Greetings AAO members,
ICYMI, the AAO conference is coming to Kitchener-Waterloo next spring for the first time in 22 years. Since we've been out of the game for a generation, allow us to reintroduce the twin cities.
22 years ago, our city centre was bleak, we had residents writing into the local paper suggesting that the city do "everything possible to make the area more attractive, more of a people place. This might include art festivals, minstrels, flower shows or other special events" while urging the mayor to "spend at least half a day every week just walking around downtown... in order to be in touch with people's needs and expectations."
It was clearly dire. Somebody had to do something!
Well, somebody* did. And, surprisingly, they did so without resorting to minstrels and flower shows.
Over the last ten years, KW has become a vibrant urban centre known for its world class tech culture. It has become a city of thinkers with two universities alongside countless startups and think tanks. Where better to gather and discuss the past, present and future of our profession?
But KW is more than a mining town of theorists, academics and tech pioneers as it boasts a number of fine restaurants, boutiques, galleries and festivals. Plus, every regional tourism site seems to mention a robust offering of microbreweries. Just putting that out there.
What else can we say to entice you?
Do you have a bucket list? First class theatre at the Stratford Festival? 40 minutes.
World famous St. Jacob's Farmers' Market? 10 minutes (by car, steam engine service also available - not a joke)
Yeah, I think we can say that Kitchener-Waterloo has become quite a unique entity since you last saw us. The Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation actually implores you to "imagine a place where you can glimpse into the future through the cutting edge of technology or back in time to horse-drawn buggies."
There can only be one...
(oh, and as of this month,  there are 18 minute flights from Billy Bishop to the KW airport...)

Join us,

AAO 2018 Conference Host Committee

Questions? Julia Hendry, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

*nice work, somebody


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