The Pacific Ocean has gifted us a relatively mild winter this year due to El Niño. Now spring has come and we will again turn our attention westward. The CUA annual general meeting will be held at the Bayshore Westin Hotel in Vancouver, BC from June 25–28, 2016.
The annual meeting has always been the highpoint of CPD activity offered by the CUA and this year will be no exception. We will have a full slate of visiting professors who will enrich us with state-of-the-art lectures, panels, and participation in educational forums. There will be ample opportunity for investigators to present their clinical and basic research in podium and poster presentations. Our industry partners will be on hand to bring to us the most up-to-date pharmaceutical developments and technology, which we can use to provide optimal care to our patients. All of this activity will be carried out in a collegial and relaxed venue, with the emphasis on interaction and discussion, to enhance your knowledge base. I would, at this time, like to thank and commend Dr. Ben Chew and Dr. Alan So, the members of the Scientific Program Committee, and the abstract reviewers for the time and effort they have put into making the program shine.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the CUA annual general meeting without some memorable social events. There will be a welcome reception at the Westin Bayshore Saturday evening, which will be a chance for people to see old friends and make new ones. Sunday night will be fun night at the Vancouver Convention Centre. We will have the entire upper floor of the venue, including the foyer and large balcony overlooking the Vancouver harbour and the North Shore Mountains. Rest assured that food and drink will be abundant and that, afterwards, the CUA’s “house band,” The Void, will be rocking the night away. The president’s banquet will be a more formal affair held Monday night at the Westin Bayshore. Dress in your finest and be prepared for a night of fabulous West coast cuisine. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Andrew MacNeily and his wife, Dr. Amina Zoubeidi, for their insight and guidance regarding local arrangements.
While in Vancouver, be sure to make time to enjoy what the city has to offer. The Bayshore Westin is located on the seafront adjacent to Stanley Park. Walking, jogging, and mountain biking are all possible very close by. The kids can enjoy the Vancouver Aquarium within the confines of the park. For those of you who relish a chance to exercise your credit card, the heart of downtown Vancouver is only a short cab ride (or 20- to 30-minute walk) away.
I hope to see you in Vancouver this June and look forward to our 71st annual general meeting!