Logistics

Accomodations:
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Sheraton, 150 Albert Street in the centre of downtown Ottawa. The Sheraton Ottawa Hotel is an upscale, modern business hotel featuring 236 spacious and elegantly appointed guest rooms. It is conveniently located close to Parliament, museums and shopping.

You are responsible for your own reservations. For reservations, call Hotel Direct: 1-800-489-8333 or 1-613-238-1500. When doing so, please quote “ISCC/CIE”. We have obtained the rate of CA$139 plus the applicable taxes (7% GST and 8% PST). All reservations must be made on a guaranteed basis with either credit card or a cash deposit equivalent to the first night's stay plus applicable taxes. Any charges or cancellations must be made prior to 6:00 pm on the scheduled date of arrival. Check-in time is after 3:00 pm; check-out time is prior to 12:00 pm.

Reservations must be made prior to Monday, 17 April 2006. After that date the hotel will release the remaining portion of the bedroom block for resale. The hotel will accept reservations after the aforementioned date, on a space available basis, however, guests may not benefit from the contracted rate.

The rate of CA$139 is based on scheduled arrival and departure dates of May 12th and May 20th, respectively. Any early arrivals or stayovers will be based on space availability.

A hotel registration form will be available here soon.
Transportation:
A taxi from Ottawa International Airport to the hotel will take approximately 20 minutes, and will cost in the neighborhood of CA$25. There is also a shuttle from the airport to the hotel. A one way charge of CA$14. and a return cost of CA$22 per person is applicable. There is also slower public transportation available via OC Transpo which runs from the Ottawa International Airport to downtown and the cost is a one way charge of CA$3.00.

Bus transportation will be provided to take attendees to and from the ISCC annual meeting and Symposium and Sheraton hotel and to the Symposium banquet (included in registration fee).

The NRC Sussex Drive laboratory is about a 30 minute walk from the Sheraton hotel. Ottawa’s Transit system (OC Transpo) www.octranspo.com can easily provide transportation to and from the hotel and NRC (the No. 3 bus stops at the corner of Sussex and John Street). The transit system is a safe, clean, and efficient. All vehicles charge the same fare: adults $3.00 exact cash or tickets $1.90. You can get a better deal by purchasing in larger quantities (e.g.) sold at OC Transpo Sales and Information Centres. For locations see the OC Transpo web site. If you are switching from one bus to another a paper transfer is required. The bus schedule is generally 6:30 A.M. to midnight. The cost of a taxi to go from the hotel to NRC is about $9.00.

There is limited parking available at NRC Sussex and visitors require a special parking pass (Contact Joanne Zwinkels at Tel: (613) 993-9363 to arrange for a parking pass).
Meals and Breaks :
Continental breakfast, refreshment breaks, and lunches are included in the ISCC annual meeting and ISCC/CIE Symposium. Only refreshment breaks are scheduled for the CIE Division 1 meetings on May 18-19th. Lunches on these days can be purchased in the NRC Cafeteria or nearby restaurants. Ottawa offers an excellent selection of restaurants, cafés and bistros with cuisine from around the world.

The welcome receptions for both the ISCC annual meeting and the ISCC/CIE Symposium will be held at the Sheraton Hotel. The ISCC Annual Awards banquet will be held on Sunday evening, May 14th at the Sheraton Hotel. A highlight of the Symposium is a banquet on Tuesday May 16th in the Riverview Salon at the spectacular Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec. Bus transportation will be provided to attend this event.
Tipping/Taxes:
A 10 to 15% tip is customary in restaurants and taxis, more if you feel you have received outstanding service. There is a retail provincial sales tax (PST) of 8%; there is also a 5% tax on hotel/motel rooms and a national goods and services tax of 7% (GST).

Visitors who accumulate CA$100.00 worth of receipts for certain types of merchandise to be used outside of Ontario may apply for a retail sales tax refund. Visitors may also claim a rebate of any GST they pay on short-term accommodation and on most consumer goods to be taken out of the country within 60 days. There is no GST rebate for services such as dry cleaning, goods left in Canada, meals in restaurants, alcoholic beverages, gasoline, or certain appreciating used goods such as coins. The rebate form is available while in Canada and you can claim by mail or at a participating border duty-free shop. Rebate applications must include original receipts.

There is an absolute exemption from GST and PST on goods purchased by a non-resident if the goods are shipped directly outside of Canada. This is particularly useful for goods for which no rebate may be claimed, such as paintings, jewelry, rare books, etc.
Electricity:
Same as the United States - 110 volts, 60 cycles, AC.

This page last updated: 12Apr06