Travel

Travel, Maps and Parking

Getting to Algonquin College

For those who are driving, set your maps or GPS to Robert C. Gillett Commons Building instead of Algonquin College. This will give you a more accurate location. See below for information about parking once you get to the campus.

For transit information, check out the information further down this page.

Symposium Check-in:

Upon arrival to the Algonquin campus, make your way to Building E, the Robert C. Gillett Student Commons, which is at the centre of the campus. The campus map shows the parking and bus stops closest to the Commons. The Residence is directly across from the Commons. Check-in at the Symposium Welcome & Registration Desk in the foyer of the Commons building.  The desk will be open Friday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm ET, Saturday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm ET, and Sunday 8:00 am - 10:00 am ET. If you arrive outside these times, phone 416-489-4121 or 888-568-5723 to speak with a CUC staff person.

At the Symposium check-in, you will receive your name badge, and meal tickets. Should you need a mobility device to help you get around the campus, these are available at the Residence desk, or please let the Welcome Desk know. 

Once you are checked in for the Symposium, make your way to the Residence to check in there for your suite key; the desk there is staffed by Algonquin College around the clock. 

Conference Building Locations

1. Workshops and meals will take place at the Robert C. Gillett Student Commons (E Building), and some workshops are in the T Building. See the Algonquin College campus map.

2. Accommodations are on campus. It is a three-to-four-minute walk to the Algonquin College Residence from the Commons.

Parking
Lot #8 is the closest to the Robert C. Gillett Commons Building, where many of the activities will be held.

• • Rates: (see below for link for multi-day parking)

    1. 4-day permit (Friday, May 19 to Monday, May 22) - $34.00

    2. 10-day permit (Tuesday, May 16 to Friday, May 26) - $41.25

       1. For these multi-day permits, please refer to 'How to Pay' below.

    3. Daily or hourly rates: use the Honk Mobile app to pay for hourly or day rates. This can be downloaded on the App Store or Google Play.-
       
       

Lot #9 is across the street from the Robert C. Gillett Commons Building.

• • Rates: (see below for link for multi-day parking)

    1. 4-day permit (Friday, May 19 to Monday, May 22) - $30.00

    2. 10-day permit (Tuesday, May 16 to Friday, May 26) - $30.25 

       1. For these multi-day permits, please refer to 'How to Pay' below.

    3. Daily or hourly rates: use the Honk Mobile app to pay for hourly or day rates. This can be downloaded on the App Store or Google Play.

Lots 8 & 9 are in close proximity to each other and the Residence, and to the buildings in use for the Symposium.

Lot #10 is beside the Residence. If you are staying at the Residence, there is a big discount for guests - $6.25/day instead of $20 - you'll receive a QR code after check in, and pay using the HonkMobile app from the App Store or Google Play. Depending on the number of days you're staying, this might be a more economical option than purchasing 4 or 10-day permits from lot 8 or 9. 

Visitor's Lot #7

The Visitor’s Lot is is the only parking lot that accepts credit cards, but not debit or cash.

How to Pay

• • A parking link for multi-day parking has been created for the CUC’s Symposium. Go to Algonquin College Parking Services 

  • Click on “Order Visitor Permits” and agree to the terms of service. Select “Ottawa Special Events” then Canadian Unitarian Council. There are options for multi-day passes.

  • Select the permit you wish to pay for - a 4-day or 10-day pass in the lot of your choice. Register your vehicle (you will need your license plate number) and pay online. You can exit and park again without additional fees.

  • Once you’ve paid online, you don’t need to do anything else, including putting proof of payment in the window - everything is registered virtually and parking attendants have access to this.

  • We strongly recommend purchasing the multi-day pass BEFORE you get to Algonquin College; our testers found this easier to do on a laptop/desktop, and it may be frustrating trying to figure this out in the parking lot.

Electric Vehicles
Charge your electric vehicle at Algonquin College’s Ottawa campus!  The charging stations can be found outside ACCE (CA Building)* and P Building with two spots at each building. You may only park in front of the charging station while your car is charging. Please pay using the pay and display payment or Honk Mobile for a maximum of two hours.

Getting to Ottawa and Algonquin College

Travel by train! VIA Rail is providing a 10% discount to passengers travelling to and from the Canadian Unitarian Council’s national symposium.

Book VIA Rail tickets here. Use the code 14340 to obtain a 10% discount off the best available fare in Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Business Plus, or Sleeper Class. (Subject to the conditions and restrictions of the fare plan to which the discount is being applied.) The discount cannot be applied to Prestige Class nor to any Escape fares.

Fare applies to a maximum of two passengers per booking. One complimentary stopover is allowed at no extra charge. For travel on all fare plans in Business class, the first stopover is allowed at no additional charge, provided that the stopover takes place in Toronto, Montréal or Ottawa only. This code is valid for travel between May 17-25, 2023 only. If you have any questions, contact a VIA Rail agent at 888-842-7245.

Travelling by train is more environmentally friendly than flying, and provides a wonderful opportunity to experience the geography of this vast continent. For more information about why you should consider train travel, and what to expect on the journey, see Casey's Tips and Tricks for Travelling by Train.

The Ottawa Train Station, or "Ottawa Station" is located at 200 Tremblay Rd, Ottawa, ON K1G 3H5.

For people travelling on VIA Rail from the west (Toronto, Belleville, Kingston, etc.) the VIA Rail station at Fallowfield is probably a better option than the "Main" Ottawa station on Tremblay Road, because it is closer to Algonquin College. This does not apply to people coming from the Montreal direction by train. The address of the Fallowfield Station is 3347 Fallowfield Road.

Getting to Algonquin College Campus from VIA Rail Station

The most cost-effective way to get from Ottawa Station to Algonquin College is to drive, which costs $2 - $5 and takes 13 minutes. Discount Car and Truck Rentals are at Ottawa Station, Telephone 613-667-9393.

The quickest way to get from Ottawa Station to Algonquin College is by taxi which costs $35 - $45 and takes 13 minutes. Uber is also available. Install the app to learn more.

There is a direct bus, operated by OC Transpo, departing from Hurdman D and arriving at Algonquin College / College. Services depart every 30 minutes and operate Monday to Friday. The journey takes approximately 27 minutes. The bus arrives at Algonquin College / College station. 

For getting around Ottawa by bus or if coming from other locations, transit route information is available.

• Be sure to book refundable travel in case plans change, your plans or the CUC’s.

• For transit options from the airport, take line 97 bus and line 88 bus, which takes 55 minutes. 

• Various car rental companies operate out of Ottawa International. We recommend reserving ahead of time as there may be events during that long weekend in Ottawa.  

• While there is no direct bus from Ottawa Airport (YOW) to Algonquin College, there are services departing from Airport Stop and arriving at Navaho / Algonquin College Residence via Hurdman D. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 55 minutes. For more transit options from the airport,  read this information for getting to the Algonquin College campus.

Driving directions from Toronto and Montreal 

Getting around Algonquin College Campus (see map below)

The Algonquin College campus is a small, intimate one, with only a five- to seven-minute walk between workshop and meal locations. The campus, its buildings and the residence are wheelchair accessible. Signs will point the way, but please allow sufficient time for walking.

For those who prefer to roll, electric scooters are available - please indicate on your registration form if you would like one. The Accessibility Team will have been in touch with those who indicated a need, but if you find you need a scooter when you arrive on campus, please email conference@cuc.ca with ACCESSIBILITY in the subject line.