In This Blog
- Transit professionals from Ontario and Alberta gathered in Burlington for two days of collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning.
- The Transit Unplugged Live CEO Panel featured leaders from MiWay, Hamilton Street Railway, Nova Bus, and Vontas discussing electric buses, cybersecurity, and AI in transit.
- Attendees explored Vontas product updates including OnRoute VoIP, Vehicle Intelligence, and service continuity tools.
- Hands-on training sessions covered key transit technologies such as Turn by Turn, Headway, and Text-to-Speech.
- The event concluded with a networking dinner and a look ahead to the 2026 Vontas Canada User Forum.
The 2025 Vontas Canada User Forum took place September 28–29, 2025, in Burlington, Ontario, bringing together transit professionals from across Ontario and Alberta for two days of collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning.
Hosted at the Burlington Convention Centre, the event began with a welcome reception where attendees reconnected and networked in a relaxed setting. As the Forum opened on Monday, we acknowledged the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples and extended our gratitude to their communities – past and present.
After the acknowledgement, we heard opening remarks from Peter Aczel, General Manager of Vontas, and Maureen Cosyn Heath, MPA, Director of Transit at MiWay, our host agency. Their welcome set the tone for the day, focused on shared learning, collaboration, and forward-thinking discussions shaping the future of Canadian transit.
Transit Unplugged Live: CEO Panel
One of the standout moments of the Forum was the Transit Unplugged Live CEO Panel, hosted by Paul Comfort during lunch. The panel featured:
- Maureen Cosyn Heath, MPA – Director of Transit, MiWay
- Nancy Purser – Acting Transit Director, Hamilton Street Railway
- Michael Coote – Regional Sales Manager, Nova Bus
- Peter Aczel – General Manager, Vontas
The discussion offered a candid look at the current state of the Canadian bus industry from both agency and supplier perspectives. Key themes included the limitations of battery-electric buses in certain Canadian climates and the growing role of CNG and alternative propulsion systems, the increasing threat of cybersecurity risks such as ransomware and their impact on transit operations, and how AI is transforming transit software to enhance both operational efficiency and the customer experience.
Two Learning Tracks: Product & Hands-On Training
The Forum featured two learning tracks that allowed attendees to tailor their experience based on their interests and needs.
The Product Track offered sessions on the Vontas Product Roadmap, Driving Efficiency in Transit Yards with OnSite, Uninterrupted Communications for Transit Operations with OnRoute VoIP, Vehicle Intelligence for Preventing Recoveries, and Optimizing Service Continuity and Field Response with OnRoute.
Meanwhile, the Hands-On Training Track gave participants practical experience through sessions covering Turn by Turn, Headway, OnRoute Location Accuracy, Device Management, and Text-to-Speech. Together, these sessions empowered users to deepen their product knowledge and gain practical skills to bring back to their agencies.
Celebrating a Successful Forum
The Forum wrapped up with a celebratory dinner at Radius in downtown Burlington — a perfect opportunity to relax, connect, and reflect on the ideas and relationships built over two inspiring days. We’re already looking ahead to the next Vontas Canada User Forum in 2026 and want to thank everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s event such a success!