ACE 2026: Automotive Conference & Expo, Niagara Falls, Oct 15-16
Consolidated Dealers and the Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario (MVRO) are pleased to present the Automotive Conference & Expo (ACE) 2026, taking place October 15 and 16 at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Last year more than 700 automotive professionals joined us in Niagara Falls. This year the organizing team is planning for 750 or more attendees and a trade show floor of over 70 Canadian suppliers. If you run a dealership or manage a department inside one, ACE is two days set aside to compare notes with your peers and meet the suppliers your co-op works with, all under one roof.
With one month to go, seats are selling quickly.
Why ACE is Built Differently
ACE grew out of Ontario Dealer Day more than a decade ago, and it has kept the same premise since: a national-calibre conference that Canadian dealers can reach by car, with content written for the Canadian market and its rules, rather than a U.S. show where half the advice has to be translated on the drive home.
Two things set the program apart from most industry events. Sponsors cannot buy stage time, and every session is reviewed in advance to make sure it addresses a real dealership problem instead of pitching a product. This year’s theme, “Relevance in a Changing Market,” reflects the questions dealers have been asking all year about tariffs, EV policy, artificial intelligence and where the next generation of buyers and employees will come from.
Day One: Keynote Speakers
Thursday, October 15 is the keynote day. The confirmed speakers so far cover the national picture, the global one, and what is happening on the showroom floor:
- Bob Rae, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, on Canada’s position in a shifting global order and what that means for the domestic economy.
- Tom Van Dillen on what Canadian dealers can take from the growth of China’s automotive industry, a topic that has drawn some of the most animated hallway conversations at past editions of ACE.
- Brandon Roy presenting 20 strategies drawn from top-performing dealerships across North America.
- Russell “Russ Flips Whips” Richardson on video and social media, and how dealers can use both without hiring a production crew.
Additional keynotes on AI and the global EV market are still being announced. The ACE speakers page is the place to check for the latest additions.
Day Two: Dealer Workshops
Friday, October 16 shifts to hands-on workshops. Session topics include artificial intelligence in dealership operations, sales strategy, leadership, and employee retention. These are smaller rooms with practical content, and in our experience the workshop day is where attendees fill their notebooks. The full schedule is posted on the ACE agenda page and is updated as sessions are confirmed.
The Trade Show Floor
More than 70 suppliers will be on the floor across both days, including many of the direct suppliers in the Consolidated Dealers network. For members, this is the easiest way to see equipment in person, ask about rebate programs, and talk to the people behind the products before making a purchase decision for your service or parts department.
New for 2026 is the ACE Passport Program, sponsored by AutoVerify. Attendees collect codes at exhibitor booths using the ACE Event App, earn points, and climb a live leaderboard. Grand prizes are reserved for MVRO dealer members, so plan your route through the floor accordingly.
If you have not visited the Consolidated Dealers booth at a previous ACE, stop by. Our team will be there to walk through the equipment catalogue, the Fire Cloak EV fire blanket program, and any supplier question you bring with you.
Thursday Night at Margaritaville
The Kick-Off Party returns to Margaritaville Niagara Falls on Thursday, October 15 from 8 to 11 p.m., with Classic Elton Live performing. It is included with eligible conference registration, and it remains the best chance of the two days to catch up with dealers from the other side of the province.
Registration and Travel
Registration is open at automotiveconferenceandexpo.ca. A single registration covers the keynotes, the workshops, trade show access and the Thursday night party.
Fallsview Casino Resort is the host venue, and hotel information is available through the ACE Accommodations page on the conference site. Niagara Falls fills up in October, so book your room when you register rather than closer to the date.
Questions about registration, membership, or which of your staff should attend? Contact Consolidated Dealers at info@consolidateddealers.com or 1.888.338.9996, or reach the MVRO conference team at info@mvro.ca.
We look forward to seeing you in Niagara Falls on October 15 and 16.
