TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5T"2004 'ITORQHIQ " Tours Pre-conference bus and boat tours are being offered to SOLEC 2004 participants. Each tour will offer a spectacular view of Toronto including restoration sites, unique facilities and priority clean up areas. The bus tour will also offer a walk along a sandy beach. To register for a field trip or to find out more details including cost and departure times, visit www.SOLECReaistration.ca. The Great Lakes Commission is pieasedto be a sponsor of the SOLEC opening reception on October 5th, This reception vu'll immediately followthe 2004Ainual Meetingof the Commission, Both the meeting and reception vJ I be held it the Beta CheJs ea hotel, SOLEC participants are most vwicometo attend the Commission mertiig; details will be available at maadt.m. DAY ONE - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6™2004 9:00 NATIVE GREETINGS 9:10 PLENARY Welcome from the City of Toronto State of the Great Lakes based on indicators LUNCH AND NETWORK Tl ME 1 :OO INTRODUCTION TO INDICATORS (optional) 2:00 CONCURRENT SESSIONS In depth discussion about the State of the Great Lakes based on the morning plenary 3:00 ADJOURN 6:OO CASH BAR OPENS 7:OO DINNER David Miller, Mayor of Toronto 9:OO PLENARY Day 1 Summary Ecosystem Status Reports: Lake and Connecting Channels Presentations with a focus on physical integrity Lake Ontario and Lake Erie Fishery Reports 12:OO NATIVE CEREMONY LUNCH AND NETWORK TIME 1:3O CONCURRENT SESSIONS In depth discussion on the state of the Lakes and Connecting Channels based on the morning plenary DAY THREE - FRIDAY , OCTOBER ff" 2004 9:00 CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS Workshops will cover a wide range of topics including: Chemical integrity Monitoring Index development Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement review Municipal issues Beaches Watershed reporting Islands And More! ------- .b out SOLEC 2004 Conference Hotel Delta Chelsea 33 Gerrard Street W. Toronto, ON Canada M5G1Z4 Ph: 416 595 1975 Toll Free: 1 800 268 9070 DELTA HOTELS A block of sleeping rooms has been reserved for SOLEC 2004 participants. This block guarantees attendees the room rate of $149 CDN per night plus taxes. Rooms will be available at this rate until September 3rd 2004. Reservations must be made directly with the hotel by calling the telephone numbers provided or by visiting www.deltachelsea.ca/solec. Registration To register online as well as to obtain additional information pertaining to the 2004 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference, visit www.SOLECRegistration.ca. Questions For more information about SOLEC visit www.binational.net or contact: Office of the Regional Science Advisor Environment Canada - Ontario Region 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON L7R 4A6 Ph: 905 336 6458 E-mail: Stacey.Cherwaty@ec.gc.ca Great Lakes National Program Office U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604 Ph: 3128867472 E-mail: Forst.Christina@epa.gov Canada &EPA A s Parties to the Great Lakes Water Quality /^Agreement, the governments of Canada and the United States are responsible for accurate reporting on the state of the Great Lakes. The State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference is a result of this commitment to reporting. With the establishment of a suite of ecosystem indicators, the health of the Great Lakes basin can be objectively assessed. Regular reporting of a core set of indicators will promote more efficient and successful management as well as create more accessible information for policy makers and the public. Participants at SOLEC 2004 will focus on continuing the process of updating and assessing the state of the Great Lakes using the suite of indicators with an emphasis on physical integrity. In response to recent reviews and comments, the Great Lakes indicators will be bundled into new categories in order to help facilitate the indicator reporting process. In addition to assessing the Great Lakes basin as a whole, the status of each lake and connecting river system will also be considered and discussed. Attendees of SOLEC 2004 will also explore the managerial implications of the indicators' assessments in order to assist with decision-making within the Great Lakes basin. Other features of SOLEC 2004 that complement the assessments of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem include a presentation on the concept of an Ecological Footprint for the Great Lakes basin by Dr. Wlliam Rees, University of British Columbia; a presentation on urban perspectives by David Miller, Mayor of Toronto; recognition of outstanding Great Lakes' restoration and conservation projects; and a series of informative workshops on current topics affecting the Great Lakes. ------- |