Housing
Travel into Canada
General Meeting Information
Registration Information
Education credit
Housing
Hotel InformationTravel into Canada
Ground TransportationIs public transportation available?What are the directions if I am driving?
Will I need a passport if I’m flying to Canada from the US?Will I need a passport if I’m driving into Canada?I am attending the Annual Meeting in Toronto as an International Attendee. Will I need a visa?I am a resident/fellow currently residing in the US under a J-1 Visa. Will I need a visa to travel to Canada?
Which Toronto airport should I fly into?
General Meeting Information
Where and when is the Annual Meeting this year?
When will I find out if my abstract was accepted?
What are the registration and exhibit hall hours for the general meeting?
Where is the Speaker Ready Room?
Is there parking available at the Convention Centre?
Are there any tours this year?
When is the Final Program published?
Can I submit an abstract or symposium proposal for this year?
Exhibiting Opportunities – How can my organization exhibit at this year’s
Annual Meeting?
Where is the Welcome Reception?
What technique workshops will be offered?
What are the other Premeeting Courses?
Will I need to exchange currency?
Registration Information
When is the early registration cut-off date?
When is the last day to register?
Will I receive my badge in the mail? I registered early.
What is the cancellation policy?
Education credit
How many Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit hours are being offered?
Are Continuing Education Units (CEUs) being offered?
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Housing
Hotel Information
Headquarter Hotel
Fairmont Royal York
100 Front Street West
$253 CDN single/double
$323 CDN Deluxe single/double
*Two and a half blocks from the convention centre
Additional Hotels
Cosmopolitan Toronto
8 Colborne Street
$250 CDN Deluxe King single/double
$299 CDN Lakeview King
*Four blocks from the convention centre
Hilton Toronto
145 Richmond Street West
$242 CDN single/double
*Five blocks from the convention centre
InterContinental Toronto Centre
225 Front Street West
$259 CDN single/double
$319 CDN Jr. Suite
$359 CDN Club King
*Attached to the North building of the convention centre
Pantages Suites
200 Victoria Street
$250 CDN Deluxe King single/double
$299 CDN Ambassador King single/double
*Eight blocks from the convention centre
Renaissance Toronto
One Blue Jays Way
$245 CDN single/double
*One and a half blocks from the convention centre
Residence Inn Toronto Downtown
255 Wellington Street West
$239 CDN single/double
*Two blocks from the convention centre
Sheraton Centre Toronto
123 Queen Street West
$244 CDN single/double
$294 CDN Club single/double
*Six blocks from the convention centre
Westin Harbour Castle Toronto
1 Harbour Square
$259 CDN single/double
*Ten blocks from the convention centre
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General Meeting Information
Where and when is the Annual Meeting this year?
Where:
Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) – North Building
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
When: October 14-18, 2008
When will I find out if my abstract was accepted?
Notification will be sent via e-mail to all listed authors on or after Friday, April 25, 2008.
What are the registration and exhibit hall hours for the general meeting?
Where is the Speaker Ready Room?
The Speaker Ready Room (SRR) is located in Room 103B on Level 1 of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC).
Hours:
Tuesday, October 14: 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Wednesday-Friday, October 15-17: 6:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 18: 6:30–11:00 a.m.
Premeeting Course Faculty: Presentations must be uploaded onto the computer in the actual course room.
General Meeting Presenters: Presentations must be uploaded in the SRR at least three hours prior to their session start time to make sure their presentation is uploaded and working properly.
Is there parking available at the Convention Centre?
Yes, there is ample parking at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The entrance to the North Building parking garage is on Simcoe Street, just south of Front Street West. Parking rates are $16.00 per day (7AM – 7PM) or $8.00 per hour.
Are there any tours this year?
Toronto has many exciting activities and attractions that will make your visit an unforgettable experience. For information on city tours, local attractions and activities in and around Toronto, visit the Info T.O. Desk, located across from Room 202 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), contact them before your arrival in Toronto at 416-585-8237, or e-mail: #GuestServices@mtccc.com
Information on activities and attractions, as well as dining and shopping options is also available at www.mytorontomeeting.com to help make your stay in Toronto more enjoyable.
When is the Final Program published?
The Final Program will be distributed on site at registration. It will also be available on the NASS Web site.
Can I submit an abstract or symposium proposal for this year?
No, the committee has already selected the abstracts and symposia. You may submit your abstract/symposium ideas for the 2009 Annual Meeting beginning November 2008. Look for information on-site in Toronto and after this year’s meeting on our Web site.
Exhibiting Opportunities – How can my organization exhibit at this year’s Annual Meeting?
Rick Bacon, Senior Manager of Exhibits and Corporate Relations, is able to provide you with the information you need. He can be reached at (630) 230-3662 or by e-mail at rbacon@spine.org
Where is the Welcome Reception?
The Welcome Reception will be held on Tuesday, October 14 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
What technique workshops will be offered?
The hands-on technique workshops will be offered on Tuesday, October 14 at the MTCC. Each course offers 4 CME credits, with the exception of the Spinal Injections course which is 8 CME credits.
What are the other Premeeting Courses?
Premeeting courses will be on Tuesday, October 14, except for the 2-day Coding courses which starts on Monday, October 13. All courses will be at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) except for Coding Update 2008, An Introduction to Spine Care for Nonphysician Providers and Young Spine Surgeons, which will be located at the InterContinental Hotel.
Will I need to exchange currency?
The official currency of Toronto is the Canadian dollar (CDN). There is a currency exchange located in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in the North Building, Level 200. Many hotels in the Toronto area also offer this service through the hotel front desk. Please note that the hotel rates are quoted in Canadian dollars (CDN), while the Annual Meeting Registration fees are quoted in US dollars.
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Travel into Canada
Ground Transportation
Taxi Services
Co-op Cabs, Associated Toronto Taxicab Co-operative Limited: (416) 504-2667
Diamond Taxicab: (416) 366-6868
Airport Shuttle
Toronto Airport Express
Daily scheduled departures every 20 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes during off-peak periods to eight downtown hotels. Tickets can be purchased from our Customer Service Staff at the airport or save money and purchase tickets on-line at www.torontoairportexpress.com. Telephone: (905) 564-6333 or (800) 387-6787
Is public transportation available?
Toronto Transit Commission
The Toronto Transit Commission has been moving people around the city of Toronto for more than 80 years carrying more than 25 billion riders. Subway trains, streetcars and buses go to all corners of the city. The TTC is The Better Way to get around Toronto.
Telephone: (416) 393-4000 | Web site: www.ttc.ca
Go Transit
Telephone: (416) 869-3600, or (888) GET ON GO (438-6646) | Web site: www.gotransit.com
What are the directions if I am driving?
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
To the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from Airport:
- Take Highway 427 South to the Gardiner Expressway
- Exit Spadina Avenue
- Proceed North on Spadina Avenue and turn right at Front Street
- Turn right on Simcoe Street, then turn right into the parking garage of the North Building
Will I need a passport if I’m flying to Canada from the US?
Yes, you will need a passport to re-enter the US, after attending the Annual Meeting in Canada. For current passport information, please click here.
Will I need a passport if I’m driving into Canada?
U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (available in spring 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.
I am attending the Annual Meeting in Toronto as an International Attendee. Will I need a visa?
Some International Meeting participants who live outside Canada must apply for a visa to enter Canada. The application is made to the Canadian Visa Office responsible for your area. Consult the relevant visa office or its website regarding accepted methods of submitting applications (for example, general mail, in person, by courier, etc.) Please consult the following Web site for a list of visa offices abroad.
If you need an invitation letter, please click here to fill in and print out.
I am a resident/fellow currently residing in the US under a J-1 Visa. Will I need a visa to travel to Canada?
If you are traveling from the United States, but are not a US citizen, you may need a visa to enter Canada. Please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp for a list of countries that require a visa to visit Canada as well as a list of countries that are exempt, and if necessary, begin the application process as soon as possible. Also, it is absolutely essential for these travelers to verify their US visa status at this time to avoid any delays when returning to the US from Canada.
Which Toronto airport should I fly into?
The Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the closest airport to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
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Education Credit
How many Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit hours are being offered?
The NASS Annual Meeting will offer 29 credit hours for the general meeting. However, you can earn more CME credits by attending the pre-meeting courses and technique workshops. The actual number of credits available are listed in the final program.
Are Continuing Education Units (CEUs) being offered?
Yes. NASS is proud to offer other types of continuing education units (CEUs) to accommodate nonphysician attendees’ certification requirements.
The following categories indicate the status of CEU accreditation for nonphysician attendees:
Professional Coders—Coding Update 2009: Essentials and Controversies of Operative and Nonoperative Spine Care Coding has prior approval of the American Academy of Professional Coders for 7.5/per day Continuing Education Units. Granting of this approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the Academy of the program, content or the program sponsor
Physician Assistants—The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts Category 1 credit from AOACCME, prescribed credit from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and AMA PRA Category 1 CME™ credit for the Physician’s Recognition Award from organizations, such as NASS, accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses and Chiropractors—Accreditation varies for every state certification agency. Please retain this brochure and the Final Program you receive on-site and a copy of your certificate when completing the recertification process.
Nurse Practitioners—Application is pending for continuing education credentialing through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Please look for information on the NASS Web site (www.spine.org) and in the Final Program to be distributed on-site at the meeting.
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Registration
When is the early registration cut-off date?
The cut-off date is July 31, 2008. Add $200 to the registration fee for each category after July 31, 2008.
When is the last day to register?
The registration deadline is September 22, 2008, although registrations will be accepted on-site at the Convention Centre after this date.
Will I receive my badge in the mail? I registered early.
All attendees are required to pick up their badges on-site. However final confirmation letters will be emailed in late September.
What is the cancellation policy?
Refunds will be allowed less an administrative fee, if cancellation is made in writing by September 22, 2008; no refunds will be made after that date.
Administrative Fees - General Registration: $100 fee, Pre-meeting technique workshops: $75 fee, Pre-meeting workshops: $25 fee and Guest Registration: $50 fee.
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