SOS-Toronto-2015

TORONTO 2015

CONGRATS GALS!!!! Fine progression of progress! You've come a long way baby!

Travel and location info for Pathways TEAM SOS NJ crew members attending the September 12-13 GWN Dragon Boat Challenge

WE ARE 1 of 10 teams participating!!!

This web page serves to consolidate info disseminated via EVITE, Emails and Conversations. Return periodically to check up on any revisions.

Revisions: 9/9 11AM

REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PASSPORT! and RAIN GEAR (showers/rain forecasted)

PARTICIPANT INFO

• IMPORTANT LINKS

  • What to bring

    • Ellen will bring up the team pfds, your chairs, your paddles, team canopy tent, changing room tent, team locker tent, team cooler, and wagon and two portable tables.

    • You should bring munchies to snack on between breakfast and lunch.

    • Caye - seats

    • RSVP if you are driving and can help bring stuff north.

  • Event link - Event schedule - Sat = #9@9:57, #39@2.27, Sun = #55@10:12, #83@2:40PM

  • Pathways EVITE, NJDB EVITE

  • Free in-room wifi for Starwoods members - join here.

• TEAM NOTES

  • Tentative team meeting - Lobby near bar @ 9:30PM Friday night (this may change to Saturday AM on site)

  • TEAM Roster

    • Drummer: Denice, Steerer: Ellen,

    • 11 SOS BCS Paddlers: AnnR, CayeM, DawnM, Debbie R, FranL, HeleneF, KarenK, KellyD, Lois B, PamB, TaraD;

    • 2 Guest BCS paddlers: ChezzaB(BAD), MaryS(Detroit), 

    • 1 Sunday Guest BCS paddler: Agnes G

    • Need 6-7 more BCS paddlers!

  • TEAM Housing - Westin Harbour Castle, 1 Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 416-869-1600/888-627-8559

    • 6 rooms w/2 double beds (Ellen/Hubby/puppy/conf#906; Fran/Dawn/903; Pam/Anne/Denice/904; Helene/hubby/026; DebbieR/Karen/#012; Chezza/Mary/+1/#011)

    • 4 rooms w/1 king bed (Caye/conf#026, Kelly/787, Lois/027, Tara/785)

    • Off site: Agnes G

    • SOS agreed to provide up $50 per night for each SOS member staying at the Westin. ($100 each = 3 to a room for 2 nights). 

  • GETTING THERE - 

    • DRIVING = Lots of hotel area construction. I strongly suggest approaching hotel from the west. When I was there in 2014, East bound along Queens Quay traffic blocked off. Westin has Valet and self parking. Self parking is at an underground lot a block away, but OK. There's a couple ATMs around the hotel to get CADs. This is kinda a downtown area, so not much hopping except when you walk a couple blocks along the waterfront. Hotel is next to a ferry to Center Island which is where local folks go to have fun, rent a bike, kayak and stuff. Hotel is about 30 minutes from Chinatown.

    • FROM AIRPORT =

      • RAIL on Union Pearson Express from Pearson Airport to Union Station. Approx 25 minute ride, trains leaving every 15 minutes. Union station is a 4 long block walk to Westin on Bay Street. one way fare = $27.50CAD (RT=53 CAD ($41USD)).

      • Taxi one way = $65 CAD, more with traffic

      • Will try to get airport carpools with other teams. But will need everyone's arrival time.

  • TEAM Travel

    • Flying: 9/11-14 = Pam (Pearson 8AM, rented a car), Chezza (Pearson#4560=6PM/7PM), Lois/hubby (to BB airport, no car), Tara/hubby (to BB airport 3:30PM/Mon),

    • Flying: 9/11-13 = DawnM (Pearson United 2PM/6PM), Helene/Hubby (downtown 9PM/6PM, no car), Fran (to BB airport)

    • Car pool: 9/11-14 = Ellen/Danny, w/Denice (6AM depart Livingston)

    • Driving: on own: Kelly/Hubby (leaving FriAM/ret Sun PM), Caye/Hubby w/Debbie R (leaving FriAM, ret SunPM/with Ann)

    • Train to Toronto = Anne, Karen (return 9/14)

    • ??? = MaryS(Detroit), 

    • Rides to race site: Ellen/Hubby/Denice/+, Pam/Chezza/Dawn/karen, Caye/hubby/Debbie/+/+, Kelly/hubby/+/+

    • need rides to race site: Fran, helene/hubby, Lois/hubby, MaryS, Tara/Hubby

    • EVENT discounts for Hertz auto rental, United flights

    • EVENT INFO

      • Race Location = Marilyn Bell Park, 851 Lake Shore Blvd West, Toronto 

        • This is appox 2-3 miles from hotel. It's a regular park surrounded by highways. Plenty of on-site vendors.

      • On Race Day @ 

        • race site parking = $10/day. If you leave Westin by 6:30, can find free parking

        • breakfast and lunch provided on site to BCS crews!

    • Other Info

    • Directions:  Hotel to race site: East on Lake Shore Blvd, as you get closer to race site you will see signs for event parking.

    • 10 BCS teams:  Avalon Dragons; Barrie's Ribbons of Hope; Bosom Buddies of Nova Scotia; Calagry Sistership; Draggin' Da Boat; Pathways TEAM SOS NJ; Pink Sensations; Rusty Dragons-Pink Crusaders; Survivor Thrivers; Toronto Dragons Abreast,

    • About Toronto - Touristy Stuff

    • Weather forecast - Not yet available

    • BCS races typically around 10AM and 2PM each day. All paddlers are welcome to find other crews to race with!!! 8-)

    • OTHER TASKS

      • VERIFY YOUR PASSPORT IS VALID thru 9/15/15!!!