Business Breakfast Series: "New Westminster and Transportation"

Description

You're Invited: A Morning of Insightful Dialogue on Transportation in New Westminster

The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to an engaging breakfast event featuring three key transportation thought leaders in our region:

• Hon. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit
• Jason McDaniel, Interim President & CEO of ICBC
• Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink

Moderator: Hayley Woodin Hastings

Land Welcome: Chief Rhonda Larrabee of the Qayqayt First Nation

Opening Remarks: Mayor Patrick Johnstone, City of New Westminster

Join us for a dynamic conversation exploring the challenges and opportunities ahead. Learn how coordinated efforts with transportation partners are helping address congestion and improve mobility across New Westminster and the Metro Vancouver region.

From major infrastructure upgrades, like the new Pattullo Bridge, to active transportation investments, this event will highlight collaborative efforts such as:

• Provincial leadership in aligning transportation planning with a safe, reliable and accessible transportation system.
• ICBC’s role in road safety and insurance innovation, supporting infrastructure improvements and data-driven strategies to reduce collisions and maintain rate affordability.
• TransLink’s inside look at how the organization is reimagining the customer experience, investing in innovation, accessibility, and seamless service to elevate transit across New Westminster and the region.

Whether you're a local business leader, commuter, or policy enthusiast, this event promises valuable insights and meaningful connections. Thanks to our generous sponsors, the City of New Westminster, New Car Dealers Association of BC and the Starlight Casino, for enabling us to host this incredibly important event.

Speaker Bios:

Hon. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit

Mike Farnworth was first elected as the MLA for Port Coquitlam in 1991 and served until 2001 and then again from 2005 to the present. 

Mike is the Minister of Transportation and Transit and serves as Government House Leader. He previously served as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Minister of Employment and Investment and Minister Responsible for Housing, Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors, Minister of Social Development and Economic Security, and the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. 

Mike was raised in Port Coquitlam and has lived there for more than 50 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geography at Simon Fraser University and was elected to Port Coquitlam city council for three terms in 1983, 1985 and 1990. 

From 2001 to 2004, Mike worked in Bulgaria, the Balkans and Iraq on democratic governance programs to help build multiparty democracies in former one-party states. 

After returning to the Legislature, he served as the Official Opposition spokesperson for Justice (Public Safety and Solicitor General), and as the Official Opposition House Leader.

Jason McDaniel, Interim President & CEO of ICBC

Jason McDaniel became the interim president and CEO of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) on June 1, 2025, providing leadership and strategic direction to ensure that ICBC delivers affordable insurance, excellent customer experiences, and trusted protection to people in B.C. and all who travel on our roads.

In his nearly 20-year career at ICBC, Jason has held several executive and senior leadership roles. As VP of Operations, Jason led ICBC’s implementation of Enhanced Care — the company’s largest generational change shifting B.C.’s auto insurance from a legal-based model to recovery-based care.

Jason holds a law degree from the University of Victoria and practiced with a prominent litigation firm before joining ICBC in 2006. As a former corporate secretary at ICBC as well, his understanding of the complexities of insurance and corporate governance have deeply influenced how he navigates challenges and ensures responsible, forward-thinking management.

Outside of work he is busy as a parent to four children, whose ages span across sixteen years. Jason also sits on the B.C. United Way Campaign Cabinet and volunteers for the Vancouver Public Library Foundation.

Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink

Kevin Quinn is the Chief Executive Officer of TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s award-winning transportation authority. As CEO, he leads one of North America’s most innovative transit organizations, overseeing bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus, HandyDART, and West Coast Express services, as well as cycling and walking infrastructure, five bridges, and the Major Road Network.

Under Kevin’s leadership, TransLink is shaping the future of transportation in Metro Vancouver. He has advanced the largest bus service expansion in more than a decade, championed bus rapid transit, and launched a ground-breaking real estate development program that unlocks new revenue sources to reinvest in transit.

Kevin’s vision is to put people at the heart of transit – ensuring customers experience reliable, safe, and convenient service every day, while supporting the employees who make that possible. By getting the fundamentals right and continually modernizing, he sees public transit as a driver of economic growth and stronger, more connected communities.

Beyond Metro Vancouver, Kevin serves on the Board of Directors of the American Public Transportation Association and is a member of the President's Group, a coalition of senior executives advocating for accessible and inclusive workplaces across British Columbia.