Conferences

*Events:* National Conferences CdLS Canada - National Conference 2005 The national conference for CdLS Canada was held on the weekend of September 16/17, 2005 in Ottawa Ontario. Dr. Alex Levin arranged for specialists in GI, genetics, nutrition & diet, as well as his own field of specialty: ophthalmology to be present at this conference. Dr. Levin is the staff ophthalmologist and associate professor in the Departments of Paediatrics, Genetics, and Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences at The Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto. Dr. Levin is also Co-director of Ocular Genetics Program, Chair of the International CdLS Scientific Advisory Council, and a member of the Board of Directors for CdLS Canada. In addition to the medical component at the 2005 National Conference there were workshops for parents of children/youths/adults with CdLS and a workshop for their siblings. The conference was a great success and plans for the 2008 National Conference will begin as soon as the International Conference is over. Location of the next National Conference will be announced at the International Conference in Niagara Falls, July 2007.


International Conferences The 4th CdLS World Conference will be held from July 25 to July 29th, 2007 at the Sheraton On The Falls Hotel and Conference Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. CdLS Canada is honoured to welcome you! It has been a long journey to get here but we are overjoyed to be hosting the 4th world conference of CdLS organizations, medical professionals, care-givers and families. "Canada"� is a Native American word that means "the meeting place"� and with this in mind we have chosen the famous Niagara Falls (one of the seven wonders of the world) as the backdrop for the 2007 world conference. Niagara Falls is the perfect place for all types of gatherings and family vacations. This conference will be a family oriented affair with a focus on your family's CdLS journey and the issues that occur in your day-to-day lives. Along with the CdLS conference there will be a Siblings Conference running alongside with family issues also as the focus. The doctors from the World SAC (Scientific Advisory Council) will be joining us and there will be workshops, presentations, consultations, Q & A sessions, not to mention all the wonderful and numerous festivities that are planned. What fun we have when we gather together! There will be many breakfasts, lunches and dinners shared. We are at our best when we work and learn together "family style!"� Please consider joining us for: "The Journey Of A Lifetime!"� ~ Bernadette Dalingwater, President CdLS Canada Who: All CdLS families from around the world! Also: Doctors, Caregivers, Researchers & Specialists What: 4th Cdls World Conference Where: Sheraton on the Falls ~ Ontario, Canada When: July 25th ~ 29th 2007 (professional sessions 25th ~ 26th) (family sessions 26th ~ 29th) Why: to learn, to share, to celebrate! Go to the RESOURCES page on this website to download a registration booklet! Medical Component Dr. Alex Levin, chair of the world SAC, has invited all the doctors who currently sit on the World SAC to join him in Niagara in 2007. There will be professionals from around the world presenting, and holding general sessions open to families and other professionals throughout the 5-day conference. There will be opportunities for families to have one-to-one doctor consults and small group discussions on a variety of topics. The theme of the conference is "day-to-day family life"� and there will be presentations regarding people with CdLS of all ages. The Professional/medical component of the 4th World Conference of CdLS organizations will be held on July 25 & 26, 2007 in conjunction with a broader medical symposium funded by the Miriam Foundation. For a registration form and information on the medical component of this conference please contact The Miriam Foundation through their website: www.miriamfoundation.ca or 514 345 0210 ask for Maydie. Sibling Conference The bond between siblings is usually the longest relationship a person has in their lifetime. Workshops for siblings have been included in most conferences yet due to time restrictions and a focus on other priorities these workshops usually run for only 60 or 90 minutes in length (for the whole conference). In 2007 the siblings' voice, both their concerns and celebrations, will be a strong component of this conference; in fact, siblings will have their own conference geared to exploring the many issues of being a sibling! There will be a 2-day mini conference that will include: workshops, seminars & presentations from international siblings, special outings & luncheons organized within walking distance (Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood, water parks, visits to the Falls) and other age-appropriate activities. When siblings gather together they are comfortable sharing & learning from each other. Siblings have hopes, dreams, questions & concerns for the future. This conference will offer support and connections that will last a lifetime! There will be groups of siblings aged: 7 to 12, 13 to 18, and adults. This is the conference to bring your whole family to. Girl Scout CdLS Childcare (all ages) This program is provided on-site for individuals with CdLS of any age. Participating for the 4th time at an International Conference, trained Girls Scouts from Bogota, New Jersey, have provided childcare for 18 US National conferences and are very familiar with the needs of people with CdLS. They have a great affinity for this work and are quite professional despite their youth. Arrangements can be made for bottle and G-tube feedings if your person with CdLS requires either service. Care for Toddlers and Preschoolers (ages 2 - 6 years) This program is available on-site for brothers, sisters or other relations of individuals with CdLS. This program has been a great success at the CdLS Canada National conferences and will once again be run by our own volunteer childcare provider: Bailey Dalingwater, with support from our network of family volunteers with toys, cots and other items donated by COSTCO Canada. This will allow the Girl Scouts to maximize services to people with CdLS while providing a safe and fun environment for children ages 2 to 6. Waterpark Fun (ages 7 - 18 years) Saturday July 28 This is an opportunity for children who are not enrolled in the Sibling Outings to join their friends and family for an afternoon of watery fun at the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. The cost for this program is $27.00 per child/youth. Needless to say this Outing will involve a lot of swimming so all participants must be able to swim. People with CdLS are welcome to attend this program for free however they too must be able to swim (with or without a life jacket or safety approved flotation device, ie: waterwings, swim diaper, etc.) and an adult caregiver (18 yrs +) must accompany the person with CdLS at all times. The registered caregiver is responsible for the safety and conduct of the person with CdLS as well as his/her own activity-related admission fees. You must be pre-registered to attend the conference. The deadline for registration is June 15, 2007.* Registration Fees: $40.00 for each adult (18+). There is no registration for designated caregivers, children, teens, or persons with CdLS. Conference Package Fees: $250 per adult or designated caregiver; $125 per child/teen (6 - 18). There is no conference package fees for individuals with CdLS or for children 0 - 5. To attend the world conference all attendees MUST pay the appropriate conference package fees and sign the release forms. If your home organization has pledged to pay for your conference package fees then please make sure that your organization knows that you and the members of your group are attending the conference and that you are ALL on their list prior to the deadline established by your home organization. You will be required to pay the fees of any individuals that your home organization does not pay for. Early Registration: Register for conference before January 31st, 2007 and receive 2 for 1 "Gala"� tickets (Purchase an adult, caregiver or teen ticket & receive a ticket of equal or lesser value FREE ). "Gala"� tickets are priced: $60.00 per adult or teen & $30.00 per child (6 - 12). Individuals with CdLS and children 0 - 5 are admitted to the "Gala"� evening at no charge. To qualify for early registration CdLS Canada must receive your registration information and fee payments by January 31st, 2007. Medical/Professional Registration: To register for the July 25 and 26 medical component of the CdLS world conference please contact The Miriam Foundation through their website at: www.miriamfoundation.ca Professionals may choose to attend either the Scientific Symposium held Wednesday & Thursday, or the sessions and workshops on Thursday, Friday & Saturday, or both. To attend the Thursday to Saturday portion of the CdLS world conference professionals MUST complete registration forms and pay the registration and conference package fees at the adult price ($40.00 registration/$250.00 conference package fees). *If registering after the June 15, 2007 deadline, please check for availability. Location!Location!Location! The Sheraton on the Falls hotel will host this 4th CdLS World Conference. Contact the Sheraton on the Falls directly to make your reservations by calling 1 888 229 9961 and mention that you will be participating in the 2007 CdLS World Conference. Please remember to mention the CdLS Conference when making reservations by phone to receive the discounted group room rate. To guarantee your room, you must provide the Sheraton on the Falls with a credit card number; or you may book your rooms for the conference through the internet by going to: www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/cdlscanada The hotel room reservation deadline is June 24, 2007. We expect rooms to fill quickly, so please make your reservations early!