Dear CAA Members,

We regret to inform you that the CAA Board of Directors, in consultation with the 2020 conference organizing committee, have decided to cancel this year’s meeting in Edmonton. The health and safety of our members is our top priority and we want to help moderate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Canada’s healthcare system. Our decision to cancel is based on current projections on the spread of the COVID-19 virus and increased travel restrictions from provincial and federal agencies and universities. Yesterday, the Alberta Government asked organizers to cancel any events that have more than 250 attendees.

We are moving the Edmonton meetings to 2021. The Membertou and Saskatchewan organizing committees have graciously agreed to re-schedule for 2022 and 2023. We encourage members who have submitted abstracts for papers and posters for Edmonton to submit them again for next year’s meeting. We are currently making plans to conduct the annual Board of Directors meeting and AGM remotely. Details will follow soon.

We are working with the Sutton Place Hotel and all hotel room deposits will be refunded. Please contact the hotel directly for cancellation of hotel rooms. The conference organizing committee will be in contact directly with registrants to provide information about registration refunds and will contact session organizers about their sessions. Please stay tuned for information from the conference organizing committee if you have an event planned or had provided sponsorship funds.

The CAA Board of Directors applaud the Edmonton organizing committee, and particularly Kisha Supernant (CAA) and Shawn Bubel (Archaeological Society of Alberta) for all of their hard work over the last year: Edmonton was certain to be an exciting meeting. We hope that everyone who was planning to attend this year’s meeting will consider next year as an alternative. In the meantime, please stay connected with your colleagues and the association through our website, our social channels, and our committees.

We wish you best wishes for the upcoming field season and opportunities to share your research at next year’s meeting and through the CJA.

Please direct any questions or concerns to president@canadianarchaeology.com.

Sincerely,
CAA Board of Directors