DebConf17/Bids/Montreal/Venues/UQAM
[edit] Description
UQAM has been approached as a possible venue for the conference. The Science complex is in a great location for tourism, near a number of bars, cafés, and pubs. It's also a very short walking distance from the Place des Arts, from shopping malls and from many hotels.
There are three main buildings in the Science complex: the Biology building, the SH building, and the PK building.
[edit] Conference facilities
[edit] How much does it cost to rent these facilities?
Need to choose classrooms based on power requirements, media access and seat counts; this will need to be arranged with the Computer Science faculty.
Other rooms (below) for events, plenaries, possibly lunch need to be rented separately. Prices below are "external" prices, they may be significantly lower if we can get the faculty to sponsor this for us.
| Room | Seating | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Amphitheatre (SH-2800) (plenary?) | 325 | 1000$ (more than 4 hours), 800$ (up to 4 hours) |
| Salle Polyvalente (SH-4800) | (very large room to arrange as required, comes cleared but there are tables and chairs) | 800$ (more than 4 hours), 600$ (up to 4 hours) |
| La Chaufferie (CO-R700) | (events, ~100 people) | 600$ (more than 4 hours), 400$ (up to 4 hours) |
| Agora Hydro-Quebec | (events, ~250 people) | 1200$ (more than 4 hours), 800$ (up to 4 hours) |
[edit] How far away are the locations from each other?
Rooms are in separate buildings between 100-200 meters away from each other, linked by interior corridors and tunnels.
[edit] What kind of places are available suitable for hacklabs, workshops, BoFs and talks?
Some common lounges/rooms are available 24/7 from the residences (at no extra charge (but should be confirmed)). Common workspaces in the university are open late.
[edit] Are tables/chairs fixed, or can we arrange them to fit more people/give more room to the people that we need?
Most rooms can be completely rearranged with the exception of "auditorium-type" classrooms, and the main auditorium.
[edit] Is the venue ready for handicapped people?
Buildings are accessible, but it *will* require more time to travel between different buildings.
[edit] Access to all areas with ramps and/or elevators? (Note: carrying somebody over some steps is not usually an acceptable option.)
Yes. Elevators in the Sherbrooke building are sluggish and small, so expect delays.
[edit] Are there people with experience handling handicapped people?
[edit] What people is it not good for?
None?
[edit] Are blueprints with exact distances available to us (to be kept confidential on request)?
Will need to be requested.
[edit] What kind of audio equipment is already present at the auditoriums?
Most rooms are already equipped with multimedia equipment (usually fixed in place); will need to be unlocked by someone from UQAM.
[edit] Will the hacklabs be allowed to stay open 24x7? What time schedule do they offer?
Many rooms are already available 24/7 or late. We expect to be able to request rooms to be available 24/7, but at a price for security.
However, UQAM has some specific rules on having rooms available and open during the night; but there is the possibility of going to the Maison Notman for hacklabs/shared workspace, with definite 24/7 access:
- by the week: $120.00 + tax
- by the day: $40.00 + tax
- per hour: $8.00 + tax
[edit] What kind of security will be there?
There are regular rounds from security guards in the main buildings (not sure about residences); as well as camera coverage in the President-Kennedy building.
[edit] Are there any limitations regarding the consumptions of food / alcohol? Where do what limitations apply?
Selling alcohol in Quebec requires a permit. It may be asked by security/administration to limit consumption to specific rooms/areas to make things simpler for security.
We should be able to eat in any room, with the exception of the main auditorium in the Sherbrooke building and computer labs. Any other exceptions are usually marked with a clear sign on the door and in the rooms.
[edit] How far is it to the nearest convenience stores / all-night restaurants?
UQAM is downtown, close to a shopping mall with a food court (accessible from a tunnel), and close to other restaurants and convenience stores in short walking distance. Not all venues are 24/7 unfortunately, but some are at a short distance.
[edit] Food
[edit] Caterer options
We will need to hire a catering company; however, there is one which is usually suggested by UQAM (their own):
Service Traiteur UQAM -- contact M. Louis Marcoux.
[edit] How much are the meals per person per day?
[edit] Is the eating place near the talks place / the hacklabs
[edit] What kind of food would be served?
[edit] In what fashion? (service to the table, limited buffet, open buffet, etc.)
[edit] Would food for vegetarian / vegan / lactose-intolerant / gluten-sensitive / religious (of any denomination) people be available?
[edit] How much meals do we need to order to get those kind of "special" meals?
[edit] Will it cost extra to get those special meals?
.
[edit] In a two week period, how many more or less equal meals can we expect?
[edit] Network connectivity
[edit] Is the area already wired with regular network infrastructure?
Yes. Rooms in the President-Kennedy building are already well equiped with wired network, as are the common rooms that could be used as 24/7 hacklabs. Wired connectivity is limited to one or two jacks in rooms in the Sherbrooke building.
[edit] How much does it cost and how difficult is it to get a big Internet connection?
SiTEL needs to be contacted on this.
[edit] How much work does it imply to cover the area with wireless links?
There is already appropriate coverage in most areas. It is unlikely that the local sysadmins would agree to a separate coverage using other equipment. Wireless use will require requesting a "guest" code from administration before the event.
[edit] If we use someone else's infrastructure, how easy / flexible can that be handled, regarding routing / firewall / ip-range / public access / other stuff?
We need very precise informations to get informations on this, because global networking is managed by SiTEL. They need to be contacted again.
[edit] Do we have restrictions on allowed ports?
Yes. Many ports are blocked by default. We need to get a formal list and discuss whether exceptions can be made for the duration of the event.
[edit] Are we traffic-shaped? Or can we set a traffic shaper if we need so?
[edit] Would it be possible to set up the network before Debcamp?
[edit] Special room
[edit] Server
[edit] Video
[edit] Accommodation
The simplest and cheapest thing to do woulb be to rent student residences. The residences are the most available throughout summer, but we've been recommended the second half of June, as well as the second half of July (taking into account Montreal festivals).
Rooms vary between 1 single room to 8 bedrooms in a shared "appartment" (shared kitchenette and bathrooms). Prices range between 50$ for the shared arrangements to ~100$. A formal quote should be requested. They can accomodate up to about 400 people.
There are a few hotels near the Science complex: <list hotels> ** try to secure a deal with a nearby chain hotel
| Name | Note | Address | Tel | WWW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residences universitaires de l'UQAM | (mi-mai à mi-aout) | Residences de l'Ouest de l'UQAM | 514 987-6669 | www.residences-uqam.qc.ca |
| Hôtel le Saint-André | (Métro Berri-UQAM) | 1285, rue Saint-André, H2L3T1 | 514 849-7070 | www.hotelsaintandre.ca |
| Hôtel Manoir des Alpes | (Métro Berri-UQAM) | 1245, rue Saint-André, H2Z1A2 | 514 845-9803 | www.hotelmanoirdesalpes.qc.ca |
| Hôtel Le Breton | (Métro Berry-UQAM), Tarif pour étudiant | 1609, rue St-Hubert, H2L3Z1 | 514 524-7273 | www.lebreton.ca |
| Hôtel St-Denis | (Métro Berri-UQAM) Tarif pour étudiant (ou "tarif budget") | 1254, rue Saint-Denis, H2L3Z1 | 514 849-4526 | www.hotel-st-denis.com |
| Hébergement Montréal | résidences) Tarif pour étudiant | 1658, rue St-André | 514 524-8344 | www.hebergementmontreal.com |
| Centre option plein air | (Auberge jeunesse, Métro Jean-Drapeau) | 1, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, H3C1A9 | Infos: 514 872-0199, Réservations de groupes: 514 872-0198 | www.optionpleinair.com |
| Auberge de Paris | (Métro Sherbrooke) Tarif pour étudiant | 901, rue Sherbrooke Est, H2L1P3 | 514 522-6861 | www.hotel-montreal.com |
| Hôtel Travelodge | (Métro Saint-Laurent) Tarif pour étudiant | 50, boul, René-Levesque Ouest, H2Z1A2 | 514 874-9090 | www.travelodgemontreal.ca |
| Vacances Canada | (Métro Laurier) Tarif pour étudiant | 5155, rue de Gaspé, H2T2A1 | 514 270 4459 | www.vacancescanadamd.montrealplus.ca |
| Manoir Ambrose | (Métro Peel) Selon les saisons: 70$ à 120$ | 3422, rue Stanley, H3A1R8 | 514 288-6922 | www.manoirambrose.com |
| Auberge internationale de jeunesse de Montréal | (Métro Lucien-L'Allier) | 1030, rue Mackay (angle René-Lévesque), H3B2H1 | 514 843-3317 | www.hostellingmontreal.com |
| Le Y des femmes | (Métro Lucien-L'Allier) | 1355, boul. René-Lévesque Ouest, H3G1T3 | 514 866-9941 | www.ydesfemmesmtl.org |
[edit] Is it able to handle a varying number from 200 to 500 people?
Mostly. Exact capacity is for 480 at the local residence; with another ~400 at another building a few minutes walking distance.
[edit] Is it able to handle non-native speaking people?
As stated on the Montreal's bid main page, Montreal is a bilingual city. Nearly everybody speaks English, especially people working with tourists.
[edit] Will there be a need of a "Debconf" info-desk, or would the local (hotel or such) people be able to handle that themselves?
[edit] Will it be possible for couples to stay in their own rooms?
[edit] How many room keys would be available?
[edit] Are there other hotels around?
Yes. It would be less convenient, more expensive and further away though.
[edit] Are there rooms ready for handicapped people? How many?
[edit] Other
[edit] Transit
UQAM is central to the city. The Science complex is attached to the green subway line, but is very close to the orange subway line and the front of the President Kennedy building serves a few bus routes to go north or west.
