2017 Venue
Conference Location
Bridges 2017 will be held on-campus at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Most of the conference will be split between two main buildings: Federation Hall (FED) and Davis Centre (DC). Consult the campus map to see where these buildings are located. A small number of presentations (notably workshops) will be held in the Mathematics and Computer building (MC), which is immediately adjacent to DC.
Travel
The university provides maps and directions to the campus, along with public transportation options.
Most visitors arriving by air should expect to fly into Pearson Airport in Toronto (YYZ). A subset of visitors, particularly in western Canada, may be able to fly into the much smaller and closer Waterloo Regional Airport (YKF). Hamilton's airport (YHM) might also be possible for some. It's possible to take the train to Kitchener station, mostly if you are arriving from elsewhere in Ontario.
Visitors arriving at the Toronto airport will require transportation to Waterloo. We have arranged a conference rate with Airways Transit of $59.00 CAD one way (tax included) for Toronto airport transfers. The trip takes approximately 60-90 minutes, depending on traffic. Book online at conferences.airwaystransit.com. Enter the code BRIDGES WATERLOO 2017, exactly as shown. Or contact them by phone 24 hours a day: 1 800 691 3045 (within Canada only), or 1 519 886 2121; remember to mention you are a Bridges delegate.
Airways Transit connects Toronto Pearson airport (YYZ) with the Waterloo area providing 24/7 door to door shared ride service. Advance reservations are required. To ensure that we can accommodate all passengers, it is strongly recommended that delegates bringing artwork to the conference ship it to Waterloo in advance or pack it in their luggage. Delegates flying with separate artwork must provide the dimensions of the packaged piece (length x height x width) in the “Arrival Notes” box on the booking form and indicate if the artwork will also be taken on the return. An additional charge of $18.00 CDN each way will apply.
As of April 2017, Greyhound is offering inexpensive two-way bus service between the Toronto airport and Waterloo a few times a day (look for trips from "Toronto Pearson Airport, ON" to "Waterloo University, ON"). Additional trips stop at the main bus terminal in Kitchener (look for "Kitchener Charles St W, ON"), where you can take a city bus to the university campus.
Accommodations
The University of Waterloo provides convenient and affordable on-campus accommodations during the summer at Ron Eydt Village (REV), for less than $40 CAD per night. Parking is included for visitors arriving by car. Please note that these rooms are not air-conditioned.
Many other options are available in the vicinity, including some on campus. Consult the university's list of short-term accommodations for more information.
Food
There are many locations on campus, in both the residence halls and the academic buildings, where meals may be purchased. There are also numerous restaurants near campus, particularly in "The University Plaza" just adjacent to the eastern edge of campus (near the intersection of University Avenue and Philip Street). There are also excellent fine dining options in Waterloo and neighbouring Kitchener, for those willing to travel a bit farther from the conference site.