Frequently Asked Questions
1. Getting Here
2. Epiphany Explorations
3. Staying in Victoria
1. Getting Here
How do I get to Victoria from the mainland by car and ferry or by bus?
Victoria is located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Traveling by car, you must take a ferry from Tsawwassen in the Lower Mainland to Swartz Bay, a 1½ hour ferry trip. For information on schedules and fares, please visit BC Ferries. The trip from Swartz Bay terminal to downtown via the Patricia Bay Highway (#17) is approximately 40 km and takes 30 to 45 minutes.
You may travel on the ferry as a foot passenger. Parking is available at the terminal for those who drive to Tsawwassen. You may also take a Pacific Coach Lines (PCL) bus from the Vancouver bus terminal or use the BC Transit system. If you have not already purchased a bus ticket to downtown Victoria, you may either take PCL which boards on the ferry or the local transit bus from the Swartz Bay foot passenger terminal. If you plan to take PCL, please listen for the announcement at the beginning of your ferry trip and purchase your ticket within the first 30 minutes of the sailing. The public transit service is significantly cheaper, but the trip is longer at both ends.
Visit the Victoria Regional Transit System website. for schedules and fares. If you require accessible bus transportation, see the Guide to Accessibility.
Travellers from Washington State have four options:
- cross the border into BC and then take BC Ferries (travel by car or as a foot passenger)
- MV Coho from Port Angeles to downtown Victoria (travel by car or as a foot passenger)
- Washington State Ferries from Anacortes to Sidney, just north of Victoria (travel by car or as a foot passenger)
- travel as a foot passenger on the Victoria Clipper from downtown Seattle to downtown Victoria
How do I get to Victoria by plane?
Our experience over several years has shown that you will often be able to find better airfares by watching for seat sales or online specials than by using a conference number. We therefore have discontinued the practice of having an official airline carrier. Please contact Air Canada or WestJet directly to make your flight arrangements.
Other airlines serving Victoria include Pacific Coastal Airlines and Horizon Air/Alaska Airlines. Float plane service from Vancouver to downtown Victoria is offered by Harbour Air.
We regret that we cannot make individual arrangements to pick you up from the airport. However, since many of you will be arriving on the same day, may we suggest some possible creative planning on your part?
If you wish to share a taxi to the hotel or church, you could hold up signs saying “Epiphany Conference” in the Arrivals area. If others follow suit, you may connect to share transportation.
Another alternative is the AKAL Airport Shuttle, which leaves from just outside the Arrivals area every half-hour. It will transport you to any hotel or bed and breakfast in the city at a cost of approximately $15.00.
Where is First†Metropolitan United Church and how do I get there?
See our “how to find us” page.
Where do I park while attending Epiphany Explorations?
Street parking and the pay parking lots indicated are available year-round. Conference organizers also negotiate with nearby churches and other organizations for parking near First†Metropolitan United Church during Epiphany Explorations. Please check with the registration desk for the cost and location of parking. Please carpool or use the hotel shuttle bus when possible.
2. Epiphany Explorations
Where can I find information about Epiphany Explorations events?
See the Epiphany Explorations section for an overview, details of the next annual event, and archives of past events.
When can I pick up my registration package?
Registration will begin at the church on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 10:00 am and continue throughout the conference for later arrivals. Please use the entrance doors located on Balmoral Road. The Hospitality Team will be on hand to respond to your inquiries about the conference, local arrangements and the City of Victoria. If you are coming directly to the church before going to your hotel or connecting with your billet, a luggage storage room will be available. The on-site bookstore will be open from 11:00 am.
Is the symposium accessible for persons with disabilities?
For information regarding accessibility and other accommodating special requirements during Epiphany Explorations, read our Special Needs policy.
How can I purchase CDs of conference sessions?
CDs of many sessions may be ordered at the conference. An order sheet for these will be enclosed in your registration package. Take your completed order form and cash or cheque for the full amount of the order to the registration desk.
Where can I find some quiet space?
A quiet room for reflection and prayer is provided at First†Metropolitan United Church. Please consult your conference package for the location.
During the conference, the emergency contact number is (250) 888-2150. This phone number, located at the registration desk, may be used to leave urgent messages for conference participants. Messages will be posted on a message board in the Fellowship Hall. Please check the board during breaks for messages. In particularly urgent situations, an announcement may be made during the opening or closing of a session.
How can I return to the airport or ferry terminal?
As offering return transportation by car to the airport or ferry is not environmentally responsible and is prohibitively expensive due to the price of fuel, please make your own arrangements. The AKAL Airport Shuttle offers pickups at the Backpackers Inn Turtle Refuge, 1608 Quadra Street (just half a block from the church) to those who book the shuttle the night before.
Those returning to the ferry terminal can travel economically using public transit or the Pacific Coach Lines service. Schedules for both will be available at the information desk in the registration area.
3. Staying in Victoria
Where can I stay? Who is the hotel partner for this event?
Victoria has a wide range of accommodations in all price ranges. If you prefer to find your own accommodation, you may wish to visit the Tourism Victoria Accommodation listings for a wide range of hotel, bed and breakfast and hostel listings. Our preferred accommodation partners for the conference are:
- Best Western Carlton Plaza, 642 Johnson St. Toll-free phone: 1-(800) 663-7241, ask for Connie Stecyk and ask for the FIRSTMET rate of $75 for up to 3 persons sharing a studio suite (with kitchen) or guest room.
- Executive House Hotel, 777 Douglas St. Toll-free phone: 1-(800) 663-7001. Quote the code EPIPH when reserving. Rate: $76 per night single or double guest room, $96 per 1-bdrm suite, $15 per additional person.
What can I expect if I request billeting?
Billets are available on a first come-first served basis to those who request them prior to December 9, 2012. You will receive confirmation by e-mail, fax or mail 10 days prior to the conference, giving you the name, address and phone number of your billeting hosts. Hosts are expected to provide accommodation for up to four nights and a light breakfast each morning. If you have allergies to food or to pets, or require accommodations for a disability, please note these in your billeting request. The billeting coordinator may contact you by phone or e-mail for more details. Please be reasonable in what you request of your hosts; they are not luxury hotels or bed and breakfasts.
Transportation to and from the conference is not provided. Those traveling without a vehicle will be billeted within walking distance of the church or close to public transit routes.
What is the weather like in late January? What should I bring or pack?
Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada. Although January can be cool, it is rare to have a snowfall. The average monthly rainfall in winter is 5 cm (2″) and the average temperature in January is 3°C (38°F). Although winters are mild, warmer clothing, water-resistant footwear and an umbrella are recommended between the months of November and March. Before leaving home, check the weather forecast for Victoria.
At the conference itself, please dress in layers so that you could put on or remove a sweater or jacket to remain comfortable. The church is a large, old building and while we attempt to adjust the temperature to suit the participants, it is not possible to arrive at a temperature that is comfortable for all.
Where can I have lunch or dinner close to the symposium location?
There are over 15 restaurants offering a variety of cuisines and with varying price ranges within a five block radius of the church. A list of nearby restaurants will be included in your conference package.
Where can I go for some exercise?
If you would like to exercise, the YM/YWCA and the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre are just blocks away.
I would like to walk a labyrinth. Where can I go?
An outdoor labyrinth is located just south of Christ Church (Anglican) Cathedral at Quadra and Burdett Streets (approximately six blocks from First†Metropolitan United Church.)
I would like to attend church services of another denomination—where can I go?
Victoria has congregations of many denominations. Here are some nearby churches:
I would like to spend some time in the City before or after the symposium. What can I see or do?
In winter, Victoria’s mild climate and early spring make it an attractive vacation spot. You can expect to see early flowers such as winter jasmine, snowdrops and flowering plum in late January. May we suggest:
See the Tourism Victoria website for more things to do.
First†Metropolitan United Churchis a heritage building with all the attendant problems related to accessibility that this often implies. However, renovations made in recent years have greatly improved the accessibility of most of the church’s spaces. The Epiphany Explorations Team is committed to assisting those with special needs in making the most of the conference. Please let the Epiphany Explorations Planning Team know of any support you require as to mobility, visual and/or hearing needs, by leaving your name and number at 250-388-5189 and a team member, experienced with special needs, will contact you. It is important that we have such requests as early as possible to be able to accommodate your needs.
