Social & Networking

Opening Reception

On August 2 at 6 pm, we are excited to welcome you to the conference’s opening reception, held in the innovative foyer and halls of the Art Gallery of Alberta. After brief opening remarks, you will be given access to enjoy all of the floors and galleries of the venue, including an upstairs outdoor patio. Light refreshments and drinks will be served throughout the building, including a culinary selection showcasing the diversity of Edmonton’s thriving food scene.

During the first hour of the event, we will also specifically invite trainees to join in an interactive art creation event, supported in part by the IEEE RAS Biorobotics Technical Committee.

We are now also happy to offer extra tickets to the opening reception for accompanying persons, as we have done for the banquet, at the same cost. If this is of interest, please purchase your ticket using the existing “Guest Banquet” category in the registration system. We will contact you to confirm whether each purchase is for the guest banquet or the reception.

Directions to the event can be found on our venues page, and volunteers will also be available to help direct guests to the gallery from the ECC.

Banquet and Award Ceremony

The conference’s banquet dinner and award ceremony will be held in the main conference venue’s Hall C on August 3, 6:15 pm - 9:30 pm. We invite all attendees and any accompanying guests who have purchased additional banquet tickets to join us for a lively evening of entertainment and regionally sourced food curated by Executive Chef Serge Belair—one of Canada’s top culinary experts and 2012 Chef of the Year.

Edmonton is a top theatre destination, having the largest yearly fringe festival outside of Edinburgh. While our festival starts later in the month, we don’t want you to miss the show! In addition to the formal proceedings, during dinner service you will be treated to a live performance by Rapid Fire Theatre, Edmonton’s longest-running improv theatre company. Entertaining audiences for 40 years, they have appeared at festivals all over the world, including Berlin, Milan, and Sydney. (Don’t worry, you will not be brought on stage; you may be asked to shout out ideas though!)

The evening will conclude with time to mingle with new and old friends, and further celebrate the awardees announced earlier in the evening.