By Kristine McCusker and Louis Kyriakoudes
This will be a different conference!
Conference planning is in full swing, with program associate Faith Bagley, doctoral student Jordan Alexander and both co-directors working hard to make sure #OHA2018 in Montreal is the best conference yet. Steven High, the folks at the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling (COHDS) and Concordia University have worked hard to make this a truly wonderful conference with exhibits, performances and local tours that highlight oral history.
This will be a different conference, however, so expect some changes for this year only. Instead of a conference hotel, we will be using two buildings at Concordia University–the Library and the John Molson Building (“MB” in local parlance). You can walk outside to get to each place OR you can use a connecting tunnel that also will take you to the Metro (Montreal’s subway). Confused? Steven High and his local arrangements committee will have about 50 volunteers, all wearing shirts identifying them as volunteers, to help you find your way.
Some highlights of the program will include some live streaming of sessions. Other sessions–completely in French–will be simultaneously translated for English speakers, so be sure to attend.
The Library Atrium will have exhibits, and there will be performances on Wednesday and Friday nights. The exhibitors will be housed on the bottom floor of the MB building, so visit them, too.
Finally, our new tradition of having the International Oral History Association Reception continues this year at McKibbin’s Pub (1426 Bishop Street) on Saturday night from 5-7.
The local arrangements committee has reserved hotel rooms around Concordia, most within walking distance. Be aware that some of the hotels, especially Le Nouvel, have sold out of their room blocks. In Le Nouvel’s case, the hotel has set aside some other rooms but at a higher cost. Some hotel blocks will have expired by the time you receive this newsletter; others will expire in early September. All room blocks will expire by Sept. 11. Certainly Montreal has plenty of other hotel rooms to reserve, but they won’t come with an OHA discount.
In the meantime, we’re finalizing arrangements, the program, the exhibitors and sponsors. We look forward to seeing you Oct. 10-14 in Montreal!
