HOW TO GET THERE:
1. FLYING: Fly to Vancouver Airport (YVR), then fly from Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Nanaimo Airport (YCD) (35 min flight). Rent a car or take transit to the hotel.
2. FLYING, DRIVING, FERRY: Fly to Vancouver Airport (YVR) , then rent a car and drive to Horsehoe Bay in North Vancouver (approx 1 hour). Take a ferry to Nanaimo. (2.5 hour ferry). Take transit or drive to the hotel.
3. FLYING, TRAIN, FLYING: Fly to Vancouver, then take the Canada Line train to Waterfront station downtown Vancouver (40min train). Then fly with Harbour Air from Vancouver Harbour to Nanaimo Harbour. (20 min flight). Walk to the hotel or take a taxi.
4. FLYING, DRIVING: Fly to Victoria, BC. Then drive to Nanaimo (2 hour drive)
PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE DETAILS
Registration Deadline May 1, 2023
Thursday May 25,2023
4:00-7:30 pm Conference Registration @ Coast Bastion Hotel - free time for delegates, dinner on your own
7:30-10:00 pm Welcome Reception at Nanaimo and District Museum
Speakers: Mayor Leonard Krog Plus other dignitaries
Coffee and sweets, wine and cheese included
Friday May 26, 2023
8:00-9:00 am Registration packages available for pick-up. Free time for delegates, breakfast on your own
8:30-9:30 am Danish Canadian Museum Board Meeting (board members only) Coast Bastion Malaspina Room
9:30-11:30 am Danish Canadian Museum Annual General Meeting - all conference delegates welcome - Malaspina Room
11:45 am-12:15 pm Cannon Firing Ceremony at the HBC Bastion on the waterfront
Everyone welcome / Group photo
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch at the Lighthouse Bistro
1:45 pm Walk to Newcastle Island (Saysutshun) ferry dock - 10 minute walk along the Sea Wall
2:00-5:00 pm Newcastle Island Prov. Marine Park (Saysutshun) Presentation and Tour
Speaker & Host: Bill Merilees "History of Newcastle Island"
Tour points of interest, optional trail walk, group photo on the island
5:00-7:30 pm Dinner on your own. Tentative: ferry over to the Dinghy Dock Pub, Canada's only "floating Pub"!
7:30-10:00 pm Danish Canadian Museum Social, Silent & Live Auctions - Coast Bastion Malaspina Room
Wear a Danish outfit or Viking costume
Prizes for Best Dressed! Our judges are subject to bribery so have some fun!
Cash bar / Group Photo (so dress up!!)
Saturday May 27, 2023
8:00-9:00 am Free time for delegates breakfast on your own
8:30-9:30 am Danish Federation Board Meeting (board members only) - Malaspina Room
9:45 am-12:15 pm Danish Federation Annual General Meeting - all conference delegates welcome - Malaspina Room
Reports given by individual clubs
12:30-2:00 pm Lunch Coast Bastion Hotel Malaspina Room
2:15-3:15 pm Danish Federation Board Meeting (Board Members only)
2:00-5:00 pm Free time - walking tour options available
5:00-10:00 pm "Det Store Kolde Bord" hosted by Vancouver Island Danish Club - Bowen Park Auditorium
Danish dinner buffet ("Sild og Akvavit"!)
Dancing to a live band, Cash Bar
Catered by Big Apple Catering (Per & Vivian Maltesen) in association with Henny Andersen
Sunday May 28, 2023
8:00-9:00 am Free time for delegates, breakfast on your own
9:00 am Meet in hotel lobby for bus to Cathedral Grove, Coombs and Little Qualicum Falls
9:15-11:30 am Cathedral Grove Forest and Park Tour, MacMillan Provincial Park
Group photo with "The Monarch" at Cathedral Grove
Noon Return to Coast Bastion Hotel
12:30-3:00 pm Farewell Lunch and Closing Ceremony, Malaspina Room
Danish Federation 'Fane' handed to the Danish Lutheran Church of Toronto
FEES - per participant, $422 total if attending all sessions
$145.00 Conference Registration Fee per participant ($10 discount if registered by Mar 31/23)
- includes facilities for all sessions, conference package, 1 copy of the Heritage Book
$ 35.00 Welcome Reception Thurs May 25, Nanaimo & District Museum
- includes museum admission, wine, cheese
$ 29.00 Lunch, LIghthouse Bistro. Fri May 26
FREE Danish Canadian Museum social and silent auction, Fri May 26
$ 20.00 Newcastle Island, Fri May 26.
- includes ferry, presentation and tour
$39.00 Lunch, Sat May 27, Coast Bastion Hotel Malaspina Room
$65.00 "Det Store Kolde Bord" dinner and dance to live music. Sat May 27
$50.00 Cathedral Grove forest & parks tour, incl Coombs and Little Qualicum Falls, Sun May 28
$39.00 Farewell lunch & Closing, Sun May 28
To register: email tom.hedekar@telus.net
FEDERATION OF DANISH ASSOCIATIONS IN CANADA
39th National Conference, Nainaimo, BC
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS (scroll below for details)
Thurs May 25:Evening Welcome Reception
Fri May 26: Danish Canadian National Museum presentations, ending with an exciting presentation and silent auction.
Sat May 27: Danish Federation AGM and in the evening “Det Store Kolde Bord” with mouthwatering delicacies, beer and snaps.
Sun May 28: Bus tour to Cathedral Grove with the impressive grove of giant trees, ending with lunch at the Coast Bastion Hotel
Mon May 29 to Fri June 2: Stay longer for the Heritage Seminar hosted by Rolf Christensen of the Danish Federation! (booked separately)
The Vancouver Island Danish Canadian Club in Nanaimo, BC
will host the Danish Federation Conference.
Thurs May 25 to Sunday May 28, 2023
(followed by The Heritage Seminar Mon May 29 to Fri June 2)
Dear Members and Friends
The Vancouver Island Danish Canadian Club takes great pleasure and pride in welcoming you to beautiful Vancouver Island, often described as one of the Top Ten islands in the world!
Following years of Covid postponement, we are finally able to host the long awaited Federation of Danish Associations in Canada annual Conference & AGM here in Nanaimo on May 25 – 28, 2023.
In the late 1890’s, Danish immigrants to Canada formed a colony at Cape Scott, settling at the very northern tip of Vancouver Island, now known as Cape Scott Provincial Park. The Danes established a school, church and general store. Sadly, after some years the colony failed, but not for want of trying by those hardy souls.
To pay tribute to these pioneers we have chosen the theme of the conference to be:
"Vikings on the Island: We Came, We Saw, We Stayed!”
"Vikinger på Øen: Vi Kom, Vi Saa, Vi Blev!"
Those early settlers are now survived on Vancouver Island by countless numbers of Danes as evidenced by the presence of clubs like ours in both Nanaimo and Victoria.
Welcome to Vancouver Island! See you in Nanaimo!
Tom Hedekar Club President and Chair of the 2023 Conference & AGM Host Committee
CONFERENCE FEES:
$412 if you choose to attend the conference and bus tour to Cathedral Grove
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo - a 6 minute walk from Nanaimo Harbour (Airport) or 7 min drive (12 min Bus) to the Nanaimo Ferry
https://www.coasthotels.com/coast-bastion-hotel
$179 + tax for single or double occupancy