• Registration for the symposium is opened
• The early bird registration deadline is 31^st March 2024, offering reduced registration fees for those who register early.
• Regular registration will continue to be available until 31^th May 2024.
• On-site registration may also be an option for those who decide to attend at the last minute, but it will be subject to availability.

Early bird registration :

• Student (with valid student ID) Early Bird Registration Fee: 280$ CAD* (+15% taxes)
• Non-student Early Bird Registration Fee: 450$ CAD* (+15% taxes)
• Student (with valid student ID) Regular Registration Fee: 350$ CAD* (+15% taxes)
• Non-student Regular Registration Fee: 550$ CAD* (+15% taxes)
• Accompanying person: 250$ CAD* (+15% taxes)
• One-day Registration Fee: To be determined (For attendees who can only participate for a single day in Rimouski)
• Only virtual registration: 200$ CAD (+15% taxes)
• Additional fees will apply for the final banquet 80$ CAD (+15% taxes)

What’s Included in the Registration Fee :

• Access to all scientific sessions, keynote lectures.
• Symposium materials, including a program booklet, a name badge, etc.
• Welcome reception at Musée régional de Rimouski on June 16th 2024.
• Outdoor picnic in parc national du Bic on June 17th 2024
• Coffee breaks and lunches during the symposium.
• Field excursion to Atholville and Miguasha on June 21st-22nd, 2024
• Transportation from hotel to conference site
• Round-trip transportation from Rimouski to Miguasha

How to Register :

• To register for the symposium, use our official symposium website at https://uqar.regfox.com/17iselv
• Click on the « Registration » or « Register On-line » link to access the registration portal.
• Follow the provided instructions to complete your registration, including providing your personal and payment information.
• You will receive a confirmation email upon successful registration, which will serve as your proof of registration.

Payment Options:

• We accept payment via credit card and exceptionally with bank transfer. Details for payment methods will be provided during the online registration process.
• Please note that all registration fees must be paid in advance to secure your attendance at the symposium.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

• If you need to cancel your registration, please refer to our cancellation and refund policy https://uqar.regfox.com/17iselv
• Refunds may be available for cancellations made before the specified deadline, subject to a processing fee.

By Air :

Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) :

• Montréal’s main international airport, located approximately 550 kilometers (342 miles) southwest of Rimouski.
• While not the closest airport, it may offer additional flight options. From Montreal, you can consider the following options to reach Rimouski:
• Renting a car and driving to Rimouski (approximately 6 to 7 hours).
• Taking a connecting flight to Mont-Joli Airport (YYY) in Rimouski. Not many flights and expensive.
• Taking a bus from downtown Montréal to Rimouski (approximately 8 hours) (https://www.orleansexpress.com/en/). To connect from airport to downtown: taxi (approx. 50 $CAN), uber or bus 747 (downtown terminus, approx. 10 $CAD).
• Taking a train from downtown Montréal (Gare Centrale de Montréal) to Rimouski (approximately 8 hours) (https://www.viarail.ca/en). To connect from airport to downtown: taxi, uber or bus 747 (downtown terminus).

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) :

• This airport is located approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) southwest of Rimouski.
• You can book a domestic flight to Québec City and then consider the following options to reach Rimouski:
• Taking a connecting flight to Mont-Joli Airport (YYY) in Rimouski.
• Renting a car and driving to Rimouski (approximately 3.5 to 4 hours).
• Taking a bus from Québec City (Sainte-Foy) to Rimouski (approximately 4 hours)

Mont-Joli Airport (YYY) :

• Mont-Joli Airport is the closest airport to Rimouski, located approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) of the city.
• Few domestic flights connect to Mont-Joli Airport; most internal flights in Canada are expensive.
• The organizing committee can plan to pick up people at Mont-Joli airport
• Taking a taxi from Mont-Joli Airport (YYY) to Rimouski (phone: (418) 775-4343) approximately 75-80$ CAD.

By Train :

VIA Rail (VIA Rail Canada: Train travel in Canada) :

• VIA Rail offers train services to Rimouski from various Canadian cities, including Montreal and Quebec City. There are only three trains per week to Rimouski: departure on June 14th at 19h00, arrives June 15th at 02h54; or on June 16th 19h00 arrives in Rimouski June 17th 02h54. Departure from Rimouski will have to be on June 24th.
• The train journey provides a scenic route along the St. Lawrence River and can be a comfortable and picturesque way to reach Rimouski. For a regular seat (non-refundable) it is approximately $162.00 round-trip, whereas for a regular seat (fully refundable) it is approximately $206 round-trip.

By Bus :

Orléans Express (Orléans Express : intercity transportation coaches (orleansexpress.com) :

• Orléans Express is the only bus company that provides intercity bus services to Rimouski from major cities in Quebec, including Montreal and Quebec City. There are two departures from Montreal to Rimouski per day. On June 16th: 07h00 (arrives at 14h05 in Rimouski) and 11h00 (arrives at 18h45 in Rimouski)

By Car :

Driving :

• Rimouski is approximately a 6-hour drive from Montréal, and a 3.5 to 4-hour drive from Québec City.

Return trip to Montréal :

The symposium concludes with a field trip to Miguasha.  We will provide the bus service to Rimouski on June 23^rd.

Please take into account the time it takes to travel from Rimouski to any airport you are departing from, and please book transportation means of your choice early.  The bus will arrive in Rimouski around/past midday of June 23^rd.  For that reason, we recommend you book your return flight for June 24^th at the earliest.

There is a sleeper train service from Campbellton, New-Brunswick (30-minute drive from Miguasha) to Montréal.  The train will depart from Campbellton around midnight and arrive in Montréal the next morning.  The train will depart from Campbellton around midnight and arrive in Montréal the next morning. There is a train scheduled to depart on the night of June 23rd (23h18) and arrive in Montréal in the morning of June 24th (09h53).  VIA Rail also runs service to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).  For the participants returning on the train, we will shuttle you to Campbellton VIA Rail station (VIA Rail Canada: Train travel in Canada).

Participants for the pre-conference fieldtrip

Departure: Montréal, early in the morning of June 14^th

We recommend booking your flight to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).  The fieldtrip starts early in the morning of June 14^th.  Therefore, you should arrive by the evening of June 13^th at the latest.

We will drive participants to Rimouski in time for the symposium.  You do not have to arrange for the transportation to Rimouski.

Participants for the post-conference fieldtrip

Departure: The fieldtrip will depart from Miguasha/Carleton-sur-Mer early in the morning of June 23^rd.  You will be picked up at the conference accommodations.

The fieldtrip will end in Halifax, N.S., likely in the evening of June 27^th.

Return trip: You may book your return flight from Halifax International Airport or Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).

Halifax International Airport: Your return flight should be on June 28^th at the earliest.

Halifax to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL): We will drive through Rimouski and Montreal on the way back from Halifax.  Therefore, it is possible to drop you off at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).  This might make your travel easier if you plan to book a return trip to and back from Montreal.  Please consider, however, that this drive will take a day and a half, so it is safest to book your return trip for June 30^th (or very late for June 29^th).  Please consult the field trip leader (Tetsuto Miyashita : TMiyashita@nature.ca) if you have any concerns.

Local Transportation :

• Rimouski has local transportation options, including taxis and rental cars, to help you get around the city during your stay. There will be congress shuttles between the main hotels and the university. https://www.rimouskibus.com/pages/citebus

Visa Requirements :

• Depending on your country of origin, you may need to check the visa requirements for Canada and ensure you have the necessary documentation for entry.
• The organizing committee will provide an official invitation letter if your visa application requires one.  Please contact 17ISELV@uqar.ca

We are pleased to announce that we have secured preferential rates for symposium participants at two convenient and comfortable hotels in Rimouski from the 16^th to the 21^st of June (Hôtel Rimouski Centre des Congrès and Le Navigateur) as well as one hotel in Carleton-sur-Mer for the 21^st and 22^nd of June (Hôtel Baie-Bleue). These hotels offer a range of amenities and are situated in close proximity to the symposium venue, ensuring a pleasant and convenient stay for our attendees.

In addition, while being in Rimouski, we secure 10 units at the university dorms (we might be able to have access to additional units). Each unit includes 4 rooms with single beds and a shared living room/kitchenette. The dorms are at less than 10-minutes’ walk from the conference room at the university.

IMPORTANT: Make sure that you have your reservation for Rimouski as well as for Carleton-sur-Mer

Hotel Rimouski Centre des Congrès
225, boul. René-Lepage Est, Rimouski (Québec), G5L 1P2; hotelrim@hotelrimouski.com

• Benefit from a reduced symposium rate of 189.25 $CAD (159.00 plus taxes) per night.
• To make a reservation, please contact the hotel directly at 1 (418) 725-5000 or visit their website at Hôtel Rimouski Centre de congrès | Bas-Saint-Laurent | Vacances (hotelrimouski.com).
• The promotion code to benefit from the reduced symposium price is 17ISELV.
• Be sure to mention that you are attending the 17^th International Symposium on Early and Lower Vertebrates to secure the preferential rate.

Le Navigateur
130 Avenue Belzile, Rimouski (Québec), G5L 3E4; info.chn@chotels.ca

• Benefit from a reduced symposium rate of 188.06 $CAD (158.00 plus taxes) per night for either regular rooms (25 rooms) with one King bed or regular rooms (10 rooms) with two Queen beds).
• To book your stay, kindly reach out to the hotel by calling 1 (418) 724-6944 ext. 0 or send an email to info.chn@chotels.ca
• The promotion code to benefit from the reduced symposium price is 240621UQAR.
• Be sure to mention that you are attending the 17^th International Symposium on Early and Lower Vertebrates to secure the preferential rate.

Les résidences de l’UQAR (University dorms)
329-a Allée des Ursulines, Rimouski (Québec), G5L 8X3; logeuqar@uqar.ca

• Benefit from really advantageous rates: Student rate for one room is 45 $CAD/night (taxes included) and 250 $CAD/week (taxes included); Non-student rate for one room is 50 $CAD/night (taxes included) and 280 $CAD/week (taxes included)
• Reservations can be made directly with the hotel by contacting them at 1 (418) 723-4311 by sending an email at logeuqar@uqar.ca
• Be sure to mention that you are attending the 17^th International Symposium on Early and Lower Vertebrates to secure the preferential rate.
• Check their website at https://residencesuqar.com/reservation-estivale/

For the 21^st and 22^nd of June, the last two days of the conference you will have to make you reservation of Hôtel Baie-Bleue (Hotel Baie Bleue Carleton Gaspe coast conference center) à Carleton-sur-Mer.  We secured a series of rooms (single occupation, double occupation and suites). Make your reservation as soon as possible.

• 482 boulevard Perron, Carleton-sur-Mer (Québec), G0C 1J0; info.chn@chotels.ca
• Benefit from a reduced symposium rate of 213.05 $CAD (179.00 plus taxes) per night.
• To book your stay, kindly reach out to the hotel by calling 1 (418) 364-3355
• Be sure to mention that you are attending the 17^th International Symposium on Early and Lower Vertebrates to secure the preferential rate.

Please note that the availability of rooms at these hotels may be limited, so we recommend booking your accommodations early to ensure that you receive the preferential rate. Additionally, please make your reservations directly with the hotels as indicated above.

We believe that staying at these recommended hotels will enhance your overall symposium experience by providing convenient access to the venue and a comfortable place to rest after a day of engaging discussions and presentations.