CAOT takes the following factors into consideration when choosing a venue:
Size: The venue must be large enough to accommodate 500-700 attendees depending on the location. It must include a plenary room and an exhibit space.
Cost: The venue, food, beverage costs, and audio visual must fall within the conference budget. Flights and hotel fees must not be cost prohibitive for attendees.
Location: It must be easily accessible for attendees. Also, we avoid back-to-back conferences in the same region to make it more accessible for members across the country.
Hotel: The hotels are chosen based on the best rates and proximity to the convention centre/meeting space.
Size: The venue must be large enough to accommodate 500-700 attendees depending on the location. It must include a plenary room and an exhibit space.
Cost: The venue, food, beverage costs, and audio visual must fall within the conference budget. Flights and hotel fees must not be cost prohibitive for attendees.
Location: It must be easily accessible for attendees. Also, we avoid back-to-back conferences in the same region to make it more accessible for members across the country.
Hotel: The hotels are chosen based on the best rates and proximity to the convention centre/meeting space.
The CAOT conference is typically held in May or June. Requests for proposals are sent out in the summer/early fall. The date is decided based on cost, timing around religious holidays, and proximity to competing conferences.
CAOT will embed justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability into all activities. The conference will strive to offer safer spaces for the profession to have important conversations.
Date: CAOT takes into consideration religious, cultural, commemorative, observant, or significant dates when choosing the dates of conference.
Venue: The venue must be accessible.
Steering Committee: CAOT is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Accordingly, membership to the steering committee include applicants from equity deserving groups, including Indigenous Peoples in Canada, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and women.
Presentations: CAOT will promote inclusion of presenters with lived experience or from the community being studied. Presenters are encouraged, when discussing people with lived experience, to use person-first or identity-first language that respects the person or the community’s preferences.
Invited Guests: A local Indigenous Elder will welcome conference attendees to their territory and share local stories/knowledge. They are invited to participate in the conference. The Elder will also be asked to complete the circle by closing the conference.
Learn more about the New Strategic Plan.
Date: CAOT takes into consideration religious, cultural, commemorative, observant, or significant dates when choosing the dates of conference.
Venue: The venue must be accessible.
Steering Committee: CAOT is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Accordingly, membership to the steering committee include applicants from equity deserving groups, including Indigenous Peoples in Canada, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and women.
Presentations: CAOT will promote inclusion of presenters with lived experience or from the community being studied. Presenters are encouraged, when discussing people with lived experience, to use person-first or identity-first language that respects the person or the community’s preferences.
Invited Guests: A local Indigenous Elder will welcome conference attendees to their territory and share local stories/knowledge. They are invited to participate in the conference. The Elder will also be asked to complete the circle by closing the conference.
Learn more about the New Strategic Plan.
All sessions are presented in the language of submission. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies are bilingual. Plenary sessions are offered in English with French subtitles or simultaneous translation.
If you require a support person with you at the conference, CAOT will cover their registration fee. Any optional activities will be at their cost.
* a paid personal support worker, a volunteer, a family member, or a friend.
* a paid personal support worker, a volunteer, a family member, or a friend.
CAOT will make every attempt to accommodate all requests. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fulfill every request.
CAOT will make every attempt to accommodate all dietary-related requests at the conference venue/meeting space. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fulfill every request.
CAOT does offer a Student Bursary, which is offered to the highest ranked student presentation from each university that has five accepted abstracts that year. The student receives a complimentary registration and a monetary bursary to assist with travel. The bursary amount varies depending on the amount of the fund. To receive this bursary, the student must attend the conference. It is only transferable to another student who collaborated in the same presentation.
The Conference Steering Committee oversees all aspects of the planning, implementation, and evaluation of our conferences, while promoting and protecting equity, diversity, and inclusiveness. Learn more and apply.
Information can be found on our website. Our Business Development Team is happy to assist you with your questions at 1-800-434-2268 ext. 241 or by email at advertising@caot.ca
The CAOT Conference Manager is happy to answer your questions at 1-800-434-2268 ext. 232 or by email at conference@caot.ca