Official Announcements

 

(Updated and revised, with apologies for multiple cross-posting to all sub-lists and English-only text. Note that 1 Euro equals 0.67 Canadian dollars at today's exchange rate and 1 Canadian dollar equals 1.49 Euros. Do not use figures below to convert from Euros -- or other currencies -- into U.S. dollars and then convert again into Canadian dollars, as this will result in error. Consult a Web page to convert your currency directly into Canadian dollars.)

It's official. The Fourteenth Annual World conference of The Dead Runners Society, DRSWC XIV, will be held in Toronto from Friday, June 30 to Monday, July 3, 2006. That's in Canada, where Cuban cigars and gay marriage are both legal.

One of the highlights will be attending a performance of the "world premiere production" of LORD OF THE RINGS: THE MUSICAL at reduced prices, months before the New York and London debuts. But tickets are limited. We're posting this announcement early -- weeks before the Web site goes up -- to ensure we're able to meet ticket demand. Keep reading for more details.

Other conference highlights:

  • spend Canada Day, July 1 (equivalent to U.S. Fourth of July) at the Ontario Place amusement park. Do a 10 km. race in the morning. Hang out at the park (including a water park) in the afternoon. Great for kids of all ages.
  • track meet on Sunday morning, July 2
  • group run of various distances and paces through Toronto's unique urban ravine system on Monday, July 3

Our Headquarters is The Days Inn Hotel and Conference Centre (Toronto-Downtown) http://www.dayshoteltoronto.ca The hotel has a pool, roof deck, and gym. Each room has a mini-fridge you can stock with your own stuff. Our group rate is $129 Canadian, or about $109 U.S. at current exchange rates, plus tax. Breakfast is not included, but kids eat free when accompanied by adults. Rooms come with either a king, queen or two double beds -- but but we don't recommend more than two adults in a room unless you're VERY friendly. The hotel is now acceptingreservations.

Call XXXXXXXXXXX and ask for "The Dead Runners Society Group Rate." It's valid from June 26 to July 6, so you can extend your stay. If you encounter difficulties, e-mail me directly and I will fix the problem. (We may also have a few rooms available at about $75-$80 U.S. at University of Toronto residences, but details cannot be finalized until next Spring.)

The hotel is centrally located next to Maple Leaf Gardens and near the University of Toronto, museums, the CN Tower, and The Hockey Hall of Fame. You'll have plenty of time for sightseeing on your own.

What now? Send me e-mail offline with your SERIOUS expression of interest in LORD OF THE RINGS (LOTR) tickets for the performance at 1:00 PM on Sunday, July 2. Specify number of tickets and price. Send no money now. Our currency arbitrageurs and hedging specialists are evaluating payment modalities, verily, even as we speak. Within 2-3 weeks, we'll ask you to pay for your tickets, along with the conference registrations fee of $35 U.S. or $42 Canadian, per person. (FYI, the registration fee pays for the hospitality suite, bank fees, van rental and other misc. expenses.)

LOTR ticket options:

  • $63 U.S. or $76 Canadian (very limited availability)
  • $75 U.S. or $89.50 Canadian
  • $86 U.S. or $104.00 Canadian

If you'd like to begin thinking about travel arrangements, consider these points:

  • if you are American, you can be back at home in the U.S. for July 4 if you make Monday, July 3 your travel back day; or may find it easier to book an extra night and travel back the morning of July 4
  • hotel rates are valid from June 26 to July 6
  • you may want to take a sidetrip to Niagara Falls, about 90 minutes away (bus tours are also available -- ask the hotel when you reserve)
  • you will NOT need to rent a car for the conference
  • you can save a hotel night by traveling back the evening of Sunday, July 2 without missing too much
  • passports are recommended but not currently required for U.S. citizens. Visas are not required for U.S. citizens. Currently, U.S. citizens may travel with BOTH a driver's license AND a birth certificate. All non-Canadians should check with the Web site of any airline for latest requirements no later than 8 weeks prior to your travel date for both passport and visa requirments. Remember: you must comply with both airline and immigration requirments. Check now and check again later to ensure you know the latest requirments
  • don't even ask about how to get a partial (but not full) tax refund on some (but not all) expenses for some (but not all) people under some (but not all) circumstances. It's so complicated we barely understand it ourselves! And regulations may change and YMMV. So we'll be providing individual counseling on check-in. Grief counselors will be standing by to ease the trauma. Any libertarians in the crowd? Lots of material here!

On the upside: Canadians are nice! We specialize in exporting documentaries, hockey players and self-righteousness.

Anyway, Melanie and April Boultbee are the primary instigators and guiding lights behind all this. An organizing committee of 12 is already hard at work. We're all looking forward to the best Worldcon ever.

See you in Toronto, eh?