General Information
We are looking forward to seeing you in Gatineau for the Canadian Hydrographic Conference!
We invite you to visit this website regularly, as more information becomes available on our Speakers and Sponsors pages.
In the meantime, here are some tips & tools to better prepare your stay in Gatineau:
Venue
Hilton Lac-Leamy3 Boulevard du Casino,
Gatineau, QC J8Y 6X4
Canada
Tel.: +1 819 790 6444
Website: www.hilton-lac-leamy.com
Language
French and English are the two official languages of Canada. You can be helped in French or English in most commercial establishments.
Most conference presentations will be in English. Abstracts and presentations must be in English.
Visa & Letter of Invitation
Some participants may require a visa to enter Canada. For more information click here.
Upon request, the secretariat of the Canadian Hydrographic Conference will send an invitation letter. This letter is meant only to verify the name, dates, location and purpose of the conference to obtain a visa or travel funds. This letter is in no way a commitment to the participant on the part of the organizing committee.
Insurance
The secretariat and the organizers of CHC 2022 cannot be held responsible for personal accidents, loss, or damage to personal property of conference participants or of persons accompanying them, whether during the conference or during events or activities. It is the sole responsibility of the participants to obtain travel and health insurance.
Clothing & Weather
The dress code for the conference is informal for all occasions.
The average temperatures in Gatineau during the month of June are generally 24 °C (day) and 13 °C (night).
Travel Information – Getting Here
A well-located located city, whether by plane, train, bus, or car, getting to Gatineau-Ottawa will be easy with all the modes of transportation available to you! Nestled at the confluence of three rivers and on the border of Quebec and Ontario, Gatineau-Ottawa is one of the most beautiful capital regions in the world. Located a two-hour drive west of Montreal and a four-hour drive northeast of Toronto, Ottawa is an easy-to-reach destination year-round.
By Plane
Located just 20 minutes from Hilton Lac-Leamy, Ottawa International Airport is home to many airlines serving most major cities in Canada, the United States and Europe, with some seasonal flights to the Caribbean and South America. It offers more than 110 daily non-stop flights to over 40 destinations in Canada and abroad.
There are many flights from US cities and all major Canadian cities.Several flights per week with a single stop are operated from many countries.
Taxi, shuttle, and car rental services are available just outside the airport. You can also get to downtown Ottawa by taking the OC Transpo, 97 bus, a fully accessible public transit service.
Airport Transfers
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is located 22 km from the Hotel Lac-Leamy. Taxi fare is estimated at $ 45-50 CAD for transportation from the airport to Hilton Lac-Leamy. Taxi companies accept major credit cards.
Public transit is provided by OC Transpo, and the airport bus route features low-floor vehicles that facilitate wheelchair access.
Airlines
Air Canada (www.aircanada.com)
Reservations: +1 888 247 2262
Information: +1 888 422 7533
Canadian North (www.canadiannorth.com)
Reservations: +1 800 267 1247
Information: +1 800 661 1505
Flair Airlines (www.flairairlines.com)
Reservations: +1 855 936 5656
Sunwing Airlines (www.sunwingairlines.com)
Reservations: +1 800 824 6200
United Airlines (www.united.com)
Reservations: +1 800 538 2929 (International) / +1 800 864 8331 (Domestic)
WestJet (www.westjet.com)
Reservations: +1 888 937 8538 (+1 888 WESTJET)
Air Transat (www.airtransat.com)
Reservations: +1 866 255 4871
By Train
Convenient, comfortable and economical, Canada's passenger rail service, VIA Rail, is an excellent mode of transportation that offers many daily departures to Ottawa from major cities in southern Ontario and Quebec. Ottawa Central Station is located just minutes east of downtown, and a VIA Rail satellite station is located west of the city at Fallowfield-Barrhaven.
Approximate travel time to Ottawa:
- Toronto - 4.5 hours
- Montreal - 2 hours
- Kingston - 2 hours
By Bus
Ottawa has intercity bus terminals. The Orléans Express Network serves many cities and there are several connections between Montréal, Québec City and Ottawa.
By Car
Autoroute 20 (Autoroute Jean-Lesage) runs along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River and Autoroute 40 (Autoroute Félix-Leclerc) provides access from the north shore. For participants from the northern United States or eastern and central Canada, road travel is an option that may be considered. The 4,500 km provincial highway system is among the most developed in Canada and connects the city to the rest of Canada and the United States.
- Approximate travel time to Ottawa:
- Toronto - 4.5 hours
- Montreal - 2 hours
- Kingston - 2 hours
Parking
Vehicles may park on all streets of Ottawa for a maximum of three hours, unless otherwise specified. During peak hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.), parking and stopping in many downtown streets are prohibited in order not to interfere with traffic. Always check the signs nearby for parking restrictions.
Parking at the hotel: self-service, free (outside).
Taxis
Capital Taxi
Tel.: (613) 744 3333
West-Way Taxi
Tel.: (613) 727 0101
Mon Taxi
Tel.: (873) 376 2227
Currency, Banking, ATM & Credit Cards
The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD).
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks and at foreign currency exchange offices either at the Airport or at other locations throughout the city.
Bank debit or credit cards are the most convenient means of getting cash at the many Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). ATMs are spread throughout the city and accept cards with the Interac, Plus, and Cirrus networks. Most are in operation 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Most businesses accept U.S. currency and traveler’s cheque, as well as major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express).
Sales Taxes
There is a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) in effect in Canada and a Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 9.975% in the Province of Québec, for a combined tax rate of 14.975%. These taxes are applicable to most items and are not refundable. An additional 3,5% is also applicable on hotel accommodation.
Electricity
The electrical current is the same as in the United States: 110 volts AC at 60Hz. Adapters are required for electrical devices from other countries.
Time Zone
Ottawa is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST) (UTC-05:00). Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDST) is in effect from March to November.
Cannabis
On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act and a number of supporting regulations and ministerial orders came into force, legalizing and strictly regulating the sale, possession and production of cannabis in Canada.
Entering Canada
Cannabis is now legal in Canada. However, the legalization of cannabis in Canada does not change Canada’s border rules. Taking cannabis or any product containing cannabis into Canada is illegal and can result in serious criminal penalties both at home and abroad.
Leaving Canada
if you’re planning a visit south of the border, you should know that having cannabis in your possession is prohibited by law in the United States. And while several states have legalized cannabis, the product remains a controlled substance under federal law. So, be sure your bags and vehicle don’t contain cannabis in any form before heading off to explore Maine’s fine sand beaches or the beautiful views from Interstate 20, which you can travel all the way to California. The same applies if you take a plane. At Ottawa International Airport, you will find amnesty boxes for disposing any cannabis products you may have on you before going through U.S. customs.
Useful Links and Maps
The official tourism site of the Government of Gatineau and Ottawa contains up-to-date tourism information and information on the public transportation system.