Conference FAQ - Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

What is the difference between the Pre-Conference and the Conference?

The Pre-Conference is only one day, on May 7th. The Conference takes place from May 8th to May 10th.

For the Pre-Conference, registration and prices are different and in addition to the Conference itself. Please see the tables below for more information on pricing.

During the Pre-Conference, there are half-day sessions or full-day sessions that you must choose in advance when you register online.

During the Conference, the sessions mostly last 1:15 hours and you do not have to register in advance to attend. You can simply choose the session you want to attend and walk-in.

Early-Bird (Before January 31st, 2020)

	Pre-Conference (Half-Day)	Pre-Conference (Full Day)	Conference (One Day)	Full Conference
CCPA Students**	70	105	125	215
CCPA Members	105	175	215	395
Non-Members	120	205	260	485

Regular (After January 31st, 2020)

	Pre-Conference (Half-Day)	Pre-Conference (Full Day)	Conference (One Day)	Full Conference
CCPA Students**	75	115	155	260
CCPA Members	115	195	255	485
Non-Members	135	235	335	635

How do CECs work and how many are allocated for each day?

Continuing Education Credits (CECs) are required in order to keep the CCC designation with CCPA. Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) must submit 36 CECs during their 3-year certification period.

The CCPA Annual Conference awards 18 credits in total, and the Pre-Conference allows 6 credits, for a total of 24 credits. When you pick up your registration package upon arrival to the conference, you are tracked as having attended and CECs are added to your file automatically about 2 to 3 weeks after the conference if you are a CCPA member in good standing.

Please see below a table explaining awarded CECs for the Conference.

Activity	Credits Awarded
Pre-Conference Half-Day – May 7	3
Pre-Conference Full Day – May 7	6
Conference May 8 – 10	18
One day (May 8 or 9)	6.5
One day (May 10)	5

How can I get proof of attendance?

CCPA members can download their CEC transcript a few weeks after the conference, once the CECs are added to their file, in order to get a proof of attendance.

Non-members can request a free transcript for the event by contacting the CCPA national office continuing education department at [email protected].

Do I need to register each morning by dropping by the registration desk?

No. You only have to register once upon your arrival even if you are attending multiple days.

Will there be a full program printed and given out to delegates?

No. Only the program at a glance will be printed and given out to you when you register. If you would like to have the full program printed out, the hotel usually has a workstation with computers and printers. This can be on the expensive side so we encourage you to print your own copy and bring it with you if you wish to have full session descriptions.

The most up-to-date program can be found here https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/conference-programs/. Any last-minute changes will be posted near the registration desk during the event.

How does the program work and how do I navigate it? Some definitions and description of events

First-Timer’s Orientation

If this is your ﬁrst CCPA Conference, then this is the ideal opportunity to network and hear a special presentation on how to get the most out of the CCPA Conference. Whether you are a student, a new professional, or a ﬁrst-time Conference attendee, this session is for you! It will take place on May 7^th from 5 to 6 PM. Light refreshments will be served.

Keynote Presentations

Keynotes are our main attraction and will all be held in the Ballroom located on the banquet level (2^nd floor) of the Westin Hotel. The ballroom is the combination of the Saskatchewan & Manitoba rooms when the wall separating both is opened. Please refer to the following banquet level floor plan for a visual: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/business-meeting/yegwi-the-westin-edmonton/#m-capacity-container.

Session Levels

Presenters have identified the target audience knowledge of their presentations in order to better assist you in choosing a session that is right for you. Presentations have been identified as: Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Poster Sessions

Poster sessions are sessions where multiple delegates will be present to speak to their research and/or practice with the help of a visual poster. All poster sessions are listed in your conference program. Poster sessions take place during two time slots on Saturday May 9th in rooms Alberta and Yukon on the banquet level (2^nd level) of the Westin hotel. Please refer to the following banquet level floor plan for a visual : https://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/business-meeting/yegwi-the-westin-edmonton/#m-capacity-container.

Conversation Café

Stroll into the conversation café room and you will find presenters sitting at different numbered tables. Find the list of conversation café session presenters and titles to identify which presenter is sitting at which table. Sit at the table you want more information on and the presenter will talk about that topic and answer your questions. After 15 minutes, a bell will ring. At that point, have another look at the program and go to another table to sit with a different presenter and get information about another topic you are interested in.

Social Activities

We have reserved nights of fun for conference delegates to show you what the city has to offer – all at special rates! Join fellow delegates on these outings to take full advantage of your time in Edmonton. Register through our registration system and visit the following webpage for more details https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/social-activities/.

Indigenous Gathering Space

Indigenous protocol includes the tradition of greeting and gathering with other Indigenous counsellors and counsellors working in Indigenous communities, the connections we make with each other at our national conferences are an extremely important and valuable part of the experience for us. The Indigenous Gathering Space is a room where we can meet, and a room where individuals who seek a quiet place to reflect in the midst of all the conference workshops and activities can go.

This year, the Indigenous Gathering Space will be available from the 8^th to the 10^th in room Chairman on the banquet level (2^nd level) of the Westin Hotel. Please refer to the following banquet level floor plan for a visual: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/event-planning/business-meeting/yegwi-the-westin-edmonton/#m-capacity-container.

Do I need to choose all conference sessions in advance and register for each one of them?

No. You can choose the session you want to attend on the spot and simply walk in. First-come, first-served basis.

However, because we have limited seats in our pre-conference sessions, you need to choose the sessions you want to attend when you register online.

What are Chapter AGMs?

Many members belong to one or more CCPA Chapters depending on their field of work, their location or their interests. If you are a member of one or more Chapters, you might be interested in what the Chapter does and what their plans for the future are. AGM stands for Annual General Meeting. AGMs are a chance to meet and work together on issues involving the Chapter’s mission and even get involved on the Chapter’s executive.

Is there food provided during the conference?

CCPA provides break food and refreshments during those time slots throughout the conference (refer to program for exact times). Certain events such as our Welcome Reception, First-Timer Orientation and our AGM provides food but full meals are on your own.

Is there parking available on premises?

For information about parking at the Westin Edmonton Hotel, visit https://edmontonparkingguide.ca/westin-hotel-parkade/.