings.
As Court says: “We may not be making the next generation of pacemakers for people’s hearts, but our clients do. The intellectual knowledge at these events, the legacy and impact they have, is truly amazing.”
The next Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies Conference (GHGT-18) will take place in Perth in 2026. More info on www.ghgt.info
Discover how the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre can help your association achieve its ambitions – visit www.calgary-convention.com or connect directly at sales@calgary-convention.com.