It is my honor (and honour) to host the 18th biennial meeting of the Dictionary Society of North America this June, and a special pleasure to welcome all who attend the conference to McGill University and to the city of Montreal. Montreal is a very special place for all kinds of reasons, not least of which is the richesse of our linguistic ambiance! A great place to practice bonjour!
The conference venue is the McGill New Residence. A McGill University student residence during the academic year, it reverts to its original hotel status during the summer months. It is connected to an underground shopping centre that includes a photocopying service, dry-cleaners, a grocery store, a food court, a health club, and a variety of boutiques. We have arranged a special conference price for in-hotel accommodations; you must make your reservations directly with the hotel and mention the DSNA in order to get the conference price. We cannot ensure this discounted price any later than the end of April—be advised that the Montreal Grand Prix will be going on that weekend, and accommodations in the city will be heavily reserved in advance, so you should make your housing arrangements as early as possible. The conference site is handicapped-accessible, but if you have any special needs, please let me know. And of course, you are welcome to extend your stay to enjoy the wonderful features of the city of Montreal at your leisure.
The hotel is located right next to Parc Mont-Royal, in the section of the city known as the Plateau, conveniently close to both downtown and le Vieux Montréal (Old Montreal). You can check out the Biodome, the Botanical Gardens, the Museum of Fine Arts, and many other attractions in the area. If you like shopping for clothing, home decor, or books in French and English; listening to any kind of music; or eating in a fabulous array of restos—this is definitely the place!
As you will see from the draft program, the conference will include 43 outstanding papers, on a wide variety of lexicographical subjects, by members old and new from around the world.
At the conference site, an “author’s table” will be available—if you have your own books that you wish to sell at the conference, bring copies and help take turns staffing the “In Our Write” table. Please let me know in advance if you are planning to do this. We are arranging for publisher’s exhibits, including a special selection of books from The Word, Montreal’s premier academic second-hand book store. In addition, we have scheduled a special exhibit of works of lexicographical interest and a Thursday afternoon reception sponsored by the Rare Books Collection of the McLennan Library.
The banquet, on Saturday night, requires a specifically designated payment for a specially designed event! There will be lexicographical entertainment, door prizes, and rather decent food. In fact, we can promise that the coffee (a.m.) and tea (p.m.) breaks will be reflective of the great ethnically diverse cuisine of this city, and specially designed to promote networking.
Registration forms, travel information, and a link to the hotel website can all be found on this site. If you are flying to the conference and have not yet made airline reservations, please note that your destination airport is Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport, in Dorval, Quebec (YUL). Whether you are flying, driving, or taking the train, US citizens should remember that a valid passport, passport card, or Enhanced Driver’s License is now required for travel to and from Canada. For more information about this, visit the website of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative at www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/index.html. Please do not hesitate to write with questions, comments, or concerns, to Lise Winer, the conference organizer, at [email protected] or to Lisa Berglund, DSNA Executive Secretary, at [email protected].
Sincerely yours,
Lise Winer
Draft Program Schedule - Updated 7 June 2011