IEEE Instrumentation & Measurement Technology Conference Additional Information

IMTC Banquet on the River Evening

The mid-conference evening at IMTC means fun and relaxation. A special outdoor party is planned aboard a boat on the Ottawa River cruising between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Enjoy an historic experience in a comfortable atmosphere, a pleasant reception and dinner and an entertainment program in keeping with the occasion.

It will be a casual evening. Men, take off your ties. Women, switch from high heels to flats. There will be wine and beer and soft drinks and, of course, dinner.

IMTC Registration

It's easier and faster to register in advance by mail or fax and, in addition, discounted fees will be in effect for all registrations received by March 31. Badges, events tickets, a Conference Proceedings and other materials will be held for pickup at the registration desk. Registration will not be confirmed in advance.

Use the registration card in the center of this program. Payment must be in U.S. currency and American Express, Visa and MasterCard credit cards will be accepted with full information. Bank transfer registrations will require an additional charge of $25 (US).

The conference registration desk will be open from 10:30 until noon and 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 18, and from 7:30 a.m. all day Monday and Tuesday and until noon Wednesday.

Hotel Reservations

The historic Chateau Laurier has reserved rooms at a special conference rate for IMTC attendees. Use the reservation form in this program to assure receiving the special rate. Rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The reservation deadline is April 18, 1997.

Chateau Laurier
1 Rideau Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8S7 Canada
Phone: +613-241-1414 or 1-800-441-1414
Fax: +613-562-7031

http://www.cphotels.ca/clhindex.htm

Ottawa - Canada's Capital Region

IMTC/97's home is at the historic Chateau Laurier, immediately adjacent to Parliament Hill, seat of Canada's government, and within walking distance of all Ottawa attractions - that includes the National Gallery of Canada, Royal Canadian Mint, the historic Byward Market and just across the bridge from the Museum of Civilization in Hull.

Nature is a willing ally of IMTC and Ottawa in May, with spring in full bloom and the city sprouting new color. May is Tulip Month in Ottawa and the Canadian Tulip Festival at IMTC time is an explosion of color. Reflections of Canada: A Symphony of Sound and Light takes place on Parliament Hill beginning in May. And, of course, Byward Market a couple of blocks down the hill from the Chateau is a shopper's paradise.

Ottawa takes its name from the Algonquin Indian tribe Odawa which settled and traded furs in the area. Samuel de Champlain, in 1613, was the first European explorer of the Ottawa River, opening the region to timber and lumber along the shores. Lt. Col. John By built the Rideau Canal - still in use and right outside the Chateau - to tie the area to the St. Lawrence River region. Queen Victoria selected Ottawa in 1857 as the capital of the United Province of Canada.

The center of Ottawa is Parliament Hill and visitors are welcome at the House of Commons, the Senate and the Library of Parliament, as well as offices in the East Block. Parliament Hill is host to a traditional Changing the Guard ceremony with participation by elite guardsmen and red-coated Royal Mounted Police.

The Chateau Laurier itself is a centerpiece of culture and history. It is named for Canada's seventh Prime Minister, Sir. Wilfrid Laurier, who was the first to sign the register in 1912. Royalty and heads of state have been regular visitors, from Herbert Hoover, Charles DeGaulle and Winston Churchill to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England, Queen Elizabeth II and the King and Queen of Siam.

Celebrities have made the Chateau their Ottawa headquarters - Rudolph Nureyev (who practiced dancing on his bed), John Lennon, Shirley Temple, Greer Garson and Marlene Dietrich. The famed portrait photographer, Yousef Karsh, has had his studio in the Chateau since the early 1970s.

Canada is a bi-lingual country and visitors will find signs and many materials printed in both English and French. Both languages are spoken in all public places.

To keep up to date on "What's Going On in Ottawa," check the World Wide Web

Special Tours

Boat and double-decker bus tours of Ottawa and the Capital Region are available through the hotel or directly from tour operators located close to the Chateau Laurier.

Getting to IMTC

There is regular limousine shuttle service to the Chateau Laurier from Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.

Limousine service - Shuttle vans load at the main terminal and drop off and pick up in front of the Chateau Laurier every half-hour. One-way fare is approximately $10 (Canadian) ($7.50 US). Taxi service also is available with the average fare between the airport and Chateau Laurier about $25 (Canadian) ($19 US).

Currency Conversion

The exchange rate of Canadian and U.S. dollars varies but generally is approximately $1.33 (Canadian) for each $1 (US). U.S. and other world currencies can be exchanged at the airport, at banks throughout downtown Ottawa and in limited amounts at the cashier's desk of the Chateau Laurier. The first day of IMTC/97 - May 19 - is Victoria Day, an official holiday in Canada, and banks will be closed. Shopping and touring normally will be available.

Information

Additional information on the conference is available from the IMTC office, 3685 Motor Ave., Suite 240, Los Angeles, CA 90034-5750 USA; telephone (310) 287-1463; fax (310) 287-1851; or e-mail bob.myers@ieee.org

Tax Deduction for U.S. Residents

U.S. federal tax law permits an income tax deduction for continuing education expenses (registration fees and travel, meals and lodging costs) to 1. maintain or improve skills required in a present occupation or 2. meet express requirements of an employer.