Information
Dear Participants,
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 37th annual International Herpesvirus Workshop (IHW) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Building on the strong tradition that has established the IHW as the premiere international scientific meeting on herpesviruses, we will convene in an outstanding venue to make new friends and renew old acquaintances, enjoy outstanding plenary lectures and learn about the most exciting current discoveries directly from the discoverers themselves.
In 2012 the IHW returns to Canada for the first time in 18 years. Calgary is a young and cosmopolitan city located in Southern Alberta at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Its strong roots of Western Canadian pioneer culture blend with a rich multicultural environment, a vibrant economy and a dynamic view to the future. Calgary''s origins date back to Fort Brisebois, built in 1875 to protect the Canadian Prairies from American whiskey traders. The city grew rapidly after the creation of Banff National Park in 1885 and the TransCanada railroad link in 1883. Calgary truly is nowadays where "the World meets the West".
The meeting venue is located in the heart of the city, providing ready access to multiple attractions and entertainment opportunities. The Telus Convention Center opens onto Stephen Avenue Mall, a promenade that provides an ideal location for strolling or having a coffee (or beer) al fresco. The nearby Calgary tower offers a panoramic view of the city and the foothills. Princess Island in the Bow River, only a few blocks away, is a great place for riverside walks or runs. Across the street from the Convention Centre, the Glenbow museum''s collection includes photographs by Burtynsky, paintings by the "Group of Seven", Emily Carr and other Canadian artists, and many other examples of Canadian Art representing the West and the Arctic, Canadian landscapes and history and Native Canadian arts and culture. Theatre Calgary and the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts are both only one block away. An extensive light rail transit system provides access to sites further afield, including Western-style saloons that provide mechanical bulls to ride (by the adventurous). The banquet venue, Spruce Meadows, is a world-renowned equestrian facility hosting major International horse jumping competitions.
Alberta offers a wide diversity of landscapes, including the Rocky Mountains, foothills, prairies, and northern boreal forest. Opportunities abound for exciting pre- or post- meeting vacations. The Rocky Mountain national parks (Waterton Lakes (Canada)-Glacier (USA), Banff and Jasper) provide spectacular mountain scenery, stunning glaciers, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Recreational opportunities include drive-in and backcountry camping, hiking, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and horseback riding. Wildlife is abundant, and deer, elk, moose, black and grizzly bears, mountain sheep, coyotes and wolves are commonly seen (sometimes from too close!). Southeast of Calgary, Dinosaur Provincial Park contains rich dinosaur fossil fields, and an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils is on display in the incredible Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller. Dry Island Buffalo Jump provides an opportunity to discover the techniques used by the native Cree First Nation to hunt bison, and to learn more about the rich First Nation cultures. Numerous Guest Ranches offer a Western Canadian "cowboy" experience.
We look forward to welcoming you to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the 37th International Herpesvirus Workshop. We are sure that you will have a fantastic time in Canada.
Co Chairs Luis Schang and James Smiley
University of Alberta