Newsletter 9 / 23 February 2017

Get prepared to come to Canada!

• Book your hotel – see information below

• Contact your mobile service provider to pre-arrange coverage in Canada

• Obtain travel health insurance before travelling (fees apply for health services to visitors)

• Dress in layers (undershirt, shirt, sweater, coat) to adjust for the weather when outside

• Boots are best for outdoors, but sneakers or low heal shoes will do

• Pack important items in your carry-on, including:

• • Passport and travel documents

• • A pen (to complete your arrival declaration on the plane)

• • Your warmest coat (if possible: water-proof & closed with a zipper)

• • A hat that covers your ears

• • A warm scarf to keep the wind off your neck and face

• • Gloves or mittens to keep your hands warm

• • When in doubt, warmer is better

• Pack business attire for the conference

• Pack a voltage converter (Canada’s standard is 120 volts, 60 Hertz)

• Credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, etc.) or Canadian dollars will be required in Canada

• Currency exchange at the Montreal airport is open from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m.

• Note the name of your hotel to provide to your taxi or driver

Extension of Deadline for Hotel Reservation

We are pleased to inform you that the deadlines forreserving a room at special rates for selected hotelsnear the venue of the Fifth Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas (RP17) have been extended.

We encourage you to take advantage of these rates for the RP17 participants expiringon March 7th for the following three hotels: Travelodge, Le Dauphin and Holiday Inn. Please note that hotel reservations can be cancelled without penalties up to 72 hours before the first night stay at the hotel.

Please be advised that we are less than two weeks away from RP17 and thus it is encouraged book a roomas soon as possible. Please take a look at the suggested hotels page for more information.



Airport Courtesy

Send your request for airport courtesy clearance to the Coordinator, National Airport Courtesy Program in order to apply for this service. For more information, please consult this link.

Visa

Most countries require a visa to enter Canada.

This guide with instructions will help you with your visa application process. Please note that the instructions on thevisa application website have precedence over this guide.

Refund for visa fee

As per the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, participants and delegates of this event are not required to pay processing fees for single-entry temporary resident visas (TRVs). This exemption does not apply to media representatives or to other persons in other roles attending this event.

If you paid the CAD$100 processing fee for a single-entry TRV to attend this event and were eligible for the processing fee exemption, you may be refunded by the Government of Canada.

Update: Delegates eligible from the CAD$100 processing fee will receive their refunds within the next month.

Updated Agenda and RP17 Virtual Brochure

Review the updated agenda and look for the Virtual RP17 Brochure which will be available online before the beginning of the conference.

Kind regards,

The Organizing Committee.

Canada looks forward to welcoming you!