General Conference 2008

Participants should receive an agenda in the mail within the next couple of weeks. However, a brief preview of the 2008 schedule includes Bible quizzing finals; worship sessions with music by Nathan Stonge and Jeff Harden; evening messages from national and international BIC leaders, including Mirta Colloca (co-pastor of Vida Abundante BIC Church in Miami, Fl.) and Danisa Ndlovu (bishop of the Zimbabwe BIC Church); flavorful Sunday morning worship at a number of diverse local BIC congregations; and meetings to address a number of important doctrinal issues.

Of course, those coming from the United States and other parts of Canada will have an opportunity to explore Toronto! One of the most exciting, diverse cities in North America, Toronto features a number of local attractions: the CN Tower, the Toronto Zoo, Canada’s Wonderland amusement park, Ontario Science Center, Casa Loma Historic Castle, and much more. Plus, Toronto’s thriving downtown district features restaurants, shopping, theatre, and more. Visit the Ontario Tourism website for more information about Toronto attractions.

I’m bringing children or teens to General Conference 2008. What will they do?

General Conference staff members have been working hard to create full programs for children and teens at General Conference 2008. Please continue to check the General Conference website for a preview of events for kids (ages 4 to 11) as well as youth (ages 12 and above). A nursery facility for children ages 0 to 3 will also be available.

Is there an alternative driving route from the U.S. to General Conference 2008?

Those driving from locations within the United States and entering Canada from Buffalo, N.Y./Niagra Falls or Detroit, Mich., may have been instructed (via services like MapQuest or Google Maps) to take Canadian HWY #401 or the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). While both of these non-toll thoroughfares provide a route to the Sheraton Parkway Hotel (the location of General Conference 2008), another option exists for travelers looking to shave time off their journey.

Those interested in a more effective, less congested route to the hotel may want to consider HWY #407. A highly modern toll highway, HWY #407 links to both HWY #401 (eastbound route) and the QEW (northbound route) and provides access without the hassle of traffic. Unlike other toll highways, HWY #407 does not utilize manned booths; instead, strategically placed cameras photograph the car’s license plate and send a bill in the mail. The route provides quick access with limited traffic.

Those taking HWY #407 should use the Leslie Street exit for connection to the Sheraton Parkway Hotel.

Visit the HWY #407 website for a map of the route as well as toll prices.

General Conference 2008 is being held in a major city. Will I have to put up with a lot of city driving?

The Sheraton Parkway Hotel, location of General Conference 2008, is not located in the city of Toronto proper; the hotel is located in Richmond Hill, a suburb of the city approximately eighteen miles from downtown Toronto. While the city remains easily accessible by car or public transportation, concerned drivers may rest assured that hectic city driving will not pose a problem in Richmond Hill.

Where is Richmond Hill?

Richmond Hill is a suburb of Toronto in York County, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and approximately eighteen miles from downtown Toronto. One of the fastest growing communities in Canada and a very ethnically diverse area, Richmond Hill serves a large Chinese population and features a number of ethnic restaurants. Other attractions in Richmond Hill include the Richmond Hill Sports Centre and Park (with baseball diamonds, a skating rink, a 300 person amphitheatre, and a skateboard park) and the Richmond Hill Heritage Center (a museum of the town’s history).

Geographically, southern Richmond Hill is home to most of the town’s hotels, as well as the main commercial area of the town's Chinese community. The northern section is considered Old Richmond Hill, a historical area. Central Richmond Hill is a very commercial area, housing multiple malls, plazas, and entertainment buildings, such as theatres and restaurants.

(Information courtesy of Wikipedia.org)

Is there a shuttle running from Toronto Pearson International Airport to General Conference 2008?

The Sheraton does not provide a shuttle from the airport to the hotel; however, General Conference participants who are flying into Toronto Pearson International Airport (approximately 20 miles from the hotel) may wish to take advantage of a shuttle service generously provided by volunteers from local BIC congregations. If you are flying to General Conference and will need a ride from the airport, please contact Lois Mason at lmason@bic-church.org as soon as possible.

I have people from my church who cannot attend General Conference 2008. How can they stay up-to-date on the proceedings?

Staff of the denomination’s Communications Office will maintain an online weblog, providing daily updates on general conference events, meetings, and other gatherings. In addition, Communications staff hopes to stream live video from the evening worship sessions. Check the website for developments in this area.

What will the weather be like in Toronto in June?

While online services like Weather.com, which provides up-to-the-minute forecasts as well as temperature highs and lows, will be more helpful as the conference draws closer, the weather in Toronto in late June normally stays around 70-75ºF (21-23ºC).

Does Toronto have a public transportation system?

Toronto has a very efficient public transportation system, including subway and bus routes, administered by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Those interested in utilizing public transportation from the Sheraton Parkway Hotel to sites throughout the greater Toronto area have three options.

Drive south on HWY #404 to Fairview Mall. Free parking is available at the mall for the TTC. The Don Mills subway stop is at the mall, and users may ride from Don Mills to anywhere in the Toronto subway system. (This is the shortest option.)
Drive west along HWY #7; turn left onto Yonge Street to the Finch subway station. This is the second closest option; however, users leaving from the Finch station must pay for parking. Users may ride from Finch to anywhere in the Toronto subway system.
Drive west along HWY #7; turn left onto Dufferin Street (becomes Allen Road expressway) to the Yorkdale Shopping Center. The Yorkdale subway station is at the mall. Users may ride from Yorkdale to anywhere in the Toronto subway system.

All three routes provide easy access to the heart of downtown Toronto (Union Station).

TTC provides both day passes (for individuals and families) as well as weekly passes. Click here for details on the day pass. Click here for details on the weekend passes.

Click here for a map of the Toronto subway system.

What is the current U.S.-to-Canadian exchange rate?

If you’re from the U.S., you can find an up-to-the-minute exchange rate quote at XE.com. Currently one U.S. dollar is equal to 0.987768 Canadian dollars.

Travelers may wish to use a debit or ATM card to withdraw money from a local ATM upon arrival; however, travelers should also be aware that some ATMs may have fees charged by the local bank, your own bank, or the credit card company. Travelers may also use credit cards at the point of sale (exchange calculated by card issuer during purchase, and some additional fees may apply); travelers are encouraged to contact their individual card issuer(s) before using the ATM abroad.

Traveler’s cheques provide an additional alternative.

The Sheraton Parkway Hotel is conveniently located across the street from a number of banks offering currency exchange services. In addition, a currency exchange kiosk can be found in the nearby Times Square building, located at the intersection of HWY #7 and Leslie Street.

Other important reminders

U.S. residents driving to and from Canada should remember to bring proof of citizenship. New U.S. border laws require individuals age 19 and older who are entering the U.S. by land to present documentation that proves both identity and citizenship. (Individuals age 18 and younger must only provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.) A complete list of acceptable documents is available at the Department of Homeland Security website.
U.S. residents flying to and from Canada should remember to bring their passport. New U.S. border laws require all U.S. citizens—including children—to present a passport or secure travel document when entering the U.S. by air.
A reminder to those from the U.S. : Canada uses the metric system in measuring temperature, speed, weight, volume, and other quantities. A free, easy online conversion can be completed at OnlineConversion.com. If driving, please pay careful attention to speed limit signs; remember that 100 km/hr = 60 mph, 80 km/hr = 50 mph, etc.

Still confused about General Conference 2008? Need more information? Looking for additional details? Feel free to send your queries to bic@messiah.edu. We’ll try and get back to you as soon as possible; we might even post your question (and its answer) on the site. Chances are that if you have an unanswered question, somebody else has the same one!

WELCOME