Thursday, Oct. 3

Registration

9 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Commons Room, Atlantica Hotel

Come and pick up your name tag and any last-minute details. We’ll also have maps and directions if you want to set out on your own self-guided pre-tour.

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Optional self-guided tours

You set the pace. We'll point you in the right direction. 

(costs not included in conference registration)

 

Please note: There are four cruise ships scheduled to be in port on Oct. 3, adding an expected 7,000 visitors to the city. If you want to book any of the tours below, we recommend securing your spot right away, as most of them will likely sell out.

 

Peggy's Cove (approximately a half day)

A trip to this charming fishing village nestled along the rugged coastline of Nova Scotia is highly recommended. You’ll need to rent a car for this pre-tour, or hop in with someone else and share the costs.

 

The famous red and white lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove is perched on a rugged granite outcrop. It’s one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country, but nothing compares to standing beside the building yourself and feeling the sea spray on your face.

 

The lighthouse is part of the charming fishing village that embodies everything you might imagine an East Coast village to have – colourful houses, winding roads, barren landscape. Wander through the walking paths, check out the few cute souvenir shops and sample a lobster roll.

 

Even on calm days, sudden high waves can surprise visitors. The power of the sea is awe-inspiring, and Peggy’s Cove is no exception. Be cautious and stay alert - nature’s drama unfolds here, and it’s both beautiful and formidable. Bottom line: we really don't want anyone lost at sea. Seriously.

 

This is a self-guided, pay-your-own-way tour. We’ll provide a map with directions to Peggy’s Cove, interesting stops along the way and in the village. We encourage you to use the Google Docs Spreadsheet (link in the registration form) to connect with colleagues to fill a car, or seek someone with whom you can travel.

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Car rental options near the conference hotel, the Atlantica

 

For guided tours, we suggest booking through Viator. We can’t vouch for any of these companies. Chances are they're great but we don't actually know any of them personally.

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Informal city tours (as short or as long you want)

Halifax is a vibrant, historical city with a busy waterfront, dozens of lively pubs, museums and galleries. We’ve designed five self-guided tours of the city for you to choose from. Make as many stops as you like along the tours, or pick a few from each route. There’s a lot to see in downtown Halifax.

 

Meet your old and new friends in the conference hotel lobby and pick up a city map from the Registration Desk. Set out as a small (or large) group to explore Halifax. We've highlighted points of interest, routes and, yes, some breweries (links below point out the stops, but not necessarily the order. We'll have the routes mapped out on paper when we see you in Halifax).

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1. Halifax Pub Crawl: It’s the beer tour, with some of the city’s best, and most fun, pubs

2. Alexander Keith’s Tour: On your way to the Alexander Keith’s Brewery and Tour, visit the cemetery where Keith is buried. If you’re interested in doing a brewery tour, book early at the Alexander Keith’s Brewery

3. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Tour: Get a taste of maritime life at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. See the connection of the Mi’kmaw people to the lands and waters of Mi’kma’ki, and explore the story of the Titanic disaster and Halifax’s role in its aftermath. Learn about the brave cable ship crews who recovered bodies and the victims buried in Halifax. If you would like your own nautical experience, hop on the nearby Alderney Ferry to Dartmouth ($2.75 each way, exact change required), grab a drink at a nearby pub before returning by ferry to Halifax and walking back to the hotel

4. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Tour: Explore the works of art from throughout the province and beyond, including the distinctive work of folk artist Maude Lewis. Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

5. Museum of Immigration Tour: Between 1928 and 1971, nearly one million immigrants first set foot in Canada at Pier 21, the former ocean liner terminal and immigration shed which is now the Museum of Immigration. Trace their journey, learn their stories and see how many of our ancestors arrived in the new world to reinvent their lives. Museum of Immigration. Stop in at the brewery across the street from Pier 21 before making your way back to the conference hotel.

 

We'll have some other tour ideas available if you want to avoid the cruise ship crowds.

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Welcome Reception

7 p.m. - Commons Room, Atlantica Hotel

It’s a Maritime Kitchen Party! Meet your fellow conference attendees, hear some words of official welcome and sample some bites of traditional Maritime treats. No cash bar, but the punch bowls (with and without alcohol), will be out. p.s. You may want to grab a light dinner before the reception.

 

Hospitality Suite

9 p.m. - Commons Room, Atlantica Hotel

Do some business, hang out, visit, sing, have a drink or a light snack... who knows what will happen in the Hospitality Suite?! Drinks and munchies are on the house.