What you need to know about General Synod
What You Need to Know
The General Synod will be held at St. Mary’s University located in the heart of downtown Halifax, just a short walk from Spring Garden Road one of the main shopping areas in Halifax, the Halifax Public Gardens and All Saints’ Cathedral. Our plenary meeting space is located on the main floor of the Tower Fitness & Recreation Centre.
On Campus Accommodation
Members of General Synod will be housed in one of three residences on campus (Rice, Vanier or Loyola) in a mixture of single, twin and apartment style rooms. Rooms will be assigned by General Synod. Bedrooms are furnished as study rooms with a captain’s-style single bed, desk with hutch, lamp, chair, closet space and telephone (free local calls). Linen is provided. Towels will be exchanged and waste baskets emptied daily. Bed linen will be changed approximately midway through Synod. Washrooms are shared. The single and twin rooms in two of the residences are arranged in suites containing one twin room, four single rooms, washroom and shower facilities. As the washroom and shower facilities are outside your bedroom, you may wish to bring a dressing gown and slippers. Internet connection is available in your room, but you will need to bring your own internet cable. Those staying in residence will receive a Tower Fitness and Recreation Centre pass for the duration of their stay.
Dress
Dress for General Synod is business casual; however most delegates will dress more formally for the Opening Service and the Diocesan Banquet.
The presence of perfumes and other scented products presents health concerns for some people. We encourage you to use scent-free products whenever possible while at General Synod.
In June the average daily high is about 19 degrees Celsius and low is about 11 degrees Celsius. On average there is 7.5 hours of sunshine daily but we do expect rain in a Maritime climate. You may wish to bring comfortable shoes for walking, an umbrella and rain jacket.
Contact information
Contact number at the Loyola Conference Desk is 902-420-5591. The caller will be asked to leave a message. Please check at the Conference Desk at Loyola Residence if you are expecting a message. Urgent messages will be sent to the General Synod Office. Please make certain you leave the telephone contact number with family.
Meals
There are two cafeterias on campus the Dockside Cafeteria and the Student Centre Café. Your diocese will be assigned to one of these cafeterias for meals. The first meal arranged as part of the meal plan is lunch Wednesday, June 2nd (12:00 – 2:00). Arrangements have been made for delegates who have requested dinner, but who may be arriving later than the posted mealtime on June 2nd.
Meals will be well balanced, tasty and plentiful, and will take into consideration dietary restrictions provided this information was indicated on your registration form.
Financial Responsibility
Your diocese is responsible for your room and taxes and your meal card. If you drive to General Synod, your parking charges will be covered. You are responsible for all other charges; such as, local and long distance telephone calls, restaurant meals, etc. (See General Synod Expense Policy). http://www.anglican.ca/gs2010/delegateinfo/
Amenities on Campus
General Synod will be held in the heart of downtown Halifax with easy access to shopping, ATM’s, drug stores, and a number of restaurants. On campus there is an ATM (Royal Bank), hair salon, barber shop, convenience store, Tim Hortons, and two coin-operated laundry rooms. Most buildings on campus connect to the residences.
In Plenary
In Plenary members and partners will be seated at round tables of eight in and, depending on the agenda, will be seated as diocesan groups or mixed groups know as Galley Groups. A raised stage will make the Chair of the Synod visible to all and a large screen will be used to provide better view of those addressing the Synod. Microphones will be placed at various locations throughout the meeting space.
Synod off-site Events
The Opening Service of Synod, will be held the evening of June 3rd, at All Saints’ Cathedral a pleasant walk from the university. Transportation will be provided for those who do not wish to walk.
On Sunday June 6th, at 3:00 p.m. we will join with Anglicans of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for a service at Exhibition Park just outside of Halifax. The service will celebrate 300 Years of continuous Anglican Worship in the diocese which began with a Service of Thanksgiving at Port Royal on Oct. 10, 1710. Transportation will be provided.
On Tuesday evening we will be hosted by the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in a special banquet taking place at Pier 21 on the waterfront in Halifax. Prior to this, we will gather at the magnificent and historic St. Paul’s Church in downtown Halifax for a celebration of the Eucharist together. Bishop Ron Cutler of NS/PEI will preside and Fr. Paul Friesen, Rector of St. Paul’s, and his special worship team will lead us. The service will include a special Commissioning of Ministry on behalf of the PWRDF and their 50th Anniversary.
Arriving at Synod
For most delegates and partners…. For those who indicated on their registration form that a pickup is required, transportation from Halifax International Airport, the Via Rail or Bus Station in Halifax to St. Mary’s University will be provided from Wednesday, June 2nd on.
Those arriving prior to June 2nd or departing after June 12th are on their own for the arrangements and expense of traveling between their arrival/departure point and St. Mary’s University.
Via Rail Station or Bus Terminal
Those arriving at the Via Rail or Bus Station will be met by Local Arrangements Committee volunteers. Hand held signs will identify Local Arrangement volunteers.
Halifax Airport
A clearly marked General Synod Transportation kiosk will be set up in the arrivals area of the Halifax International Airport and volunteers will be on hand to assist those arriving by air. Please collect your luggage and proceed to the kiosk. If your flight is delayed, please note that the volunteers will be monitoring arrival times and will be expecting you. If you are unable to find the kiosk or locate a volunteer, please contact the number at the top of this document and they will transfer your call to the transportation volunteers.
Arriving by Car
The conference centre check-in (for room assignments and parking passes for those staying at SMU) is just inside the entrance to the Loyola Residence. General Synod registration is on the main floor colonnade between the Loyola Residence and the Sobey Building. Parking passes for delegates staying off site will be distributed at the General Synod Registration desk. Those arriving late in the evening after the General Synod registration is closed, are asked to register the following morning.
Driving Directions
Getting to Saint Mary’s By Car
- Follow the Trans-Canada (NS Highway 104) from New Brunswick.
- Take Exit #15 to get on Highway 102 south (careful, this is the only exit to Halifax).
- Halifax is a pleasant drive away, 100 kilometres (about one hour).
- Follow directions as described below to get from Highway 102 into the city.
To get to the Loyola Residence Desk (check in)
- Turn left onto Inglis Street, proceed to the first intersection and turn right on Tower Road.
- Continue along Tower until you reach Gorsebrook Avenue where you will turn right and proceed to Loyola Residence, the 22-storey high rise on the right located at 5865 Gorsebrook Avenue.
From the Airport
- Follow the signs at the airport which direct you to Highway 102 South (Exit 6) and Halifax.
- It’s about 40 kilometres from the airport to Saint Mary’s University (about 40 minutes).
From Highway 102 into the City
- Once on Highway 102 South, stay in the right lane. You will come to a fork in the Highway at Exit 5 – stay to the right and continue along the 102 (do not take the exit to Dartmouth).
- Continue along Highway 102 until it ends. It becomes Bayers Road in Halifax. Be careful as you enter the city – the speed limit drops to 70km/hr and then to 50km/hr.
- Just past the Halifax Shopping Centre, turn right on Connaught Avenue.
- Continue along Connaught until you reach the end of the street. There you will turn left on Jubilee Road.
- Continue along Jubilee until you reach Robie Street where you will turn right.
- Take Robie to Inglis Street. Saint Mary’s University will be in front of you on the left.