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General Information Location – Olde Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada The IEEE Lithography Workshop will hold its 2006 meeting in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. PEI is the birthplace of Canada and the smallest of the thirteen Canadian provinces. It is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and is one of the three Canadian Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island). PEI is a unique island steeped in history and famous for its rolling red landscapes and beautiful coastlines and beaches. For more, see http://www.gov.pe.ca or http://www.peionline.com/ The Delta Prince Edward (www.deltaprinceedward.com), a full service waterfront hotel located in Olde Charlottetown, was selected to host this year’s Workshop. Charlottetown is the capital of PEI. It is located on the south shore (on the Northumberland Strait) and is PEI’s major seaport. Charlottetown is convenient to destinations such as the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery (author of the well known book Anne of Green Gables) and both the major North Cape and Points East Island/coastal areas. Maritime Climate The climate in Prince Edward Island in the summer is mostly sunny with modest rainfall in July/August. The daytime temperature is 70 - 750 F during the day and 60 - 650 F in the evenings. Dress for the Workshop will be resort casual. Getting There UPDATE Charlottetown is accessible by air (Charlottetown Airport, YYG) and is served by Air Canada Jazz, WestJet, Northwest (summer only), and other chartered airlines. Taxi service from the airport to the hotel downtown is approx. $13.00 (CAD). Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, National and Hertz. Via New Brunswick: The nearest major international airport is in Moncton, New Brunswick (NB), Charlottetown is a 2 hour drive (110 miles) from Moncton via the Confederation Bridge connecting NB and PEI. The Greater Moncton International Airport (YQM) is served by Air Canada, CanJet, WestJet and Continental airlines. Car rental companies include Avis, Hertz, Budget and National. The Confederation Bridge (12.9 km), connecting New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, was completed in 1997. The bridge is a dramatic sight and the longest bridge in the world over ice-covered waters. There are no bridge tolls entering PEI, but the return toll at this time is $40.50 (CAD). For current information (wind and traffic conditions, tolls, etc.) on the Confederation Bridge, go to: Via Nova Scotia: The regional hub for the Maritime Provinces is Halifax, Nova Scotia (NS). Charlottetown is located 190 miles north of Halifax via the Northumberland Strait ferry, or 233 miles via New Brunswick and the Confederation Bridge. Halifax International Airport (YHZ) is served by Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, CanJet, WestJet, Provincial, Air St. Pierre, Continental, American, United, Northwest, and Delta airlines. The Northumberland Strait ferry (services on-board) is a relaxing 75 minute trip from Caribou, NS to Wood Islands, PEI. The ferry is $59.00 (CAD) per car round trip and passage is available on a first come, first served basis. For Northumberland Ferry routes, fares, and schedule information, go to: Canadian/US Exchange Rates The Canadian to U.S. dollar exchange rate is approximately 1.11 Canadian dollar (CAD) to 1.00 U.S. dollar (USD) at the time of this publication. Please note currency rates are subject to fluctuation. Canadian Port of Entry For visa requirements for non-U.S. citizens or other Canadian entry information, see http://www.cic.gc.ca or contact the nearest Canadian consulate. At this time, no visa is required for U.S. citizens entering Canada from the U.S. You will, however, need: (1) Proof of your U.S. citizenship such as:
If you are a naturalized U.S. citizen without a passport, you should travel with your naturalization certificate. Alien permanent residents of the U.S. must also present their Alien Registration Card, or “Green Card.” (2) Photo identification, such as a current, valid driver’s license (also currently needed for US air travel). (3) Due to international concern over child abduction, single parents, grandparents, or guardians traveling with children often need proof of custody or notarized letters from the other parent authorizing travel. (This is in addition to proof-of-citizenship as explained above.) Travelers without such documentation may experience delays at the port of entry. Please note that you will need to meet both conditions in items (1) and (2) above to enter Canada. Return to the United States Although US citizens are not required until Jan. 1, 2007 to have passports for air and sea re-entry into the United States from Canada, it is highly recommended that a U.S. Citizen be prepared to present documentation such as valid or expired U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or Naturalization certificate to avoid delays at the American border. Please note that the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has preclearance facilities at 7 Canadian Airports (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver). This means that you pass through US customs while still in Canada, and disembark at your destination in the US as if you were on a domestic US flight. Although often more convenient for final arrival, connections through these Canadian airports can require more time than might be expected for a simple gate change. Please insure your connections allow for the additional time required. For further information or updates on US entry or re-entry requirements, see: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/documentary_req.xml Visitor Tax Refund Non-residents of Canada may be able to receive a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that they pay for purchases and short term accommodations while in Canada. For more information on this program for visitors to Canada, please go to:
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