The Symposium

The Canadian Parrot Symposium is held each year on the Victoria Day long weekend in Victoria, BC. The focus of the event is a line up of expert speakers presenting on a wide variety of parrot related subjects. The presentations are for 30 minutes to one hour in length and include a question and answer period.


11th Annual Canadian Parrot Symposium
May 16-18, 2008
At the Dunsmuir Lodge
In Victoria, BC, Canada

Becoming a Delegate:
Delegates attending the symposium will receive:

• A delegate binder which includes relevant information related to the symposium (for example, schedule, biography of each speaker, evaluation form), informative articles, and promotion materials from sponsors and exhibitors.

• Attend the Hospitality Night on Friday evening in the Peninsula Lounge where you have an opportunity to meet and talk with available speakers and other delegates and parrot enthusiasts. (A menu is provided and food is served as individually ordered and paid for.)

• A pass to attend the speakers’ presentations for the day(s) registered

• Nutritional snacks which includes beverages and finger food. Each day there is a nutritional snack in the morning and the afternoon during breaks between presentations.

• For the day(s) of registration, a ticket for the popular and delicious Dunsmuir Lodge lunch buffet

• For two day delegates only, a ticket to the banquet and auction on Saturday night

• An opportunity to purchase tickets to win one of the Canadian Parrot Symposium raffle prizes.

• An opportunity to visit and purchase items from the exhibitors present at the symposium.

Delegate Costs:

Delegate costs are kept to a minimum to make the symposium as accessible as possible.

Delegate Costs (Canadian funds) are:
      1 day $130
      2 day $245


Dunsmuir Lodge Room Rates (Canadian funds) are:
      $149.00 per night based on single occupancy.
      $187.00 ($93.50 per person) per night, based on double occupancy.
      $225.00 ($75.00 per person) per night, based on triple occupancy.
      $263.00 ($65.75 per person) per night, based on quad occupancy.

It is recommended that delegates pre-register as there is limited registration. For those registering at the event there is an additional registration cost of $10. To register on line (click here), or print off a registration form (click here), fill it out and send it to:
      Canadian Parrot Symposium
      PO Box 35065, Hillside Postal Outlet
      Victoria, BC V8T 5G2
      Or fax to: 250-477-9935

or email: Canadian Parrot Symposium

Symposium memorabilia is also available for purchase, including the speakers’ proceedings for a cost of $20.

Symposium Events

Friday May 16th

Registration: 4:00 to 6:00 pm

Although most delegates pre-register for the symposium to ensure attendance, it is also necessary to register at the event to pick up the delegate binder, meal tickets and identification materials. (registration is also available on Saturday and Sunday morning)

Hospitality event on the Friday night: This event is held in the lovely Peninsula Lounge at the Dunsmuir Lodge overlooking the Saanich Peninsula and available for purchase. The event is an opportunity for delegates to meet the speakers that will be presenting over the weekend. The event is always popular amongst delegates. It is not only a chance to meet the knowledge speakers in an informal setting, it is also an opportunity for delegates to share with each other, the Canadian Parrot Symposium Board members and the exhibitors attending the symposium. The event starts at 7:00 pm with no definite ending time. The Peninsula Lounge offers a bar as well as a selected menu of food items that are prepared on site and available for purchase.


Saturday May 17th

For those staying at the Dunsmuir Lodge, the day begins with a buffet of breakfast fare which is included in the room cost. For more information on accommodations at Dunsmuir Lodge.

Symposium registration takes place in the Lobby from 8:00 am until the first session begins. There are speaker presentations in the morning with one nutritional break at mid morning.

During the nutritional break, delegates can snack in the Peninsula Lounge, or take their refreshments into the nearby exhibitors area and browse at the tables of information and merchandise.

At mid day all delegates and speakers may participate in the Dunsmuir buffet lunch. The mid day break is generally an hour and a half to allow delegates time to eat lunch and take advantage of other activities available.

At mid day on Saturday the silent auction will be open and delegates can place bids on a variety of interesting items. The silent auction completes during the live auction on Saturday night. Some suggestions for activities on breaks: more presentations, a mid afternoon break with nutritional snack, and time to browse the silent auction tables and place your bids.

Saturday evening features a West Coast banquet dinner (includes seafood, feature meat course, salads, desserts).

The banquet is followed by a parrot-focused auction in the Peninsula Lounge. This year we are please to have Dennis Girard, as our auctioneer. Dennis has many years experience in conducting auctions in general and bird auctions specifically.


Sunday May 18th

The registration desk will be open at 8:00 am for those attending Sunday only. Lectures, nutritional snacks and the lunch buffet follow the same format as Saturday.

At the afternoon nutritional break on Sunday, the Canadian Parrot Symposium raffle will be drawn and presented with their prizes.

The symposium activities end in the afternoon with the last presentation.

Some suggestions for activities on breaks: visit the Exhibitors and raffle table, Eat – almost all the breaks include food and drink supplied by the Dunsmuir Lodge, walk on the beautiful grounds of Dunsmuir or the adjoining John Dean Park, relax in the Peninsula Lounge, or visit with delegates and/or speakers