In 1951, the leaders of Alberta’s newly booming oil and gas industry decided to get together for a golf tournament in the Alberta Rockies. It would be a chance to socialize, discuss issues and opportunities, and collaborate on new ideas. An immediate success, within a few years there were over 500 applications for 192 golfing spots.
The Oilmen’s quickly became invitation-only: a four-day, volunteer-driven match play event held in the mountains for executives and their partners, with many activities for non-golfers, and numerous social and entertainment functions.
Seventy-five years later, though Oilmen’s has changed in many ways – including its name in 2016 to the Canadian Energy Executive Association (CEEA) – it remains committed to its core pillars of fostering collaboration, advancing advocacy and strengthening community.
CEEA 75, set for August 19 to 22 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, will be both a celebration of 75 years and a call to action to drive forward with renewed purpose. Richard Waller and Jane McCaig, CEEA 75 chairs, have spent the last two years planning it.
“CEEA has been part of both our lives for a very long time,” Waller says of he and spouse McCaig. “For me, it’s been important for business along the way and an incredible community of energy industry leaders. The connections and networking are vitally important.”
Waller has spent over 30 years in the energy industry, primarily on the downstream side. His original company Foothills Industrial Products was acquired in 2020. Since then he has co-founded a mobile chemical purification company, and with deeply experienced partners, the energy-focused consulting firm Energy Advisory International Ltd.
Waller notes that the last few years have been positive for the energy industry, coming out of a very challenging preceding 10-year period. CEEA is an opportunity to talk about those issues and opportunities, and future plans. “We are inclusive of all energy, as opposed to just oil and gas,” he says. “We need all forms of energy including nuclear, geothermal, solar and wind.”
McCaig can’t remember a time in her life without Oilmen’s. “It was always in the background of my family,” she recalls. The McCaig family’s company – Trimac Transportation – was founded in 1945 and is a leading provider of bulk transportation services across North America. “It was something that my parents and my uncle went off to. I was kind of born into it.”
A self-described stay-at-home-mom, McCaig is a community leader with decades of work with many non-profits, including the YW, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Alberta Ballet and the Humane Society.
Forty years ago, at the 35th Oilmen’s, McCaig’s uncle and aunt served as chairs. “I was 17 and I remember it was a big year for my parents and our family,” she says. “Then 19 years ago, Rich and I received our first invitation.”
Since then, Waller and McCaig have attended regularly. “I’ve always been so proud of CEEA and the people that come together,” she beams. “I’m so excited to be a chair this year for the 75th year. A second-generation chair – by my uncle!”
As is the tradition, Waller and McCaig were chosen two years ago to be vice chairs first, by the then-vice chairs. “And on the last evening of CEEA 75, our next vice chairs will be announced by our current vice chairs [who will become chairs at the conclusion of the weekend]. It’s completely secret right now and quite exciting.”
Though not a requirement, the chosen couple are typically married.
Incoming chair Kim Williams, vice president and GM Canadian Operations at Ovintiv, chosen by Waller, is the first female vice chair (and soon to be chair) in CEEA’s history. She, along with her husband Zane Williams, will become chairs upon the conclusion of CEEA 75.
The theme for the weekend, chosen by Waller and McCaig, is ‘Full Throttle’. “It’s based on our personal background and history,” Waller explains. “Our logo has a tanker truck on one side, a race car on the other and a golfer in between. It’s all encased in an oil drop. Jane’s family’s company is in the transportation business, but also had a drilling business. The race car is a testament to Jane’s father and his racing background.”
“Full throttle is important for speed and transportation, but it’s also a euphemism for a team and a shared opportunity,” McCaig continues. “The opportunity is now, so let’s go full throttle and make it happen. It really is intended to be that momentum, in both business, society and politically, to get further ahead from the very stagnant economy that we’ve had in Canada.”
CEEA 75 will begin on Wednesday, August 19 with a full-round tournament for the top 40 golfers.
On Thursday, August 20, the Energy Business Forum will be held. Launched in 2010 in response to members’ demand for a business component to the golf weekend, the Energy Business Forum (EBF) will host approximately 500 attendees. Keynote speakers include Peter Zeihan, geopolitical strategist and founder of Zeihan on Geopolitics, Premiers Danielle Smith and Tim Houston, and Ron Gusek, CEO of Liberty Energy, among others.
“We finish off the EBF with a dinner, where we will honour Alex Pourbaix, board chair at Cenovus Energy, with a Lifetime Achievement Award,” Waller says.
Friday and Saturday feature golf tournaments in a match play competition with 144 golfers. There is also a nine-hole partners golf tournament on Friday.
“So we’re all together at the golf course on Friday,” McCaig notes. “The execs and the partners. We all have a big lunch together. And there’s a putting contest. It’s quite fun.”
Friday evening is a themed costume party. This year’s theme, chosen by Waller and McCaig, is ‘Icons from the last 75 years in music, culture and sport’. You will have to be in attendance to see what the chairs have chosen to dress up as!
The final Saturday night is the Evening of Champions. “It’s a black-tie gala where we close out the program and award all the trophies for all the activities,” Waller explains. Those trophies are stored in the Trophy Room at the Calgary Petroleum Club.
Awards are also given out in a cycling competition, which is held in the Bow Valley over the weekend for those who prefer cycling to golf.
Apart from the weekend in Banff, CEEA does a lot of work year-round. Its advocacy work focuses on university students, in conversations termed ‘Energizing Tomorrow’ at universities across Canada.
“They focus on energy literacy,” Waller says. “How does it work? How does it affect our society, economy and our ability to thrive on the world stage? How are we helping other countries to lower their greenhouse gas emissions by using our energy? And how can we help the greater community?”
Beyond Boomers is a business event early in the year that brings senior leaders and young professionals in the industry together, to share ideas and perspectives in conversation. The next one is set for February 11, 2027.
The CEEA Governors Charity Ball is held at the BMO Centre. “It is a black-tie event to raise money for the community,” McCaig says. “This year we raised money for two causes: the CEEA Education Fund, which we run through the Calgary Foundation, and Momentum Calgary, a local organization that does a ton of great work on the poverty side of our community.”
The Education Fund includes a University/College Industry Fund, an Indigenous Education Fund and a Journeyperson Education Fund. “It’s everything from degrees to trades to Indigenous, right across the country,” Waller says. “Last year we had two individuals in Nova Scotia that received our awards.”
A total of $250,000 was raised at this year’s Governors Charity Ball.
CEEA’s Women in Energy luncheon, next set for April 22, 2027, features a panel of women industry professionals to discuss the energy industry, society, the future economy in Canada and how women fit into that equation.
After two years’ work, Waller and McCaig can’t wait to see their plans come to fruition this August. “I’m really excited to see all the people,” Waller says. “It’s a time to see everyone and catch up, meet some new people and have great conversations.”
“This is an association that builds its relationships throughout the year, and from to year to year and beyond,” McCaig reflects. “It’s a community as opposed to a single event. I’m really excited to celebrate that and to connect with everyone.”