Mark your calendars now for the 2009 Conference!
Our highly successful and popular annual premier professional learning event is an exciting forum that connects educators and industry leaders from throughout the world with opportunities to learn and share experiences, ideas and new developments in using technology for teaching and learning.

Pre-Conference Session
April 21, 2009
SFU Harbour Centre
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3

Conference Check-in
April 21, 2009 3 pm
Main Lobby
Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites

Opening Night Reception
April 21, 2009 5 pm
Ballroom
Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites

Main Conference - SOLD OUT!
April 22-23, 2009
Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites
1763 Comox Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1P6


Hotel Parking Rates
Overnight guests - $19.00 per night (24 hour parking)
Daily rate - $12.00 from 6am - 6pm
Evening rate - $10.00 from 6pm - 6am
Hourly rate - $4.00 per hour or portion


If you are new to the conference and haven’t yet decided to attend you can watch the promotional video (approx 7 min) for an overview. Or if you’d like to hear from those who have participated in the past to help you make your decision, check out some testimonials from participants, volunteers and vendors.

Four Keynote Speakers will be brought in this year to headline the 2009 Conference, set the tone and highlight the theme, “Innovations in Online Learning: What’s Working in BC and Beyond.” They will open and close each day of the main conference. It is hoped that their comments will inspire and even provoke you to either get involved or expand your involvement in using technology for learning in innovative ways.  Read the Keynote Speakers profiles.

Watch the Keynote Speakers' Webcasts

In addition to our Keynote Speakers, we’ve lined up several exciting Spotlight presentations for all three streams in the concurrent sessions.



Workplace Learning Stream

• TELUS Communication Inc.
• Vancity Savings Credit Union
• SaskPower 

Post Secondary Stream

• Mount Royal College
• University of Northern British Columbia
• University of Calgary
• BCcampus

K-12 Public Schools Stream

• Vancouver Aquarium
• Advanced BroadBand Enabled Learning
• Florida Virtual School
• LearnNowBC
• eLearning Programs Unit, Ministry of Education
• British Columbia's Rural Education Network 

Read the Spotlight Speakers profiles.
 

A Pre-Conference Session has been a highlight of the conference since it began a few years ago. This year the VSS, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, as the major funder, will hold a pre-conference session the day before the main conference on April 21, 2009 at SFU Harbour Centre. More...

You know the old saying, “It’s all about who you know”! So don’t miss your opportunity to get to know people at the conference's Opening Night Reception.

Everyone is welcome - delegates, keynote speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, guests - and the event will include catered buffet style food, which is included in your registration fee, as well as a no host bar.

Format
The event will be casual beginning with a welcome by the conference host and sponsor and an official kick off to the conference followed by a relaxing evening of food, drink and networking. In fact, it’s the first of many opportunities to network you’ll find in this year’s conference.

Location
The event will be held in the Ballroom, located on the Conference level. The Conference Level features an award winning patio and garden terrace. The Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites in Vancouver was voted one of Canada's Top Five Meeting Places by Meeting & Incentive Travel Magazine. 

The Program for the two days of the main conference includes a series of six rounds of Concurrent Sessions.

There will also be time in the Program to network with peers and like-minded educators from across the province and beyond. 

Read the temporary Program which lists speakers and their scheduled times. It will be will be updated regularly.

 

The Virtual School Society has already secured a number of sponsors for this conference and is inviting organizations to sponsor the conference, keynote and spotlight speakers, the opening night reception, products and much more. View our list of confirmed sponsors.

As we do every year, the 2009 conference will include an Exhibitor Trade Show with booths at which vendors will showcase their technology products and services educators can use to assist learning and teaching online. View our list of confirmed exhibitors.

If you know of interested party interested in becoming an exhibitor, please refer them to the Exhibitor Package for more information. 
 

If you require additional information or have questions regarding the 2009 Conference, please contact the Help Centre at 1-800-946-8332 or email support@learnnowbc.ca.