AWC WEST 2020, at the Hyatt Regency Calgary on March 23 & 24, 2020, has been cancelled

Dear AWC WEST 2020 Delegate,

Yesterday, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw provided an update on the COVID-19 virus and outlined the Government of Alberta’s recommendation that meetings involving more than 250 people should be cancelled in Alberta for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given that we had over 380 delegates registered (with registrations still coming in this week), I am announcing that the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference planned for March 23 and 24 in Calgary, Alberta will be cancelled.

Over the past few weeks, I have spoken with many conference delegates wondering about whether our conference was going ahead or not. We had been in touch with the host hotel and had already implemented many risk mitigation strategies for the conference. However, despite many participants telling me they would still like to attend, and regardless of our wish to gather with our community, we can all agree that individual and public safety must come first.

Since the Chief Medical Officer’s announcement puts this cancellation beyond our control, our conference hotel, The Hyatt Regency in Calgary will refund all individual reservation deposits that have been paid and will cancel remaining conference hotel reservations with no additional cancellation charges. Please allow 7-10 business days for the hotel refund to be received. There is no need to contact the hotel to request a refund for your room.

As the conference has been cancelled, your AWC2020 registration fees paid for the March 23 and 24 Calgary conference will be transferred to a future AWCA conference.

While today’s announcement is a difficult one, I am grateful for the tremendous support of the conference’s sponsors, speakers and delegates through this very difficult time.

I will be in touch as soon as more information becomes available regarding future AWC conferences.

Thank you for your understanding,

Best Regards,
Iris Meck