Dress Code
Your BSA Convention Committee has planned a casual convention. A resort casual policy with regard to daytime meeting dress codes includes the following:

• Men - slacks, open neck, banded collar or polo shirts, sweaters, walking shorts, no ties/jackets.
• Women - slacks, skirts, blouses, sweaters, walking shorts, open neck banded collar or polo shirts.

Dress for the Tuesday evening dinner dance will be cocktail attire for the ladies and coat and tie for the men. Keep in mind that although the weather can reach the 70ºF's, the overnight temperature can drop to a cool 50ºF. In addition, meeting rooms tend to be cooler than the outside temperature. A jacket or sweater may be necessary.

BSA Anti-trust Policy
To read more about the BSA Anti-trust Policy, click here. (If you can not view the PDF file, you will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
2005 convention committee

BSA extends special thanks to the hard working 2005 Convention Committee: Craig and Diane Gipson, Jim and Linn Little, Steve and Lynne Durston, Steve Sivo, Farrokh Khalili, Tom and Pam Miller.

Driving Instructions

United States/Canada Border to The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver:

• Take Highway 99 north to Vancouver.
• Follow Highway 99 north until it becomes Oak St. in Vancouver.
• Travel along Oak St. until you reach Broadway.
• Turn left onto Broadway until you reach Granville St.
• Turn right onto Granville St. and go over the Granville St. Bridge.
• Turn left onto Drake St., the first stoplight after the Granville St. Bridge.
• Follow Drake St. two blocks to Hornby St..
• Turn right onto Hornby St.
• Proceed along Hornby St. to the Hotel Vancouver (on left), ½ blocks past Robson St., beside the Avis Rent A Car sign. Vancouver International Airport to The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
• Leaving the airport, follow signs to City Centre via Granville St.
• Follow Granville St. until you have crossed the Granville St. Bridge.
• Once over the bridge, turn left onto Drake St., the first stoplight after the Granville St. Bridge.
• Follow Drake St. for two blocks until you reach Hornby St.
• Turn right onto Hornby St.
• Proceed along Hornby St. to the Hotel Vancouver, ½ blocks past Robson St., beside the Avis Rent A Car sign.
• Turn left into the driveway for the Hotel Vancouver.

Parking

The hotel's parking facility is adjacent to the hotel and is underground.

Valet parking: $26.00/night, including in-and-out privileges as of June 01, 2004.

Visitors may also use the street parking for a maximum time of two hours. It is metered from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week.

Car rental facilities are conveniently located just steps from the terminal on the ground floor of the parkade. Companies operating their vehicle pickup and return services directly from these facilities include:

• Budget Rent-a-Car
• Avis Rent-a-Car
• Alamo Rent-a-Car
• National Car and Truck Rentals
• Hertz Canada
• Thrifty Car Rental
• Rental Cars
• Alamo (800) GO ALAMO
• Avis (800) 831-2847
• Budget (800) 527-0700
• Dollar (800) 800-1000
• Enterprise (800) 736-8222
• Hertz (800) 654-3131
• National (800) 227-7368
  

Other Transportation
Taxis charge a metered rate based on time and distance travelled, the approximate fare to downtown Vancouver is $23-$26 (inclusive of all taxes) under normal conditions.

Airporter
Phone (Vancouver only): 604.946.8866
Phone (outside the Vancouver area): 1.800.668.3141

The Airporter provides bus service to major hotel destinations in Downtown Vancouver, the Canada Place Cruise Ship Terminal and the Bus Depot/Train Station.

Departure times from the Airport:Every 15 minutes from 9:00 to 20:00 and every 30 minutes, from 21:15 to 23:30. The Airporter bus is located on the International and Domestic Arrivals Level curb. No reservations required.

Tickets may be purchased at the Airporter counter, their pick up locations or on the motor coach.

Fares One-Way Round Trip
Adult $12.00 $18.00
Child $5.00 $10.00
Senior $9.00 $17.00
Family* $24.00 $36.00
(* Family fare is 2 adults/2 children 16 years & under)

Further information on service, schedules and fares may be obtained from the Airporter counter located on the International and Domestic Arrivals Levels, their web site, www.yvrairporter.com, or by calling the telephone numbers noted above.

Goods and Services Tax Visitor Rebate
The goods and services tax (GST) is a 7% tax charged for most goods and services sold or provided in Canada. As a visitor to Canada, you will pay the tax on most of your purchases. Under the visitor rebate program, you may get a refund of the tax paid on goods and accommodations in Canada, provided it is less than one month per lodging establishment.
You qualify for a tax refund if:

• You are not a resident of Canada.
• The total of your purchase amounts (before taxes) for eligible goods and accommodation must be at least $200.00 CAD
• Each individual receipt for eligible goods shows a minimum total purchase amount (before taxes) of $50.00 CAD
• You have your original receipts.
• You apply for the refund within one year of purchasing the qualifying goods and accommodations.
• Full conditions are outlined in the website.
  For more information: Call 1 (800) 668-4748 (within Canada) or Call 1 (902) 432-5608 (outside of Canada)
• Email your inquiries :
• Visit their website: www.
• Rebate Program Mailing Address:
  Summerside Tax Centre
  275 Pope Road
  Summerside, PE
  C1N 6N6

Under the Visitor Rebate Program (VRP), non-Canadian residents who have purchased goods while visiting in Canada are eligible to receive a rebate on the goods and services tax (GST) paid. CBSA - Canada Border and Services Agency administers this program.

To obtain a GST rebate, passengers must present the purchased goods and their accompanying receipts to Canada Customs for validation prior to check-in and going through security. Once the receipts have been validated (stamped), Canada Customs will advise passengers on options for obtaining the tax rebate.

The Visitor Rebate Offices are located on Level 2 and 3 of the International Terminal Building.

During the day 06:00 - 21:00 / 7 days per week: across from the USA check-in counters in the East Concourse. During the evening 21:00 - 06:00 / 7 days per week: Level 2 Arrivals location is adjacent to the 'Elephant & Castle Restaurant'.

Entry Regulations

United States Citizens: US citizens and permanent residents require a birth certificate, a resident alien card or a green card together with picture I.D. or passport to enter Canada. A driver's license is NOT accepted as proof of citizenship.

International Visitors: Persons visiting from countries other than the United States must have a valid passport and may require other documentation such as visas. Check with the nearest Canadian Consulate well in advance of travel.
The above information applies to persons entering Canada temporarily as visitors. Other regulations apply if an extended stay, work or certain types of business activity are contemplated.

Customs & Duty Free
All persons entering Canada must fill out a declaration for Canada Customs.
Each visitor over the age of 19 may import, duty free, a maximum of 40 ounces (1.1 litres) liquor or wine, or 288 ounces (8.5 litres) of beer or ale, up to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes and 8 ounces (200 grams) of tobacco.

Revolvers, pistols, and fully automatic firearms are prohibited entry into Canada. Non-restricted firearms (which must be declared) are a regular sporting rifle or a shotgun with a barrel over 470 mm (18.5 in.) with a maximum overall length of 660 mm (26 in.).

For more information contact:
Revenue Canada, Customs and Excise
Regional Office
333 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 5R4 Canada
604.666.0545 available 24 hours
Dial "0" for an officer available 08:00-16:15, Mon - Fri

Arriving from the U.S.A.

1. Follow the Canada Arrivals signs to Canada Customs and Immigration.
2. Baggage may be claimed immediately following passport inspection. To determine which carousel contains the baggage from your flight, check the baggage information display screens that are located on each carousel. Free baggage carts are located near each carousel.
3. After claiming your baggage, you will exit the customs hall and you will next enter an area known as the International Reception Lobby. This area has:
   • Banking and foreign exchange
   • Ground transportation services
   • Tourism Information
   • Check-in counters for connecting flights within Canada
   • Cruise ship information counters
4. Proceed through the automatic opening doors to the public meet and greet area.

Departing to U.S.A.
U.S.A. Departures are from Gate E in the International Terminal.

1. Check in at your respective airline counter. Use the screens located above the check-in counters to determine where your airline is checking in.
2. Proceed through the Duty Free store to the U.S. Customs and Immigration Preliminary Inspection Line.
3. Once through U.S. Customs, drop off your baggage and enter the airline security checkpoint.
4. Proceed through security to your appropriate U.S.A. departure gate.
   http://www.yvr.ca/index.asp

Passengers departing Vancouver International Airport are required to pay an Airport Improvement Fee ("AIF"). The AIF for travel commencing from the Main and South Terminals is collected on airline tickets.

Fee schedule

• $5 for passengers travelling to a destination within British Columbia or the Yukon.
• $10 for passengers travelling to other North American destinations.
• $15 for passengers travelling to destinations outside North America (including Hawaii and Mexico).
  

Where AIF Revenues Are Used
As a not-for-profit organization, the Airport Authority has no shareholders and receives no government guarantees. The Airport Authority re-invests all earnings in airport development and service improvements.

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