General Conference, registration and meals information

To whom do I make out the cheque for the Sunday service collection?

Make it out to "Canadian Unitarian Council" with "Conference Sunday service collection"

What events can I attend if I am not registered for the conference ?

You may attend the Opening Ceremony on Friday at 6:30 pm, and the Sunday morning service. Both are held in the Michael DeGroote Learning Centre (MCDL). The service starts at 10 am. You and your friends are also invited to attend evening entertainment on Friday and Saturday.

I am a delegate for my congregation. Where do I register and get my voting card?

In the lobby of the Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery (MCDL) , where the Conference registration takes place.

I've lost my delegate voting card. What do I do?

Please ask for another card at the Delegate Registration table before 11 am on Friday, May 18.

I would like to attend a different Stream/workshop than the one I signed up for. Is this possible? How can I make the change?

The following sessions are full: S4, S7, M4, and M6. You may move out of those sessions, but not into them. If you would like to go to another session, arrive 15 minutes before and check with the facilitator.

I'm registering on-site. What are my payment options?

We use a Square reader, which can read credit cards, and will also accept cash and cheques.

Can I check in at Registration for my Residence room?

No, you must check in at Mary Keyes Residence (quads) or the Commons Building for Les Prince Hall (double rooms).

I have my congregation’s banner. Where do I take it?

Take it to MCDL Room 1305/7 between 3 and 5 pm on Friday, May 18. No need for banner poles. After the Confluence lecture please move it up to Exhibitor area. Remember to collect your banner by 5 pm on Sunday. The CUC is not responsible for lonely banners.

Is there a dress code for choir members?

The dress for the Sunday service choir is any combination of black and white.

I would like to talk with a Minister. Is there someone I can talk with?

Yes! We have two Ministers on Call on Saturday and Sunday. Find out how to reach them in the Program Guide found on the website at here.

Campus and Logistics

Is there a charge for parking?

Yes. Please see the CUC Conference website section on parking under General Information - Travel and Maps

Where are meals being served?

All meals are in the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC). Saturday and Sunday Breakfast and lunches are served in the lower level, at the TwelvEighty. Saturday and Sunday dinners and evening events and are in on the third floor in CIBC Hall. The exception is the Friday boxed dinner, which you can pick up in MDCL.

Is there evening Entertainment ?

YES! Friday after the Confluence lecture join us at the Phoenix for a coffee house/open mic. Saturday Evening after dinner is the Host Social in CIBC Hall.

I can't find a building. Is there a campus map I can look at?

There is a campus map in your program guide and maps are available at the Welcome Table.

Where is Registration?

Conference, delegate, and CanUUdle registration is in the MDLC Lobby.

Where is the Welcome Desk?

The Welcome Desk is in the MDLC Lobby.

Where is the Exhibits Area?

MDCL lobby

Is there wifi?

If you are staying in residence, you will be given a password to use, valid for the whole campus on one device. For those not staying in residence, ask at the Registration or Welcome tables for a password.

Where is the nearest bike rack?

There are bike racks outside most buildings. There are also SoBi bikes available for short term rentals on campus and throughout Hamilton. See the SoBi website at https://hamilton.socialbicycles.com/ to create an account.

What fitness facilities are available to me?

https://rec.mcmaster.ca/programs/drop-ins/recreational-swimming

What about buses?

Hamilton Street Railway serves the city; buses are accessible from the McMaster campus. Schedules and maps can be found at www.hamilton.ca/hsr-bus-schedules . Cash fare is $3 for adults, students and seniors. Presto cards can be used on all buses; fares are less with a Presto card.

GO buses leave from the McMaster GO Bus Terminal for Union Station, Toronto via Aldershot GO Train Station or Hamilton GO bus, for York University, for Guelph, for Brantford, for Bramalea and Square One and for Erin Mills, Oakville and Bronte.

What about taxis and UBER?

Taxis are available from several companies. Here are two – there are others.

Hamilton Cab (905) 777-7777 www.hamiltoncab.com

Blue Line Taxi (905) 525-0000 http://525blue.com/

Uber is available in Hamilton through the Uber app.

Residence

Where are the residences?

The Mary Keyes and Les Prince residences are on the campus. Please see the campus map, follow the signs, and/or ask our friendly volunteers for direction. More on residence under General Information - Acccommodations

What time is check-in and check-out at residence?

Check in at 3pm; Check out at 11am.

Where can I leave my luggage?

Ask at Mary Keyes or Les Prince about leaving your bags. If you are with CanUUdle, bring your bags and gear to registration; there will be space to leave it.

Where do I park my car if I’m staying in Residence?

There is information in the parking section of the CUC website, under General Information - Travel and Maps

What amenities are in the Residence suites?

Mary Keyes has a Games Room, study rooms, and lounges. See a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1STz0rp-I4

In Les Prince, there are shared common rooms with cable TV, and a larger multi-purpose room on the first floor. See a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOiEwhD-Xs4

Conference Meals, Food and Beverages

Why are the food costs so high?

All meals at this year's conference have been subsidized, as total costs include coffee breaks, taxes and service charges. CUC pays a higher per person cost than we are charging participants for all meals in an effort to make the weekend affordable for everyone.

The vegan option looks really good, can I have that instead of what I ordered?

Some people have very severe allergies or considerations for their meal plans. Please keep this in mind and be sure to take food from the meal plan option you have selected. All options will be marked clearly by the college including: gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, etc.

Can I buy tickets on site for individual meals?

There is a limited number of meal tickets available for purchase at the registration desk.

Can I get a refund for a purchased meal?

No, refunds for meal tickets are not available. All meals have been ordered in advance, and the CUC is responsible for paying for this number.

Where can I get a cup of coffee?

Coffee & tea will be served during scheduled breaks. Also see the list of local restaurants for off-campus options. All other food outliets on campus will be closed after Friday at 4pm for the long weekend.

Medical

Are there medical professionals on site?

There will be people attending the conference with this training, but if medical attention is needed urgently, please call 911. For less urgent concerns, go to the Welcome Table.

Call 911 for EMERGENCIES.

If you are uncertain, always call 911.

I cut my finger etc. Do you have a band aid?

There is a First Aid kit at the Welcome Centre.

Where is the nearest Emergency Department?

· For Children Only: McMaster Children’s Hospital, 1200 Main Street West

· For Adults: St. Joseph’s Healthcare: 50 Charlton Avenue East OR

· Hamilton General Emergency: 237 Barton Street East

Where is the nearest Urgent Care Centre?

Main Street West Urgent Care Centre:

690 Main Street West, Open 9 am to 9 pm

When to use the Emergency Department?

An emergency is a life-threatening illness or injury.

Call 9 1 1 to get help right away.

When to use the Urgent Care Centre?

Urgent care is required for illnesses and injuries that do not require emergency care but cannot wait for an appointment with the family doctor.

Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Shoppers’ Drug Mart is located at 1371 Main Street West just across from the McMaster Hospital. Phone number is 905-525-9003. It is open from 8 am to midnight.

Around Hamilton…

What Unitarian or UU congregations are in this area?

Our Host Congregation is the First Unitarian Church of Hamilton, at 170 Dundurn St S, Hamilton, ON L8P 4K3. Nearby congregations are located in Guelph, Grand River (Kitchener / Waterloo), Elora/Fergus, Mississauga, and the Greater Toronto Area.

What else is on Campus?

McMaster Museum of Art, open Saturday from 12 to 5. Admission is “pay what you can if you can”, with a suggestion of $2. https://museum.mcmaster.ca/

Where can I go for a hike or just to get away for a bit?

Check out the website https://nature.mcmaster.ca/

for suggestions nearby and throughout the Hamilton area. Accessible from the campus itself are:

· The Indigenous Circle or Karahakon Kateweienstha (Learning in the Forest) in Mohawk, and Nibwaajkaawin Teg (Place of Wisdom) in Ojibway, was created under the guidance of McMaster’s Indigenous Education Council as a space for learning, reconciliation and the remembrance of Indigenous people and the histories now erased from this land. It is on the McMaster Campus in Faculty Hollow (behind the Faculty Club).

· Millers Grove, behind Alumni Field, is an outdoor classroom and gives access to Ravine Road Trail. (Beside the Altitude complex, by Parking Lot H).

· Parking 2 Paradise, or the Lot M Buffer is an example of a grey landscape being converted back to green. It is located at Parking Lot M.

What about some outdoor time further afield?

If you have more time and access to a vehicle or can use public transportation, the possibilities are endless. Mid-May should be an ideal time to visit the Royal Botanical Garden’s Arboretum to see the world’s largest collection of lilacs in bloom, or to hike to one of Hamilton’s many waterfalls. There is an admission charge at the RBG and a parking fee at Hamilton Conservation Authority lots, which include most of the waterfall areas. Please observe the posted regulations.

I would like to go out for a meal off campus. What can you recommend?

Please see the information sheet: Nearby Restaurants available from the Welcome Desk. Of course, there are many fine restaurants at all price levels throughout Hamilton. These are only a few nearby restaurants that might be of interest.