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AYA Convention 2009, Red Deer Alberta |
Please check back often as content is added. Last Update: 5-07-2009
OVERVIEW
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The next annual AYA convention will be held in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada on July 13, 14, 15, and 16, 2009. This is a Monday through Thursday format with Monday being the arrival day similar to the past few conventions. The name of the airport is Red Deer Regional (CYQF) and it is located adjacent to the city on the southwest edge.
Planning is well underway and there will be all of the usual events and activities in which to participate. The location in western Canada is a great spot for a convention and your convention co-chairs; Steve and Margaret Peach, and Don and Pat Metz, are working hard to make this a great convention and vacation experience for everyone attending. |
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Red Deer is located between Calgary and Edmonton with the majestic Rockies to the west and mysterious Canadian Badlands to the southeast. Being Alberta’s third largest city Red Deer is the hub of activity for over 200,000 people who call central Alberta their home. Whether you seek peace and tranquility, new and exciting experiences, a home away from home or prefer to explore the city, Red Deer and its neighbouring communities offer a variety of arts, culture, heritage, entertainment and recreation experiences. Red Deer is known for its beautiful parks and its people. Friendly people who are pioneering and adventurous; they are passionate volunteers, have a love and respect for nature and are committed to achieving success. They are fiercely proud of their community and the quality of life it affords. So, whether traveling for business or pleasure, on your own or with a group or family, you’ll find an inviting, thriving city ready to entertain and be of service. |
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One of the advantages of having the annual AYA convention in a different location each year is the opportunity to see and experience new sights and attractions.
More than once I have heard individuals say that going to and from the convention is half of the fun. That is quite a statement considering how much fun we have just at the convention!
Make plans to be in Red Deer, Alberta, this July and look for more convention information in future Stars and here. |
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AIRPORT FACILITIES
The Red Deer Regional Airport was built during World War II to train Allied forces. The airport was a former Canadian Air Force pilot training base for NATO pilots until 1965.
The Military built the training airfield at this site because of the predominantly good flying weather and the uncongested airspace. Both factors are still valid today. The Red Deer area boasts good flying weather over 95% of the year.
The City of Red Deer took over operation of the airport in 1965 and the Province extended the main runway 16/34 to 5528 feet in 1980 bringing it up to "737" standards. The ownership of the airport was taken over on September 1st, 1999 by the Red Deer Regional Airport Authority which includes the City of Red Deer, Red Deer County and the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce as stakeholders. 
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NOT FOR NAVIGATION
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For more airport details:
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CONVENTION ACCOMMODATIONS
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Our convention hotel for AYA 2009 in Red Deer, Alberta, is the Capri Hotel Trade and Convention Centre. It is located about 11 minutes from the airport. |
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The Capri Centre is the largest first class all-inclusive Conference Centre in Central Alberta. Catering to business and leisure travelers, we have maintained industry-leading standards of excellence by offering an award-winning combination of services, value and comfort. The Capri Centre is the single most functional location for your group, convention, banquet, seminar, meeting or tradeshow, providing: 219 luxury rooms on fourteen floors, 55,000 square feet of meeting space, three dining venues, Bellinis adult lounge, VLT lounge and Billy Bob’s Country Music Dance Hall.
Amenities Include:
Free parking
Wireless Internet
In-Room Demand and Video Games
Heated Outdoor Pool
219 Luxury Bedrooms
21 Meeting Rooms to accommodate up to 3,000 Delegates
34,000 Sq. Ft. of Exhibition Space
12,000 Sq. ft. Column Free Ballroom
Full Catering and Banquet Facilities
Convention Services Office |
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The Capri is now accepting reservations for AYA 2009. The room rates for July 12 -17 inclusive are:
- $110CDN for a standard single queen
- $135CDN for a superior two queens, and
- $150CDN for a deluxe king
Please call 1-800-662-7197 and mention you are with the American Yankee Association. The cutoff date is June 12, 2009. |
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The hotel is hosting a BBQ Sunday evening for
everyone who has arrived. Time and place will be provided closer to
convention time. Make plans to join your AYA family and friends in Red Deer now. Expect to spend some time relaxing and visiting with old and new friends alike.
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A currency converter is located here.
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CAMPING:
Camping is allowed, the location is not good. Contact don@aya.org if you want details.
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CONVENTION TRANSPORTATION
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Many of the regular convention attendees are familiar with the needs of transporting individuals between the airport and convention hotel and know what to expect. However, for many of the first time convention attendees, this question often gets asked “Do I need a rental car?”
The answer is no. You can attend all convention activities at the airport and the hotel using transportation provided by AYA 2009. We will be using rented vans to move attendees between all of the events and activities including the convention hotel. This includes the arrival day, Monday, as well as the departure day on Friday and all days in between. With the close proximity of the hotels and airport, any waiting times should be relatively short.
The convention hotel has restaurants and lounges along with the normal hotel amenities you would expect. You can experience all the convention has to offer without the added expense of a rental car.
With that said, many attendees choose to have a rental car to add to their convention experience. This allows access to more restaurants, shopping and other sight seeing activities in the area. If you do choose to rent a car and you find yourself going somewhere, consider asking someone to join you, especially if you see they have on a 'first timers' ribbon. It is a great way to make new friends and leave a lasting positive experience with a first timer to boot. |
RENTAL CAR INFORMATION
CONVENTION VOLUNTEERS
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One thing that has been overwhelming for the convention chairs is the number of volunteers who have come forward and asked to help with convention events and activities. As with past conventions, it is all of the volunteers, not the convention chairs, who make the convention a success.
Volunteering is a way of becoming a part of the convention and not just an attendee. It adds a new dimension to the convention experience, just ask anyone who has volunteered at a past convention. It could be that volunteers do so just to get the pin given out, but I think it is an indicator of the calibre of individuals that make the AYA the best type club out there.
We are putting together our volunteer list so if you would like to help out please contact us at aya2009@aya.org or editor@aya.org.
Star Squad
by Margaret Peach, Convention Co-chair
Everyone wants to be a kid again for AYA convention 2009! Red Deer, Alberta, is a small city with a great deal going for it. There’s so much to do it was difficult to narrow our list for Star Squad activities. If you are bringing children to the convention or if you are a kid at heart, here are some of the activities we’ve got in mind for the younger crowd.
On Tuesday we’ve set aside time for everyone to explore the Transportation Museum in Wetaskiwin, a small community NE of Red Deer. Adults may wish to take some time to read the exploits of intrepid aviators in the Aviation Hall of Fame, but the kids will have fun on an automotive assembly line or watching a film at the drive-in theatre.
Later in the week our resident authority will explain the basics of Geo-caching, a hugely popular sport. Bring along your hand-held GPS and learn about a family-friendly activity that can be enjoyed almost anywhere. We’ll search for one of many Red Deer ‘caches’ and you can record your first ‘find’.
The Red Deer area has several great waterparks, indoors at Collicutt Centre or on the beach at Sylvan Lake. But if the weather’s good, we plan to take the Star Squad to experience a very unique waterslide at Discovery Canyon. Please have your children bring water shoes or an old pair of sneakers they can get wet. Flip flops aren’t sturdy enough for this kind of outdoor fun.
The kids will be active again at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. This interactive museum has many interesting sports to try – you can even attempt wheelchair racing! The Kerry Wood Nature Centre is another interesting place for kids and adults. There are nature trails to explore and a small hands-on interpretive centre, so you can learn a little bit about Alberta in a fun way.
All these activities have been planned for Star Squad, but we need volunteers and a Star Squad Team Leader to come along and help supervise the kids. You can sign up for all of the events or if you wish to reserve some time for yourself, that’s fine too. The AYA has had a wonderful record of fun activities for kids at the conventions. Please help us keep the fun going! Contact don@aya.org to volunteer.
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RED DEER ATTRACTIONS
The Red Deer Visitor's Guide is available here.
Welcome AYA members to
Red Deer for
your 2009 convention!
We are honoured that
you have chosen our community to visit. Tourism Red Deer is dedicated to ensuring that your
visit is enjoyable and memorable. The Tourism Red Deer Visitor Centre is a resource to visitors and
residents who seek information about what to see and do in and around Red Deer from our friendly
information counsellors and large selection of travel publications, and maps.
The Visitor Centre also has a snack shop and gift shop, which has a great
selection of Red
Deer souvenirs. For more information please visit www.tourismreddeer.net
Enjoy your stay in
beautiful Red
Deer. We look forward to seeing you again
soon!
Darren
Kuz
Executive
Director
Tourism Red
Deer
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For more information, visit the Tourism Red Deer web site, here. |
OTHER ATTRACTIONS IN THE RED DEER VICINITY
This summer, holiday in Alberta! If you are coming to the AYA convention in Red Deer, Alberta, why not plan to stay longer and enjoy some of the many things the province has to offer. Alberta is the perfect holiday destination for families; there is a huge variety of things to do. Here are some suggestions:
Calgary: Come early and enjoy the famous Calgary Stampede! Contact Pat Metz- information below …
Calgary is a vibrant city; especially during Stampede the streets come alive. Bring your cowboy hat and a big appetite for ‘flapjacks’ and fun! While there, visit the excellent Calgary Zoo, or learn about pioneer history at Heritage Park. See the city from the top of the Calgary Tower, and be sure to explore nearby Art Central, then relax downtown in the lovely Devonian Gardens. Take in an equestrian event at Spruce Meadows or drive south of the city to learn about native culture at Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump. Lots of information awaits you at www.tourismcalgary.com or www.discovercalgary.com
Banff: an hour’s drive west from Calgary brings you to some of the world’s most spectacular mountain scenery. The tourist communities of Banff and Lake Louise are definitely worth a visit, not to mention the many scenic hikes and drives in the area. The following sites will help you plan your trip to the area: www.canadianrockies.net , www.Banff.com or www.banffalberta.ca.
Red Deer: Our convention city has lots more to offer than we’ll have time to see during the time we are there. Perhaps you would like to spend a few extra days in the area. Beginning on July 16th, Westerner Days brings you all the action of a parade, rodeo, midway and lots more. Runners will love Waskasoo park, a huge park system developed along the river throughout the city, as it offers some 100 kms of trails for jogging, hiking biking, horseback riding. If the weather turns cool, Collicutt Centre has a wave pool, waterslide, running track, fitness centre, climbing wall and much more. Just outside the city north of the airport is the charming Popovich’s Dinner Theatre. Advance reservations are needed, as it fills up quickly. (www.RichardandDeborah.com ) Shoppers will love to browse Bower Place mall, just a few blocks from our convention hotel, but there are many ‘big box’ stores nearby as well. Plan to spend a few hours browsing in the charming small shops and coffee shops downtown on or near Ross Street between 49th and 52 Ave. While you are there, be sure to watch out for ghosts! Downtown Red Deer is the home of a delightful collection of bronze sculptures, which tell you about the city’s past. A self-guided Ghost and Mural Walking Tour is available at http://downtownreddeer.com/. You may find several other interesting pieces of public art as well..On Highway #2 South, look for Cindy’s Tea Room and Gift Shop, which has a wonderful collection of tea pots and Christmas items. Or, if you are in the city on the weekend, visit the Red Deer Farmers’Market Saturday morning for local flavour. Check out other ideas for the region at www.travelAlbertaCentral.com or consider the following day trips:
Just 19 km (11 miles) to the west of Red Deer is Sylvan Lake, central Alberta’s tourist gem. Here you will find clean sandy beaches, boat and jet ski rentals and lake cruises. On a hot day nothing is better than a day at Wild Rapids Water Slides. www.wildrapids.ab.ca or www.sylvanlake.ca will give you information .
South of Red Deer is the town of Innisfail and the Discovery Wildlife Park (www.discoverywildlife park.com) where you can see how animals are trained for movie work. Here you can get ‘up close and personal’ with bears or tigers.
160 km (just less than 100 miles) from Red Deer takes you to the spectacular badlands of Drumheller. Anyone interested in paleontology would find the Royal Tyrrel Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, worth a visit. Plan to stay in Drumheller to take in the Passion Play or the nearby Rosebud Dinner Theatre. www.traveldrumheller.com should pique your interest in this fascinating area.
Or, head 92 km (57 miles) east of the city to Stettler, to board an excursion train of vintage rail cars and engines (both steam and diesel) for a day filled with attractive scenery, great food and entertainment. www.absteamtrain.com. You won’t be sorry you did! North of Red Deer in the town of Wetaskiwin is the Reynolds Alberta Museum and Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame.
A little further north of Red Deer is the city of Edmonton, site of the famed West Edmonton Mall (www.westedmontonmall.com) . WEM, spanning an area of 48 city blocks, continues to draw crowds to its waterpark, amusement park, ice rink, casino, hotel with theme rooms, over 800 shops and many other attractions. The fire-breathing dragon in the cinema complex is not to be missed. Edmonton has many other tourist attractions including an excellent science museum, the lovely Muttart Conservatory, historic Fort Edmonton and the Ukranian Cultural Heritage Village. It is truly a city of festivals and is sure to have something going on any time you visit. (the Street Performers Festival is scheduled for July 3-12 next summer). Check out www.edmonton.ca or www.edmonton.com for more information.
Alberta is a large province with a great deal going for it. We take our summers seriously here! There is so much to see and do – why don’t you plan to bring the family and stay for a while! Red Deer Westerner Days July 15 – 19
This is an annual fair and exhibition that happens each July. It kicks off on the Wednesday of convention with a parade at 9:30am in the morning and goes until Saturday, with the fair grounds opening at noon each day. It is held at the Westerner Park, just a short drive from the Capri Hotel. Some of the highlights are:
Midway, Concessions, Market, Arts Pavilion, Red Deer College-Summer Series of Art, Beer Garden, Family BBQ area, Children’s Zone, free Midway Entertainment, Children’s Entertainment, concerts at the arena (line-up will be released later in May-ticketed event).
The Agri-Centre holds all the agricultural shows and events. Each evening there are pony Chuckwagon Races.
Our AYA Convention schedule is quite full, but you may want to stay over an extra day on Friday and take in some of these events. Information on their website, www.westernerdays.com will not be updated until June.
OPTIONAL PRE-CONVENTION WEEKEND AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE
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Tickets for the Calgary Stampede Rodeo and Chuckwagon Races/Grandstand Show
You are in for an afternoon of ‘rockin’ rodeo’ and an evening of ‘chills and thrills’ at the Chuckwagaon races followed by the ‘spectacular’ Grandstand Show! The block of tickets held for AYA are on Saturday, July 11th. Prices in Canadian currency.
Rodeo $75.50. AYA price including 10% discount, taxes and surcharge, is $77.35
Chuckwagon Races and Grandstand Show $92.50. AYA price including 10% discount, taxes and surcharge, is $93.41
There is an additional charge of $3.15 ($5.25 if tickets are being mailed outside Canada/USA) per ORDER. Order could be for 20 tickets or 2 tickets – same price. To get the discount you must order by phone, not online. DEADLINE FOR THIS BLOCK OF TICKETS IS APRIL 30th.
After April 30th they will have released our block of seats into general ticket sales. If you call after April 30th you will still
get 10% on any other seats if you say you are with the AYA. This offer expires June 30th.
Toll free, 1-800-661-1767 will get you directly to the ticket office. You must identify yourself as AYA to get your group discount.
If you go to www.calgarystampede.com it will take you to the Stampede site for the 10 day festival. Go into events and you can look into Rodeo, Chuckwagaon Races and Grandstand Show. Pat has a limited number of videos of the 2007 Grandstand Show that she could mail out if you would like to see the show. Contact her at pmetz@calgarystampede.com
Hope to see you at ‘the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’, the Calgary Stampede!
Calgary is a western city of over a million people, is 90 road miles south of Red Deer. Pilots are encouraged to use the Calgary/Springbank airport(CYBW) when stopping in Calgary. (The Calgary International has a landing fee of about $40 for our size planes.) Customs is available on the field, there is no landing fee, services and Budget rental cars are available.
A block of hotel rooms have been reserved at the Regency Suites Hotel (1-800-468-4044) in downtown Calgary, and a special rate has been arranged for AYA. Room rate is $161, plus 5% hotel/tourism tax and 5% GST. Identify yourself as AYA when you make your reservation.
One
bedroom suites, located downtown close to Light Rail Transit for easy access to
Stampede Park. (Bringing vehicle is not recommend). Separate bedroom
along with pull out couch in living room, kitchen. No restaurant in
hotel, but there is one across the street and many more in the downtown
area. Close to shopping, river walk, Prince's
Island. Lots of activities going on each day downtown during Stampede,
including free pancake breakfasts throughout the downtown area.
Only 25 rooms available at this rate to AYA. DEADLINE TO BOOK AT THIS RATE IS JUNE 1.
This is a special corporate rate that has been extended to AYA, regular rate would be $245. Please note there is an additional daily car parking fee.
Comparison Internet rates on hotels near Stampede Park: (rates do increase throughout the city during the Stampede)
Best Western 3630 Macleod Trail S. $279 plus tax & GST
Comfort Inn 4611 Macleod Trail S. $200 plus tax & GST
Holiday Inn 4206 Macleod Trail S. $195 plus tax & GST
Hotel Arts Downtown 119 -12 Ave SW $265 plus tax & GST
Sandman Inn Downtown - 888 - 7 Ave SW $243 plus tax & GST
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Patricia Metz for additional information at pmetz@calgarystampede.com or 403-261-0129 daytime, 403-258-3135 evenings. |
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
Convention Christmas Ornament
by Carolyn Brown, Simi Valley, CA
Once again you may have the opportunity to purchase an ornament commemorating this year’s convention. It will be 24K gold over brass and is designed to be similar to the ornament offered at last year’s convention. The cost will be about $15.00 if we can get 100 orders. For an order of 50 the unit price would be about $28.50. If you are interested please contact Carolyn Brown at (805) 577-1391 or Carolyn.O.Brown@kp.org. If there is enough interest an order will be placed. A previous ornament is viewable at http://www.goosepond.com/aya, although this picture does not do justice to the actual ornament. |
AYA SCHOLARSHIP AUCTIONS
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LIVE AUCTION
This year we will have a live auction with all proceeds going to the AYA Scholarship Fund. The auction will follow immediately after the General Membership Meeting on Wednesday evening.
Bring any new or used items that you would like to donate to the auction and give them to the convention chairs. This is always a lively and fun event and is a great way to contribute to the AYA Scholarship Fund.
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Last Update: 05-07-2009
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