Aug 29, 2025
Buffalo, N.Y. (Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025)- A world-class program that highlights some of the most exciting and innovative activities on the world’s waterways is set to take place Sept. 21-25 at the 2025 World Canals Conference(WCC 2025) in Buffalo. Registration is open for one-day or full conference attendance through Sept. 12.
According to World Canals Conference Honorary Co-Chairs Keith Belanger and Anne McCaffrey, “The World Canals Conference provides opportunities to hear from the most forward-thinking experts in canalside development, waterway engineering and management, and canal tourism and preservation. Attendees will be among the industry’s best and brightest and will have a hand in transforming the future of canals.”
Speakers from eight countries-- Canada, China, England, France, Germany, India, Scotland, and the United States-- will offer informative presentations and lively discussions around the renewed interest and ever-growing importance of waterways in our communities. Highlights include:
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Richard Millar, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Canals, discusses Forging the Future: How Scotland’s canals are being repurposed to support our changing society and environment
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Haben Girma, Award-winning Advocate, Author, and Speaker on Canals and Recreation for All
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Walter T. Mosley, Secretary of the State of New York moderates Currents of Change: How Historic Waterways Drive Economic Growth
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Angela Zabojnik from the Office for Urban Green Spaces and Waterways Leipzig discusses Reshaping Landscapes- Waterways in Transition
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Study tours of canal sites and communities from Buffalo to Fairport on the Erie Canal and to Niagara Falls and Canada’s Welland Canal.
The conference will also showcase the departure of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief on its bicentennial voyage onWednesday, Sept. 24, as well as a free Bicentennial Summer Sendoff public event on Sunday, Sept. 21, from noon to 5pm at Canalside.
“We invite people from around the world to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to experience and learn best practices from an international group of inland waterway experts,” NYS Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said. “Ideas and inspiration from Canada, the UK, France, Germany, India, and beyond will help fellow global canal stewards plan for the future of these beloved waterways.”
Western New York is the perfect location for WCC2025 to also give conference participants a firsthand look at transformative projects along New York’s canals.
“Participants will see revitalized waterfronts at Buffalo, Lockport, North Tonawanda, Medina, Brockport, and Fairport; experience getting on the water for boat tours; and marvel at the canal system operations today,” Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Executive Director Bob Radliff said.
The five-day conference will be held as the historic Erie Canal, now a National Historic Landmark, commemorates its bicentennial.
Patrick Kaler, President of Visit Buffalo-Niagara, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to welcome guests from across the globe as the international spotlight shines on Buffalo for the World Canals Conference. As the historic western terminus of the Erie Canal and home to a revitalized waterfront rooted in maritime heritage, Buffalo is the perfect host for this global event. We look forward to welcoming international delegates and local attendees alike.”
The conference is co-hosted by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, the New York State Canal Corporation, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, and Visit Buffalo Niagara in collaboration with Inland Waterways International, with lead support by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and sponsored by M&T Bank, National Grid, 100 Must See Miles Along the Erie Canal, along with more than 40 other businesses and foundations. It is slated to have a $2 million indirect economic impact for the city of Buffalo.
For more information and to register, visit https://wcc2025buffalo.com/.
Watch the conference trailer for a sneak peek of what you’ll experience.
About the World Canals Conference
The World Canals Conference (WCC) is an international event with a long tradition. First organized in 1988, the annual event changes location every year between countries on three continents. The WCC is the premier platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing about the management, history, and future of the world’s inland waterways. Since its inception, it has brought together participants from diverse sectors, including canal managers, engineers, historians, and local government representatives.
About the Erie Canal Bicentennial
The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, revolutionized transportation and trade in the United States, linking the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. This engineering marvel sparked economic growth, westward expansion, and technological innovation, earning its place as a National Historic Landmark. WCC 2025 will honor this significant milestone with special programming dedicated to the canal’s enduring influence.