Friday, June 10, 2011

It's Time!

Well today CMESG 2011 at Memorial begins! Please make your way to the Inco Innovation Centre (a few weeks ago this building was renamed the Bruneau Centre) to pick up your registration package and to make payment if you have not done so. You will receive your receipt, your name tag, your login and password for wireless access (if you have not already received it from the residence), some refreshment tickets for tonight's reception, some goodies from Memorial and the Faculty of Education, and a schedule that includes the room numbers for the sessions. There will be some nourishment offered to you at this time (fruit, granola bars... things you can take with you) and the opening session will begin at 5:00 pm in the lecture hall (now called Innovation Hall) of the Inco Centre followed by the opening plenary by Chris Palmer at 6:00 pm. Our reception will follow.

Please spend some time considering the offerings of the six working groups, because during tonight's opening session we will need to get a sense of the size of each group so as to assign an appropriate sized room. This would not be necessary if all our rooms were the same size but we have some larger rooms and some smaller rooms and we would like to match our groups as best we can. You will certainly be able to change your mind between tonight and tomorrow morning but it would be helpful for us to have a rough idea.

Here is the conference program online.


See you soon!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Did you know....

... That Memorial University campus buildings are linked by an underground tunnel system?

  • That's right! You can come to the working group in your pyjamas! You will receive a map of the MUNnel system in your conference package at registration.


...That Newfoundland is not part of the Maritimes?
  • Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, well after the Maritime provinces of PEI, NS, and NB were established as 'the Maritimes.' Newfoundland is part of Atlantic Canada.  (This question might be on the test, so take note).

... That a person from Newfoundland is called a Newfoundlander?
  • Shorter versions of this term is highly discouraged in many social circles! 
... That a great deal of caution is required for driving at night in Newfoundland due to moose
  • Moose have been roaming the city all spring, so do not be surprised if you see one during your visit, and please be very cautious driving outside of the city at night. Your mother would not be impressed if she knew... and I might tell her.
... That a person from St. John's is a townie? (Usually called this by a bayman.)

... That a person who lives 'round the bay' is a bayman? (Usually called this by a townie.)

... That the best way to remember how to pronounce Newfoundland is with the same timing and emphasis as the word Understand?  So say it with me, "un der STAND New fun LAND" Capiche?

... That RDF means 'rain, drizzle and fog'? You got it. Hopefully for not much longer or we will need to hold up pictures of the ocean and the coastline during the bus tour. 

... That if someone calls you burnt or cracked  they are not exactly complimenting you?

... That the Newfoundland Screech Comedy Festival will run June 15th-19th? If you can extend your stay, it will be well worth it! 





Monday, June 6, 2011

Whales!

Hi all,

Just wanted to let you know that whales have been spotted in the bays just north of St. John's this week (Flatrock and Torbay) so hopefully they will pop up to say hello during your visit.

Please make sure you bring a sweater and a rain jacket (preferably with a hood) for your time here.

 If you bring an umbrella you will stand out as a CFA (Come From Away) because the wind is not too kind to umbrellas...  more soon.