PRE- AND POST-SUMMIT ACTIVITIES
The 5th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP 2015) will feature a series of optional activities showcasing Alberta’s natural beauty and rich heritage that delegates and their spouses or partners may choose to attend. The cost of these activities will be borne by those wishing to participate.
Registration for all activities is now closed. There will be no opportunity to register on-site, with the exception of the Banff Gondola or any activities that you arrange yourself, either directly or through the hotel.
For your convenience, a scheduled shuttle service will be provided free of charge from The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel to downtown Banff and the Banff Gondola. For schedules and more information, please visit the Registration/Information kiosk on-site at the summit.
Tickets for the Banff Gondola may be purchased directly at its location on Sulphur Mountain. For more information, click here.
For more information, please contact Nela Kovacoviv at istp@timewise.biz.
Dogsledding/Snowshoeing in Canmore, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Saturday, March 28, Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31. Times TBD. Dependent on weather.
Fees: Dogsledding – $175 per person for two-hour dog sled (total 4 hours tour). Snowshoeing – $65 per person, duration 3-4 hours. Price includes a light snack.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
Feel your heart race and your mind clear as you dogsled through the pristine wilderness of the Canadian Rockies just outside Canmore near the Banff National Park and Kananaskis Country. This is an adventure you will never forget!
Alternatively, snowshoeing is one of the best ways to explore the stunning landscapes of the Canadian Rockies in winter. Tread mountain valleys and trails on fresh snow that has never been touched!
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Saturday, March 28, and Tuesday, March 31. Times TBD.
Fees: $10
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies is the gateway to the art, culture, and history of Banff and the Canadian Rockies. Step into the 1931 home of artists and museum founders Peter and Catharine (Robb) Whyte, whose home illuminates their simple yet classic mountain style. Then journey back a generation to soak in the rustic elegance enjoyed by collectors Phillip and Pearl (Brewster) Moore in their 1907 home. The Heritage Homes Tour provides an intimate look at both homes and the intriguing people who lived in them.
Evening at Brewster’s MountainView Barbecue, Banff, Alberta
*Please note that ministers and senior officials will be taking part in a separate dinner on the same evening.
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Saturday, March 28, evening.
Fee: $105 per person.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
Minimum: 200 participants.
Brewster’s MountainView Barbecue is a unique reception facility that furnishes a truly Western experience. Catering to guests year-round, Brewster’s friendly, capable staff serves a hearty, buffet-style meal of their famous Brewster BBQ hip of beef. Inside the Brewster Donut tents, a central bonfire provides warmth and atmosphere, while a live band invites attendees to dance the night away country-and-western style, including line-dancing.
Cave and Basin Tour, Banff, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates’ spouses or partners.
Date: Sunday, March 29, afternoon. Time TBD.
Fees: $5 per person.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
The birthplace of Canada’s national parks, the Cave and Basin National Historic Site connects visitors to the essence of Banff National Park through nature, culture, and history. The sulphurous hot springs were discovered here in 1883 and soon became a major draw. Visitors dip their hands into steamy thermal waters, take an easy boardwalk stroll over pristine marshlands, and learn about Banff's storied past, all in the place that started one of the world’s greatest conservation movements.
Learn how three railway workers discovered liquid gold in the form of thermal pools; meet apple-seed-sized endangered species; experience the grandeur of the 1911 historic bathing pavilion where swimmers first dipped their toes into the warm waters, leading to the later development of the world-famous Banff Upper Hot Springs. Visitors can also explore the interactive exhibits of Story Hall, enjoy a giant, four-screen, HD journey through Canada’s stunning protected areas, and see the dancing lights of the underground cave that started it all.
On-site amenities include a gift shop, café, washrooms, and seven kms of walking trails. Most of the site, including the cave, is wheelchair accessible.
Banff Gondola Ride, Banff, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates’ spouses or partners.
Date: Sunday, March 29, afternoon. Time TBD. Dependent on the weather.
Fees: $38 per person.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
From the Banff Gondola, you'll see more mountains in a moment than most people see in a lifetime. Ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a stunning bird’s-eye view of six mountain ranges. Experience breathtaking vistas in every direction from one of several observation decks. Take the 1 km interpretive summit walk. This exhilarating activity is open year-round and a definite “must-do” on your trip to the Canadian Rockies.
Blackfoot Crossing Tour, Siksika, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates’ spouses or partners.
Date: Monday, March 30, full day. Time TBD.
Fees: $15 per person.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
Lunch: Provided by Alberta Education.
Blackfoot Crossing, the historic site of the signing of Treaty No. 7, is of national and international historical and archaeological significance. It is a designated National Heritage Site and has been recommended for World Heritage Site status.
The success of the Treaty No. 7 Commemoration in 1977 intensified the Siksika (Blackfoot) Nation’s vision of building a unique world-class tourist attraction designed to engage visitors in authentic cultural experiences with the Blackfoot people.
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is a world-renowned cultural, educational, and entertainment centre built for the promotion and preservation of the language, culture, and traditions of the Siksika Nation. The Siksika people are proud to present Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park to the world.
Evening Culinary and Art Gallery Walking Self-Guided Excursion, Canmore, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Monday, March 30, evening.
Fees: Assumed by attendees, depending on restaurant selection.
Transportation: Public transportation available.
As a resort town, the local Canmore restaurants cater to all kinds of culinary tastes. Family restaurants, fine dining, ethnic foods, organic and meatless food, and much more can be found in Canmore. Attendees are encouraged to consult Fairmont Banff Springs’ staff for recommendations.
With its quiet Canadian Rockies backdrop and serene setting, Canmore, Alberta, is home to many talented artists and a host of art galleries. While in Canmore, you can browse through a wide selection of art and a variety of painting styles, including watercolours, oil paintings, acrylic paintings, and more.
Tour of Olds College (featuring the Dual Credit Program), Olds, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Tuesday, March 31, full day. Time TBD.
Fees: None.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
Lunch: Provided by Alberta Education.
Olds College is a public postsecondary institution located in Olds, Alberta. Established in 1913, Olds College specializes in applied agricultural, horticultural, land, and environmental management and focuses on innovation in learning. It is the largest agricultural college in Alberta and produces approximately 25 per cent of English-speaking agricultural diploma graduates in Canada.
Olds College’s Dual Credit courses and programs allow high-school students in Grades 11 and 12 to take either a high-school or a postsecondary course that earns them both high-school and postsecondary credits. Students are enrolled in both the high-school and the postsecondary institutions at the same time.
Note: Transportation will be provided from Banff to Olds College for the tour. Once completed, transportation will be provided from Olds to Calgary International Airport.
Tour to Rocky View School Division High Schools
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Tuesday, March 31, full day. Time TBD.
Fees: None.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
Lunch: Provided by Alberta Education.
Attendees of this tour will be transported from Banff to two high-performing high schools in the nearby Rocky View School Division. The first stop will be the Springbank Community High School. Springbank Community High School is known as a local education institute of choice for its innovative approaches to learning and teaching, its consistently high satisfaction scores, low drop-out rate, the large number of students going on to post-secondary education, and number of postsecondary scholarship winners.
Attendees will then move on to George McDougall High School, a school known for its dedicated focus on providing innovative instructional practices that promote academic excellence and encourage students to pursue learning beyond a high school diploma. Its dynamic universal learning environments offer learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of its students, and its student engagement has increased through collaborative instructional projects.
Note: Transportation will be provided from Banff to Sprinbank Community and George McDougall high schools for the tour. At the end of the tour, transportation will be provided from George McDougall High School to the Calgary International Airport.
Glenbow Museum, Oh, Canada Tour, Calgary, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Tuesday, March 31, full day. Time TBD..
Fees: $20 per person.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education.
The Glenbow Museum is an art and history museum located in the city of Calgary. Oh, Canada is the largest survey of contemporary Canadian art ever produced outside Canada. Comprising more than 100 artworks by 62 artists and collectives from across the country, Oh, Canada is huge in both scale and scope. Too big for just one gallery, the exhibition is presented at the Glenbow Museum as well as the Esker Foundation, Nickle Galleries, and the Illingworth Kerr Gallery. This unique collaboration will encourage dialogue, debate, and a deeper understanding of local, regional, and national contemporary art practice.
Note: Transportation will be provided from Banff to Calgary for the tour. Once completed, transportation will be provided to Calgary International Airport.
Johnston Canyon Ice Walk, Banff, Alberta
Attendees: Delegates and spouses or partners.
Date: Tuesday, March 31, full day. Time TBD. Dependent on the weather.
Fees: $65 per person.
Transportation: Provided by Alberta Education to and from Johnston Canyon.
Lunch: Provided by Alberta Education.
The Johnston Canyon Icewalk follows a series of steel catwalks that provide spectacular views down the canyon walls to the ice and river below. This popular ice walk will lead you past the lower falls to the breathtaking upper icefalls. Travel through prime wildlife habitat and learn how Johnston Canyon was formed. Guests should dress in ski wear for this tour, including hats, mittens, and warm boots. Please note that this tour is not meant for walking on the ice due to the inherent risk of falling.