Festival Essentials: What You Need to Know

We want you to focus on the ideas and connections of the Festival, not the logistics. Whether you’re joining us on campus at the University of Alberta for the first two days or hopping online for Day 3, this guide contains the practical "essentials"—from transit and parking to accessibility and sustainability—to help you navigate your experience with ease.

WHEN AND WHERE

Days 1 + 2 (April 28 - 29)

In-person at the Lister Conference Centre (11613 87 Avenue NW, North Campus, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta). When you arrive at Lister, please proceed up to the 2nd floor and check in with the festival welcome table.

Lister Centre
Lister Centre entrance

Check the April 28 and April 29 schedules for session times and room locations.

Day 3 (April 30)

Fully online, via Zoom. Session links will be posted to the April 30 Festival Schedule.

GETTING TO THE FESTIVAL

We encourage participants to use sustainable transit options where possible. Whether you are arriving by train, bus, or car, here is how to find us:

  • LRT (Light Rail Transit): The closest station to the Lister Centre is the Health Sciences/Jubilee Station. From there, it is a 5-7 minute walk west to the Lister Centre.

  • Bus: Multiple routes stop along 87 Avenue and near the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (neighbouring Lister). Use the ETS Trip Planner for real-time updates. 

    For bus routes stopping at the University Transit Centre, it is a 10–15 minute walk to the Lister Centre.

If you are driving to the festival, a variety of parking options are available nearby; the following parkades are closest to the venue: 

  • Lot M & Lot R
  • Jubilee Car Park
  • Varsity Parkade
Please note that hourly and daily parking rates apply.
See the University of Alberta Parking Services website for more information.

There are bike racks around campus, with secure parking options for which you can purchase a permit. Bikes are not permitted inside buildings. Learn more here.

Check out Discover YEG for walking and bike paths around campus and beyond.

WI-FI CONNECTIVITY

Stay connected during the festival with the following Wi-Fi options:

  • U of A participants: Connect to eduroam or UWS using your CCID and password.

  • External guests: Use the Guest@UA network. This service is provided to offer short-term network connectivity and requires that the visitor provide an email address and then verify the validity of their email by clicking on a link in a message sent to them to stay connected.

ACCESSIBILITY + INCLUSION

We recognize that accessibility is essential to every individual’s full participation. We are dedicated to providing accommodations and resources that address the diverse needs of our attendees, speakers, and presenters, and offer the following at the Festival of Teaching + Learning:

All in-person sessions on April 28-29 will utilize AI-generated live captioning via Zoom, which will appear on all projection screens. Festival participants will also be able to connect to Zoom to caption locally on their own devices for in-person sessions. During our online sessions on April 30, participants can enable closed captioning in Zoom.

Lister Conference Centre is fully wheelchair accessible, including all session rooms and washrooms. There is an elevator to the second floor via the main entrance.

The University of Alberta offers inclusive spaces for reflection and prayer:

Find other multi-faith spaces »

SUSTAINABILITY + WAYFINDING

We aim to host a festival that is as environmentally conscious as it is easy to navigate. By being mindful of our footprint and prioritizing digital resources, we hope to make the event both sustainable and user-friendly:

  • Digital program: To ensure you have the most up-to-date information and to reduce bulk printing, we do not provide printed full-length programs. Please bookmark the digital schedule on your mobile device/laptop for session descriptions and real-time updates.

  • On-site wayfinding: To help you find your way on-site, a full master schedule will be posted at the welcome desk. Additionally, each session room will have its daily schedule posted at the door so you can quickly confirm you are in the right location for your chosen session.

  • Badge return: Please help us reduce waste! We ask that you please return your badge holder to the collection bins at the festival welcome desk at the end of your final in-person day so they can be reused for future events. Feel free to keep the lanyard!

Note to Attendees:
While the festival program is digital, some presenters may choose to provide physical handouts to support their specific sessions.

FOOD + REFRESHMENTS

Lunch and refreshments are provided on Day 1 and Day 2 of the festival. We have worked to accommodate specific dietary needs shared during registration, including but not limited to vegan, gluten-free, and halal-certified options. 

NEED MORE HELP?

Please stop by the festival welcome desk in our main conference space or speak with a CTL Team member.