Local Information

Travelling to the City of Waterloo


ISSAC 2016 will be held at the Waterloo campus of Wilfrid Laurier University. The city of Waterloo is easily reachable by air and ground transportation. The campus is approximately a 25-minute drive away from Waterloo International Airport, 70 minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport, and 80 minutes from John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport.




Airport Transportation

From Waterloo International Airport, the campus is most easily reached (if not renting a car) using one of the local taxi services: United Taxi, City Cabs, or Waterloo Taxi; for which the approximate cost of taxi trip will be $40.00.

From Toronto Pearson International Airport or John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, the campus is most easily reached using Airways Transit. Airways Transit connects Toronto Pearson airport with the Waterloo area providing 24/7 door to door shared ride service. For Toronto Pearson airport transfers we have obtained a reduced conference fare of $69.00 per person, one way, tax included. To receive the reduced fare you must book in advance and your travel dates must correspond to the event dates.

Book online at: http://conferences.airwaystransit.com
Enter booking code: ISSAC 2016 (enter exactly as shown).
By phone 24 hrs: 519 886 2121 – Identify yourself as an ISSAC 2016 delegate.

Hotel Information

Hotel Laurier

Conveniently located only steps away from ISSAC 2016 sessions, residence accommodation is an ideal and economical choice. The dormitory style residence contains private bedrooms (with single beds) and semi- private washrooms. The rate is $60.00/night and includes a hot breakfast, wireless Internet and parking. We invite ISSAC 2016 participants to experience the Laurier campus. For more information or to reserve accommodation email hotel@wlu.ca or call 519-884-0710, x3958.


Comfort Inn Waterloo

This hotel is located about 1km away from the conference venue. We arranged a special discount for ISSAC 2016 participants (Booking-ID: 2367508), which comes to $109.00/night before taxes. This rate would be eligible for any room on the site, whether a standard second floor or an upgraded ground floor room. All mentioned rooms would feature fridges and microwaves, as well as access to our upgraded WiFi service and complimentary on-site parking. While the Comfort Inn does not feature a complimentary breakfast, there is an Angel's Family Restaurant directly attached to the lobby. This restaurant does open at 7:00 AM offering guests breakfast options starting at $4.39 and they also offer guests a 10% discount off all regularly priced menu items. Their website can be viewed at www.angelsdiner.ca. Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room at the reduced rate.


Delta Waterloo

This hotel is located about 2km away from the conference venue. We arranged a special discount for ISSAC 2016 participants (Booking-ID: 85454). Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room at the reduced rate.


Four Points by Sheraton Waterloo-Kitchener

This hotel is located about 3km away from the conference venue. Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room.


The Waterloo Hotel

This hotel is located about 1.5km away from the conference venue. Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room.


Courtyard by Marriott

This hotel is located about 5km away from the conference venue. Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room.


Homewood Suites by Hilton Waterloo-St.Jacobs

This hotel is located about 5km away from the conference venue. Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room.


Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo

This hotel is located about 5km away from the conference venue. Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room.


Holiday Inn Express

This hotel is located about 5km away from the conference venue. Please visit this link to obtain more information and to book a room.

Parking and Local Info

For getting around on campus, you may see campus maps for a reference.

Information about regulations concerning parking on campus can be found on the WLU website (scroll down to "Parking During the Day"). Click here for a map highlighting the different available parking spots.

In addition to the aforementioned local taxi services, one may travel in Region of Waterloo using Grand River Transit. Wilfrid Laurier University is serviced by routes 7, 8, and 12 on University Ave. W. and King St. N, or 7, 8, 12, 29, 200, 201, and 202 at University Ave. and Hazel St. Google Maps can be used to find routes that are accessible with GRT transit. At any individual bus stop, you may text the number 57555 with the 4-digit stop number (found on the bottom of a stop's sign) to receive a list of upcoming buses. Alternatively, a system map and route schedules are available on Grand River Transit's Web site. Intercity transit service is provided by GO Transit, VIA Rail Canada, Greyhound Canada, Coach Canada, and Aboutown.

Local recommendations on various activities is provided below. More comprehensive recommendations may be found on the Web sites of Region of Waterloo, Explore Waterloo Region, City of Waterloo, City of Kitchener, and City of Cambridge. Furthermore, Great Canadian Holidays offers a number of tours that may be organized before or after the conference.


Restaurants and Markets:


Museums and Galleries:


Theatres and Cinemas:


Shopping:


Recreation:


Science Building Floor Map:

Visa Information

In order to find out if you will require a visa to enter Canada, refer to Government of Canada's Find out if you need a visa to enter Canada as a visitor page. Nearby Canadian embassies and consulates may be found on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada's Canadian Offices Abroad page.

If you need a visa to enter Canada and you have an accepted paper to present at ISSAC 2016, then we will issue an official invitation letter to you. In order to receive the said letter you are required to submit the following documentation:

  1. a scanned copy of your passport,
  2. your institutional postal address,
  3. your institutional email address, and
  4. the title of your accepted paper to be presented at the conference.

This documentation is to be sent to Eugene Zima with the subject line "Request for ISSAC2016 visa invitation letter". The conference will be unable to process your request for a visa invitation letter if any of the documentation items are missing. If you require an official document, for funding purposes, stating that you will be travelling to Canada to attend ISSAC 2016, please send the request also to Eugene Zima. Please ensure that the aforementioned matters are dealt with as early as possible in order to allow sufficient time for unexpected difficulties or delays.