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!

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                                                  .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.

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