Canada Area Conference 2025

A Message from your Area President

Greetings everyone,

On behalf of the Board of ACWW and the Canada Area Conference Organisation Committee we would like to invite all members and friends to attend the Canada Area Conference to be held May 13th to 15th 2025, in beautiful Victoria BC at the Langford Legion on 761 Station Avenue, Victoria BC.

The Canada Area Conference Theme is “Sustainable Growth for the Future, Focusing on the Environment.” Please join us for inspirational speakers, engaging conversation, knowledge sharing, and workshops. This will also be a wonderful opportunity to renew old friendships and create new ones.

We look forward to welcoming you in Victoria BC to enjoy this special event together!

See you there!

Marie Kenny

Area President for Canada

Message from Donna Jack, President, South Vancouver Island Women’s Institute

On behalf of the South Vancouver Island Women’s Institute, we would like to welcome everyone to join us in beautiful Victoria the city of gardens. May is the perfect time to see the Rhododendrons and a wide variety of flowers at their best. We hope your excursion to our little island on the west coast will fill your mind and body with many happy memories.

Conference Information & Registration

What to look forward to:

Meet friends old and new, and enjoy ACWW's Canada Area Conference in beautiful British Columbia. You'll find spectacular scenery, history around every corner, birdsong and flowers, glimpses of wildlife, and a very warm welcome for all visitors.

Online Early-Bird Registration for the Conference opens 1 January 2025 - 15 February 2025, and costs $200.00. After this, Full Registration will cost $225.00 and run from 16 February to 15 April 2025.

On Monday 12 May and Tuesday 13 May, Greeters will be at Victoria Internatonal airport to welcome you, and signpost you to taxis. Please note that there is no shuttle bus to the hotels. A taxi to the Holiday Inn Express is approximately 30 minutes, and costs $65-80; a taxi to the Sheraton Victoria Gateway Hotel is also about 30 minutes, and costs $70-90.

For the Confernece, you will be able to sign-in at the Langford Legion on Tuesday 13 May 2025, from 3pm to 6pm. After this, the Opening Ceremony will start at 6.30pm, followed by refreshments. These refreshments, plus coffee breaks, lunches on Wednesday and Thursday, and the Closing Banquet are all at the Langford Legion and included in the registration price. There is also an optional Dinner on Wednesday evening, which is priced separately at $25. Breakfast on Wednesday and Thursday will be at the Langford Legion from 7.30-8.30am.

Volunteer drivers from the local WI will assist those who need transportation between the hotels and the venue at Langford Legion. All volunteer drivers will be have $5 million in insurance coverage. ACWW is not responsible for any issues with these drivers, and any concerns should be raised with the Hostess Society, South Vancouver Island WI. However, all attendees should organise their own travel insurance.

We have secured discounted rates at two local hotels, which are detailed below:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Victoria - Colwood

Hotel with 15 rooms with 2 queen-size beds, at $229.00 plus 13% taxes. These are open until 22 April or until sold out. You can find the hotel website here; and use the discount code BCWI.

This hotel is 20 minutes' walk to the Langford Legion (3.1km). Bus No.95 runs every 12 minutes, and will get you to Goldstream Avenue and Veteran's Parkway, a short walk to Station Avenue. The return bus runs on the opposite side of the road.

Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway Hotel

Hotel with 15 rooms with 2 queen-size beds, at $219.00 plus 15% taxes. These are open until 1 April or until sold out. You can find the hotel website here, with a pre-set discount included.

This hotel is 40 minutes' walk to to the Langford Legion (2.6km).

There are 5 spots at the Langford Legion for self-contained RVs. Please click here to email Tammy Shiels to reserve a spot.

Additional information and registration notes

Companion Activities:

There will be a busy programme of activities for companions. On Wednesday 14 May (9.30am) there will be a shuttle bus to take you to CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, and bring you back to the Legion for lunch; at 1pm the bus will take you to Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse, again returning to the Legion by 5pm. On Thursday 15 May (9am) the bus will take you to Heritage Acres on Lochside Drive, and then to Mary's Bleue Moon Café for your choice of lunch. After this, you'll go to the Aviation Museum in Sidney, and then back to the Legion by 4.30pm, so you can get to your hotel and change before the closing banquet. Registration for Companion Activities opened January 2025.

Auctions:

Silent and Dutch auction items, as well as a quilt raffle will be available during the Conference for your enjoyment. Cash is the best option for payments, but there will be an option to use debit cards for larger purchases. (You can find photos of the quilt below).

Dietary Restrictions:

When you complete your registration form below, please ensure that you list any dietary restrictions you would like considered. Please note that all meals will be served buffet style, and ACWW cannot accept any responsibility for any allergens encountered during the Conference.

Payments for Registration:

Registrations using the online form will open 1 January 2025. Please complete the form, and submit. Please then send a check made payable to SVIDWI to Laura Baird, 1199 Rolmar Crescent, Cobble Hill, BC, V8H 0E3. You can also pay be e-transfer to southvancouverislanddistrictwi@gmail.com

Data Protection:

Please note that all registrations for the Canada Area Conference are being handled directly by the Hostess Society and all data collected is for the express use of the conference organisers. Any queries regarding data collection for this Conference should be directed to the Hostess Society at southvancouverislanddistrictwi@gmail.com

Canada Area Conference 2025