Most participants will be arriving and departing from the Calgary International Airport (the closest international airport to Banff). The trip takes approximately 1 & 1/2 - 2 hour and there are shuttle services from the Airport to the Banff Centre:
The Banff Airporter: http://www.banffairporter.com phone: 403-762-3330 or toll free: 1-888-449-2901 The Rocky Mountain Sky Shuttle: http://www.rockymountainskyshuttle.com phone: 403-762-5200 or toll free: 1-888-762-8754
If you come by car then you should be aware that in order to enter Banff National Park (in which BIRS is located) you need to pay a user fee. The fee is based on the number of people in the vehicle and the number of days you will be in the park. For more information go to: Parks Canada
You will pay this as you drive into the National Park. Visitors who come by the shuttle bus are not subject to Park fees. The Banff Centre will provide free parking for you for your stay at BIRS. You can find directions for finding your way to the Banff Centre on the Banff Centre's website: Banff Visitors
CHECK IN PROCEDURES:
If you will be staying at the Banff Centre, you should proceed to the front desk reception in the Professional Development Centre. This is precisely the point at which the Banff Airporter will drop you off. Registration will be straightforward. The Banff Centre should be expecting you and the front desk will be open at all hours allowing for any late arrivals. They will ask you for a CREDIT CARD imprint. This is only to cover your incidental expenses, to cover any additional costs if you have a guest staying with you, and to allow you to use the telephone in your bedroom. Without it your phone will not work. Please note that check in time is 4pm and check out time is 12 noon.
After you have registered and received your key, you should proceed to CORBETT HALL, which is just to the right and back of the building with all the flags on it. Corbett Hall is the home of BIRS and there you will be able to find out more information about the many facilities available to you at the Banff Centre.
ACCOMMODATION:
Every bedroom at BIRS has, one queen sized bed, a desk, a telephone, and a computer terminal which is connected to the internet. You can also connect to the network from a laptop if you have one.
The majority of our guest rooms share a front foyer and bathroom with one other guest.
*Please Note*
Participants can bring one partner/spouse but we must be informed ahead of time. There will be an $11 CAN daily service charge which includes a continental breakfast. All of their other meals taken at the Banff Centre can be billed to your room and paid upon check out. We cannot garuntee private bathrooms.
If you are bringing your family or do not find our facilities suitable to your needs you will have to arrange and pay for your own accommodation either elsewhere at the Banff Centre or in the town of Banff. At this time we cannot offer financial reinbursment for alternative accommodation.
BIRS FACILITIES:
The main lecture room at BIRS has an LCD projector and you should be able to use your laptop computer for presentations if you so desire. Blackboards and overhead projectors are also available. There is a large magnetic board along one wall of the lecture complex that may be used for displaying posters.
BIRS has no library. There is a 24 hour delivery system for journal articles and books via the University of Calgary library. Find the book you need in their catalogue, note it's pertinent information, and once you arrive at BIRS fill in and submit the online form provided. Otherwise be prepared to use the online facilities provided by your own institution and bring the books that you need with you. (The Banff Centre does have a very nice arts library as well as an extensive collection of recorded music which you are welcome to use).
We hope your stay at BIRS is an enjoyable and productive one.
Best regards, Andrea Kiefner