Social Events
Your visit to Ottawa is going to be fantastic.
The AFS 2008 organizing committee is planning a week of social events that will make the Ottawa conference “one to remember”. Upon your arrival, there will be an “ice- breaker” party on the terrace of the Congress Centre, over looking the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill, our Nations capital. Warm summer nights in Ottawa are magical with all the city has to offer and the terrace at the Congress Centre is a perfect location to view the sights and sounds of the city, to greet old friends and make some new ones. Ottawa is well known in Canada for its hip musical scene, our events will be complimented with musical entertainment.
We are planning events throughout the week to make your conference in Ottawa fun, including a student social, a Tuesday evening event called “Savour Ottawa”, and a farewell to Ottawa social to wrap things up on Thursday. The signature event of all AFS conferences is the Wednesday evening social and 2008 will be no different; except for everything! We have the entire facility at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec, which is only a short walk or bus ride across the bridge from the Westin/Congress Centre. The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting over 1.3 million visitors each year. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River, the Museum offers a spectacular view of the Parliament buildings across the river.
Designed by Native-Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal, the Canadian Museum of Civilization is considered one of the most striking architectural masterpieces of the twentieth century. The award-winning building, with its dramatic, curved lines, attracts admirers from all over the world and is considered essential viewing for anyone visiting Ottawa.
Within the Museum, there are several permanent exhibitions which will be open to our delegates, including the Grand Hall, a stunning gallery focusing on the Native peoples of the Northwest Coast, with 43 authentic totem poles; the Canada Hall, which recounts 1,000 years of Canadian history, and the First Peoples Hall, exhibition showcasing the history and cultures of Canada’s Native peoples.
Sound like fun? We look forward to seeing you in Ottawa. Our planned social events and the vast array of outdoor/indoor bars and restaurants and entertainment venues downtown and in the Byward Market area which you can visit on your own make the 2008 AFS conference one not to miss.
See you there!