RESEARCH COMMISSION - TRAVEL
20 - 24 July, 2026
Research Commission
ISME Commission Pre-Conference Seminar 2026
Theme
Celebrating Musical Belonging
Dates
21–24 July, 2026
Venue
The Lotus Centre for Special Music Education &
The Music and Health Research Institute at
the University of Ottawa, Ottawa
Travel
Travelling to Ottawa
The seminar venue, University of Ottawa, is located steps from tourist attractions, museums, shops, and restaurants. The venue address is 50 University Private. Public transit in Ottawa can be unreliable if traveling outside of the downtown core, in which case Uber or taxi is recommended. This includes travel from the airport.
Flight:
Ottawa International Airport (YOW) is approximately 15 km (approximately 20 minutes by car or 45–60 minutes by bus/train) from Pérez Hall. Use the ArriveCAN app to save time upon your arrival. More information available here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/services/arrivecan.html
Public Transit from Airport to Venue
Ottawa has both a bus system and a light rail system. To travel from the airport to the University of Ottawa, the most efficient route is to take bus 105 towards Hurdman/St Laurent, get off at Hurdman B, take train route 1 towards Tunney’s Pasture, and exit at the uOttawa station. This trip takes approximately 45 minutes.
Other Transportation Options
There are also “Airport Limousine Buses” that travel to the downtown core several times an hour and stop at the main hotels downtown. The Novotel Hotel is the one closest to the University. The cost for the limousine bus is approximately $10.
Taxi Cost: approximately $40 (from the airport to the University campus)
Where: Taxis are usually parked just outside the airport in the arrivals area.
Train
200 Tremblay Road—3.5km from venue
Note that tickets must be booked in advance at https://www.viarail.ca
To get from the train terminal to the venue by public transit, walk from the train terminal to Tremblay station, platform 1. Take the O-Train 1 Line to the uOttawa station and walk 500m to the venue.
Bus
200 Tremblay Road – 3.5 km from venue (same as train terminal)
Book your travel to Ottawa by bus at https://www.greyhound.com/bus/ottawa-on/ottawa-via-rail
Rent a car
There are many car rental options from the Ottawa airport. Please visit https://www.yow.ca/parking-transportation/car-rentals for information.
Travel to World Conference
Those traveling from the pre-conference seminar venue to the ISME World Conference in Montreal can take advantage of several travel discounts available exclusively to registered participants. Below is a summary of the options currently offered:
Air Canada: Special flight discounts are available for participants who have completed their conference registration and payment.
Porter Airlines: Up to 10% off eligible base fares (excluding the lowest sale fares) for travel to and from the ISME 2026 World Conference.
VIA Rail Canada: 10% off the best available fares in Economy, Economy Plus, Business, Business Plus, and Sleeper class, subject to each fare plan’s conditions and restrictions.
For further information on these discounts, click this link.
Pro Tip: Easiest way to get from here to the Montreal World conference is VIA Rail train. It is a 2 hour trip and costs approximately $55 CAD. Note that tickets must be booked in advance at https://www.viarail.ca
VIA Rail: Take the O-Line from the uOttawa station to the Tremblay station. Walk approximately 5 minutes to the Ottawa VIA Rail station. Ride the VIA Rail to Montreal’s Gare Centrale. The station is 10–15 minutes from the World Conference site.
Travelling within Ottawa
OC Transpo is the transit authority in Ottawa. There is a light rail line and bus routes. Please consult the OC Transpo website for more information.
Uber is widely available in Ottawa. There are also several taxi companies in Ottawa.
Restaurant Options
There are many restaurant options near the seminar venue. Options on campus can be found at https://www.uottawa.ca/campus-life/eat-campus/restaurants-coffee-shops-more.
Canadian Visa information
Please request a visa invitation letter on the registration form only if you have not already done so for the ISME World Conference.
Helpful links:
2026 SME & MT Events Calendar
| Event | Date | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Deadline | deadline | 11:59 PM |
| 20th July | - | |
| Conference | Tue, 21-Jul-2026 to Fri, 24-Jul-2026 | - |
| Keynote (Diane Kolin) | Wed, 22-Jul-2026 | TBA |
| Canal Boat Tour | Wed, 22-Jul-2026 | 4:00 PM |
| Book Launch | Thu, 23-Jul-2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Conference Dinner | Thu, 23-Jul-2026 | 6:00 PM |
| Optional Visit to Abilities Living Laboratory | Sat, 25-Jul-2026 | AM |
Event Partners / Sponsors
2026 SME & MT Social Activities
Seminar Dinner and Book Launch
Join us as we celebrate the launch of the Oxford Handbook for Special Music Education and Music Therapy, and the ISME SMEMT Commission Legacy Project! Following the book launch we’ll enjoy dinner together at Cafe Nostalgica where we’ll have time to connect and sample Canadian cuisine.
Boat Tour of Scenic Ottawa
Join us for a scenic boat tour hosted by the ISME SME&MT Commission! Explore the beautiful waters of the Rideau Canal and enjoy a relaxing afternoon out on the water. This in-person event will take place at 1 Elgin St, so mark your calendars and get ready for a day of fun and networking with fellow members. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect with others at the seminar while taking in the sights of beautiful Ottawa. Boat tour is from 4:30pm–6:00pm. Please arrive at 4:00pm. See you there!