Congress Information
CONGRESS MANAGEMENT
The Vancouver World Family Therapy Congress is the 20th Annual Congress of the International Family Therapy Association managed by World Family Therapy Congresses.
Congress Manager, Abstract and Registration: Doug Tschopp Email:info@ifta-congress.org
Program Chair: Lee Bowen
Chief Financial Officer: Fred Jefferson
Marketing Manager: Gay Patton
IFTA General Secretary: William Hiebert wjhiebert@aol.com +309-786-4491
LANGUAGE The official language of the meeting is English.
ABSTRACTS All proposals for presentations are to be in English. All the requests will be considered. Proposals will be approved on a "rolling" basis; they will be evaluated as they are submitted. The proposals will accepted, placed on a waiting list or denied during the entire proposal process between April 15 and August 31, 2011. Do not wait until the deadline to submit!
CLOTHING Informal for all occasions.
LETTER OF INVITATION The organizers will be pleased to provide a letter of invitation to any pre-registered and paid participant requesting one. It is to be understood that such an invitation is intended to help potential participants raise travel funds or obtain a visa. It is not a commitment on the part of the Congress to provide any financial support.
INSURANCE The congress organizers cannot accept liability for personal injuries sustained, or for loss or damage of property belonging to congress participants (or their accompanying persons), either during, or as a result of the congress.
VISAS All visitors are required to have a valid passport, and for some countries, a visa is required. For more information please contact your nearest Canada Embassy, Consulate or local travel agency well in advance. It is the responsibility of the participant to obtain a visa if required.
You may also check this web site to see if you are required to have a Visa to enter Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
CURRENCY AND MONEY EXCHANGE The currency in Canada is the Canadian Dollar. The best option for exchanging money is a bank (banking hours are 10am to 3pm). There are also many Currency Exchange Bureaus and most hotels exchange money as well.
AUTOMATIC CASH DISPENSERS Automatic cash dispensers accepting Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, American Express credit cards and Maestro Cirrus or Visa Electron debit cards are situated at all main banks, town centre, hotels, bigger stores, airports and the railway station.
CREDIT CARDS All major credit cards, such as Mastercard/Eurocard, Visa, American Express, Diners etc., are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops
ELECTRICITY Canada's electrical supply and electrical outlets (sockets, wall plugs) are the same as those of the United States. The electrical supply is 110 Volts and 60 Hertz (cycles per second).
LOCAL TIME Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is in the Pacific Time zone or UTC-7.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER Winters on the coast are temperate, and if snow falls it doesn't stay long. A warm coat and umbrella are sufficient weather protection in these mild coastal climes. The weather in March continues to warm up - and is especially mild compared to the rest of Canada. Spring blossoms are in bloom and cherry blossom festivals are underway. March, like so many months in Vancouver, has plenty of precipitation (more than half the days will see some rain), so be sure to dress for the weather.
March average high: 10ºC / 50ºF
March average low: 3ºC / 37º
SANITARY CONDITIONS There is no need to get vaccinated before traveling to Canada as this is a hygienic city with running water