Canadian Congress on Leisure Research 2026

 Top 5 Things to Know

1. Registration opens May 19 at 12:00 PM in the Newcastle Island Lobby located inside the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) at 101 Gordon Street. 
2. Walk with Me Preconference Event: Meet in the Newcastle Island Lobby at 1:45pm. 
3. Opening Reception on May 19th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, hosted by      Leisure/Loisir at the Nanaimo Museum located at 100 Museum Way (on the 2nd floor of the Conference Centre). 
4. All  Congress sessions take place at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Refer to the Congress program for details. The venue is fully accessible      with elevators and barrier-free access. 
5. All  lunches are included in your registration, along with coffee breaks, and  receptions. Outside food & beverages are not permitted     inside the Conference Centre. 

If you have any questions or need assistance during the Congress please email Jenn at wlce@viu.ca

Congress Registration Location: Newcastle Island Lobby, Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) 101 Gordon Street (directly across from the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel)

• Hours:
  • May 19: 12:00 AM – 5:00 PM, then at the opening reception from 6:00 PM – 8:30  PM
  • May 20–21: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
• Your name badge must be worn at all times. 
• WiFi  will be available at the VICC, and login information will provided onsite. 

Food & Beverage

• Lunch is included in your Congress registration, along with light refreshments provided during scheduled breaks (refer to the schedule for details). 
• If you indicated dietary needs during registration, we have made every effort to accommodate them. 
• Outside food & beverages are not permitted inside the Conference Centre. Please feel free to bring a      reuseable water bottle. 

Getting Here & Transportation

• The VICC is within a block or two of most downtown hotels, and is approximately 2.6kms from the VIU dorms. 
• Public  transit, Uber, URide and      taxis are available, however may be limited. 
• Paid parking is available under the conference centre and at all hotels. 
• If you plan to explore Nanaimo or Vancouver Island, a vehicle rental will be required. 

Translation

• Plenary session translation will offer translation via the ZOOM app. Delegates are encouraged to bring their headphones and a personal phone/device to facilitate translation as required. Downloading the ZOOM app to your  device in advance is recommended. 

Nanaimo Information

• Weather: Expect mild coastal conditions (approx. 15–20°C); layers are recommended.
• What  to Wear: Business casual; comfortable shoes encouraged
• Nanaimo  is known for its harbourfront walkway, and it is steps away from the VICC in the heart of downtown Nanaimo. 
• All CCLR attendees have FREE access to the Nanaimo Unlocked Delegate Pass through Tourism Nanaimo. This provides discounts and special offers for Nanaimo experiences, delivered through your mobile device. 
• For Trip planning support visit www.tourismnanimo.com 

If you have any questions or need assistance during the Congress please email Jenn at wlce@viu.ca

CCLR will take place at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) at 101 Gordon St. 

Conference Highlights:

• Walk with Me Story Walk - Tues May 19 from  2:30pm - 4pm. No cost to participate.
• The opening reception, celebrating 50 Volumes of Leisure/Loisir on Tues May 19th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Nanaimo Museum (in the VICC)
• The conference will formally commence on Wed May 20th 
• A dine around Nanaimo option on Wed May 20th (advance registration) 
• The Reception immediately follows the concurrent  sessions on Thurs May 21st  (food & beverages included)
• The conference will conclude by 3:30pm on Fri May 22nd.

Special rates have been negotiated with both Air Canada and WestJet for travel into Nanaimo (YCD) for CCLR. 

Air Canada | Promo Code CGGU9T61

The booking is to be made to Nanaimo (YCD). The travel period begins Tues, May 12, 2026 and ends Fri, May 29, 2026.

For North America' 5% applies on standard fares, 10% on flex fares & higher. For International Travel' 10% on standard fares & higher. 12% discount on Business Class fares (exception: 5% on the lowest Business Class).

___

WestJet | Promo Code 5S1C7BV

5% off Econo* and 10% off EconoFlex and Premium base fares for travel within Canada and between Canada & US

No discount will apply to Ultra Basic or Business class bookings. Please visit www.westjet.com to make a booking online and ADD the promo code.

The booking is to be made to Nanaimo (YCD). The travel period begins: 5/12/2026. The travel period ends: 5/29/2026.

Hotel Accommodation 

Courtyard by Marriott Hotel (steps from the VICC)
Available from Tues, May 19 - Sat, May 23, 2026.
$219.00 CAD per night - Last Day to Book: Sun, April 19, 2026

Book your group rate for Canadian Congress of Leisure Research 

Coast Bastion Inn (150m from the VICC).

$249.00 CAD per night - Last Day to Book: Fri, April 17, 2026. BOOKING CODE IS 1301072

Phone:  1-800-663-1144

http://coa.st/CanadianCongressofLeisureResearch

Vancouver Island University Dorms

Accommodations are also available at VIU if dorm-style is preferred. 

$85 per night, per person (taxes included). Single occupancy room with twin bed and private washroom.

Access to shared kitchen and lounge within the building.

Weekly rate: $450 (taxes included)

To book at VIU email:  eventservice@viu.ca 

Story Walks are guided experiential journeys foregrounding the voices of People With Lived and Living Experience.

CCLR delegates can participate in a Story Walk on Tues May 19 from 1pm - 4pm. 

There is no cost, and advance registration is required. A minimum of 12 to a maximum of 25 people can participate. 

Individuals gather together in a space hosted by the Walk With Me team where they are invited to sit in circle. We introduce ourselves and our work and speak to the weight of the crisis and the gravity of the stories. Following this introduction, we invite participants to don wireless headsets and walk together on a guided audio journey while listening to the voices of People With Lived and Living Experience and their allies (static listening options are available). We walk together over and under bridges, through parks, in residential and industrial areas while allowing the stories to ‘wash over us’. The act of walking, we have found, enables various layers of processing to occur. Following the walk, participants gather together again in-circle, and are offered food (usually chili or soup). Together we process the insights shared during the walk, and co-create new ways forward.