WWW2007 Newsletter -- April 27, 2007 (Issue #11)

This is the eleventh issue of the WWW2007 Newsletter. In this issue:

WWW2007 on-site logistics
What to do around Banff?
Get ready for a barbecue, Alberta style
Last minute reminders

1. WWW2007 on-site logistics

WWW2007 is less than two weeks away! To help you get prepared, a page with details about the WWW2007 conference, including registration desk, sponsor exhibits, shipping, Internet, and on-site printing and copying has been setup. This page will be updated as more details are worked out, so please check it regularly.

A few important notes:

There will be multiple registration desks at WWW2007 to accommodate the needs of the main conference as well as the pre-conference events. Please make sure you know which one you are looking for on which days and where. For W3C AC, the registration desk opens on Sunday May 6 near the Cascade Ballroom on Hotel Mezzanine 2 (HM2). For W4A, the registration desk opens Monday May 7 at 7:30am near the New Brunswick room on HM2. For WOW, look for the registration desk near the Alberta room on HM2, also opening Monday May 7 at 7:30am.
For WWW2007 itself, the registration desk is on the second-floor of the Conference Centre (CC2), opening May May 7 at 1:00pm. Note that SOME people will have to check in at two different locations on two different days (e.g., W4A and WWW2007).
The Web History Exhibit will be on display most of the week in the Ivor Petrak Room (HM2). The exhibit will feature physical collectibles from the early days of the Web; feel free to bring some of your own if you have them. Computers will be available for testing different Web browsers and viewing archived versions of early Web sites.
WWW2007 has contracted with MyCanopy to provide Wireless Internet service throughout all meeting areas during the week of the conference. The SSID for the wireless network will be WWW2007.
WWW2007 is pleased to have the UPS Store as an on-site partner for all your printing, copying, and shipping needs. Look for their stand in the Van Horne Foyer near the WWW2007 registration desk.
We are currently arranging a shuttle bus service that will get conference attendees from the overflow hotels to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel each morning. Details will follow in early May.

2. What to do around Banff?

There are lots of opportunities for outings around Banff:

Hiking and Bird Watching: Johnston Canyon. Located by the Bow Valley Parkway (a.k.a. Highway 1A), one half-hour west of Banff, the Johnston Canyon trail is an easy hiking/walking trail extending for 2.7 km in total (1.1 km to the Lower Falls). There are a total of seven waterfalls in the canyon, which is also a great destination for bird watchers. Those more adventurous can extend the hike to the Upper Falls and the Ink Pots (six spring-fed water pools that remain at 1 degree Celsius year-round).
Hiking and Sightseeing: Lake Louise. A must see attraction, Lake Louise is located 60 km (36 miles) west of the town of Banff, off the Trans-Canada Highway. The Lake offers one of the most spectacular scenes in the Rockies; the unique emerald colour of the water comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake. The background is completed with several snow-capped mountains including Mount Temple (3543 m / 11,692 ft), Mount Whyte (2983 m / 9,844 ft) and Mount Niblock (2976 m / 9,820 ft). Expect to see some ice on the lake at this time of year. Note: you should plan your drive with extra time for stopping at the numerous sightseeing spots along the way, and watch for wildlife.
Skiing: Sunshine Village. Just 15 minutes from Banff, Sunshine Village offers over 3,300 acres of terrain on three mountains, with an average annual snowfall of over 9 meters (30 feet). Open until late May, Sunshine Village offers 107 runs with varying difficulty and 12 lifts. Live webcams can be found at http://www.skibig3.com/onmountain/webcams.cfm

3. Get ready for a Barbecue, Alberta style

Get ready for lots of fun! The WWW2007 banquet will be a true western barbecue experience at the famous Brewster's MountView Barbecue "donut tents" (indoor facility) on the outskirts of Banff. Inside the tents, a central bonfire provides warmth and atmosphere to dance the night away in country and western style. Enjoy good food, and lots of it, with 2 complimentary drink tickets, lively western music, and amazing after-dinner entertainment.

Extra guest tickets may be purchased via the online registration system. Bus transportation to/from the event will be provided from the conference hotel.

4. Last minute reminders

If you are planning to attend WWW2007, but have not yet registered, then please do so before May 1. Registering now means that your name tag, registration receipt, and event tickets will be ready for you upon your arrival, minimizing the lineup delay for you and others at the WWW2007 registration desk. It also helps the conference organizers with room configuration and food ordering. Bonus offer: the lucky 1000th registrant (soon) will be free!

If you have not yet booked a hotel room in Banff, please do so right away. We are currently retaining only 1 overflow hotel, namely the Tunnel Mountain Resort, with about 30 rooms left. Please try there first. Almost everything else in Banff is full.

To get from Calgary to Banff, please see the local transportation information provided on the WWW2007 Web site. Please book your shuttle, limo, or rental car well in advance of your arrival so that you are not left stranded at the airport! We are not kidding.

Students can look forward to an exciting week in Banff. There are 152 students registered for the conference already, with 50 of these having received travel awards. Check the the WWW2007 students page for the latest information about hiking, skiing, and the GPS contest.

See you soon!

The WWW2007 Newsletter will be sent periodically, roughly once every month leading up to the conference. The newsletters will be archived at the 'Media and Publicity' section of the WWW2007 Web site.

Contact the WWW2007 Publicity Chair, (Denilson Barbosa, denilson@ucalgary.ca) with news and/or announcements for upcoming editions of the Newsletter.

We have made every effort to keep the circulation of the newsletters amongst those interested in receiving them. If you are not in this group, please accept our apologies; we ask you to send an email to contact@iw3c2.org requesting to be removed from our mailing list.