Important Travel and Transportation Information
Travel Reminders
Please see the Embassy and Visa Tab to see if you will need a travel visa to enter Canada. It is recommended to apply for the visa 12 weeks in advance of travel.
As of March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada are expected to have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travelers with a valid Canadian visa. To determine if you need to complete an ETA, click on the link below.
Electronic Travel Authorization Information.
Please familiarize yourself with Canada's requirements for entry into the country regarding COVID-19. Use this link for the very latest: Government of Canada's COVID-19 Requirements.
Air Transportation
If you need to book your air travel, Keystone Symposia has partnered with United Airlines to offer participants with a discount on airfare. Please email info@keystonesymposia.org for discount code and information. MileagePlus members earn Premier Qualifying Dollars and miles for their travel.
Ground Transportation
PLEASE NOTE - 72 hours advance reservation is required to guarantee travel, and rates are offered 3 days before and 3 days after the conference meeting dates.
Click here for October conference booking link.
Alpine North Limousine offers private car service transportation to/from Whistler. They specialize in 4x4 SUVs (max. 5-7 passengers), SEDANs (max. 3 passengers) and VANs (max. 11 passengers).
Transfers include Meet & Greet service at the airport, complimentary bottled water, and any short stops along the way (max. 15 minutes at no extra charge). There is a 48-hour cancellation policy, but changes are flexible to meet the needs of your particular itinerary.
Getting Around
- Drive east out of the airport on Grant McConachie Way
- Follow signs for Highway 99 North over the Arthur Laing Bridge onto Granville Street
- Follow Granville Street until you have crossed the Granville Street Bridge
- Take the Seymour Street exit, and follow Seymour Street north to Georgia Street
- Turn left onto Georgia Street heading west
- Georgia Street takes you through Vancouver's lovely downtown core, through Stanley Park and over the majestic Lions Gate Bridge
- Exit Lions Gate Bridge onto Marine Drive West
- Once on Marine Drive, move into the far right lane
- Take the first right onto Taylor Way, travel up the hill and turn left onto Highway 1
- Follow the signs and take Exit 2 (just before the ferry terminal) to Whistler Hwy 99
- Turn right onto Whistler Way, the Conference Centre is on the right
- Distance is approximately 119 km (74 miles)
- The drive takes approximately 2.5 hours, depending upon road and traffic conditions
View Map from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler Conference Center
Embassy & Visa Information
Due to the constantly changing nature of travel, we urge people to research their own travel requirements. This includes Passport and Visa requirements, documentation for re-entry into country of residence and any other identification needed. Please allow sufficient time in advance of the meeting for processing of all necessary documentation.
Most foreign nationals need a temporary resident visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. To find out if you need a TRV or eTA to travel to Canada, see: Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada. Here is a list of all countries that require visa or eTA
Please refer to IRCC website to learn about a TRV and the process to apply for one. If you do need to apply for a TRV, you will want to alert Keystone Symposia to request an invitation letter with an event code, if applicable. You will also want to send your full name, as it appears on your passport, citizenship and your Visa application number when you obtain it. email info@keystonesymposia.org with this information so that we can submit to the Canadian visa officers on your behalf.
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
- You will be prompted to either sign in using your GCKey user ID and password, or through a sign-in partner. If you don’t already have an account you can create one by clicking 'Register“ under the 'Don’t have an account?” section.
- Once you are signed in you will be prompted to answer a series of questions to determine your eligibility to apply for a visa. If you are eligible to apply for a visa, you will be prompted to the complete the visa application form (IMM 5257).
IMPORTANT: Tag your visa application (Form IMM 5257) with the special event code. In the ‘Details of Visit to Canada’ section, select: ‘Other.’ For question ‘1a) Purpose of my visit,’ enter the special event code into the free text box in ‘1b) Other’.
Please note that visa applications are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the information presented by the applicant. The onus is on the applicant to show that they meet the requirements for a temporary resident visa. While a special event code has likely been assigned to the event, it does not offer any advantage to the applicant, in terms of a positive visa outcome. The applicant must meet all the eligibility criteria in order to receive a visa. Participants are encouraged to apply at least 12 weeks in advance of their departure date to ensure they receive the visa in time for the start of the event.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Since November 10, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada. Exceptions include U.S. citizens, and travelers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents are not eligible to apply for an eTA. Refer to the guide for more information on how to complete your eTA application.
For U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, click here.
To locate an Embassy near you, click here.