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Survivor Conference 2024: FAQs

Here are some answers to some of the most common questions we get about Survivor Conference. 

Q stands for question. A stands for answer.

THE BASICS

Q. What is the Survivor Conference all about? 

A. Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC) has been offering our Survivor Conference since 2007. The event is designed for young adults that have been diagnosed with cancer before the age of 40, as well as their closest supporters in a similar age and stage of life. 

The conference brings us to connect and learn things that can help them move forward or beyond the cancer experience. Through the conference, we want to give you information that you can use to regain some of the control you may have lost—or felt like you lost—while dealing with cancer and help you move forward and to feel supported while doing it. We do this through keynote speakers, workshops, intentional social interactions, and free time.

Q: Where and when is the 2024 Survivor Conference?

A: The 2024 Survivor Conference is happening in Toronto, ON from December 5-8, at the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre (30 Carlton Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2E9,) Canada.

Q: I might have other commitments during the weekend of the conference, am I able to come and go as necessary over the weekend?

A: We understand that obligations can be difficult to move or change and attending the full weekend may be difficult. Ideally, and to make the most of the event, we do encourage everyone to attend all or most of the programmed activities, even the social ones. It allows you to learn new skills, and above all, make lifelong connections with people from all over the country.  

For years now, we have had an overwhelming amount of interest in the Survivor Conference and have had a waitlist of people who we are unfortunately not able to fit in. If participants were to leave for big parts of the conference, it would mean an empty seat that may have been filled by someone on the waitlist who could have attended the whole event. 

We have also been told by individuals that did come and go in the past, that the experience was not all it could have been for them, and they wished they had made the decision to stay for the full event. 

If you know that something will keep you from attending parts of it, we will ask that you let us know so we can see the best options to maximize your experience.

Q: Am I allowed to bring a supporter with me? 

A: Yes. We encourage you to bring a supporter (who also fits within the criteria of being 18-39* years of age). When trying to decide on this supporter, please ensure it is someone you are completely comfortable with. Topics, such as sex, relationships, fears, etc. may come up and you want to make sure you are with someone that you are comfortable sharing these experiences with. A sibling, a best friend, or a romantic partner are all great choices). Also, while we know some of you may have great relationships with your parents, not everyone does, and some topics may make participants uncomfortable to discuss in front of a parental figure, so we do not allow parents to attend as your supporter. If you do want to bring a supporter with you, they must also register before being confirmed. 

*If your closest supporter is older than 39, please connect with us and we will discuss options

REGISTRATION & FEES

Q: How do I apply for the Conference?

A: You can apply online by clicking here. If you have any trouble with this, please email [email protected]. After applying, we will send you an email confirming reception of your application within a couple of days. Once applications have been processed, we will reach out again on whether you have been given a space or not.  If you do not receive any email from [email protected], check your spam folder and if there is still nothing, please connect with us as your application may not have been submitted correctly. 

Q What does the registration fee cover? 

A: The registration fee helps to offset some of the cost of food, program content and activities from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon. We have different options for you to choose from based on your financial situation. You can find all the details here.

Q: I cannot afford the registration fee and/or my travel to Ontario. Is there anything YACC can do to help? 

A: We never want finances to be the only reason someone does not attend our events. We have various financial assistance options available. When applying just indicate this, in the appropriate area, and we will connect with you directly on the options that work best for you.

Q: What happens to the money I raise for my participation if I need to cancel?

When a donor makes a donation, a tax receipt is sent out automatically and therefore we cannot refund the transaction. If you have questions, please connect with [email protected].

Q: I am fundraising to help offset the cost of my travel, what happens to the money I fundraise if it is more than the cost of my plane ticket to the conference?

A: Any extra money raised by conference participants goes directly into the Expansion Pack. While YACC does have a small budget for travel assistance, it cannot cover all of the financial needs for everyone travelling to the event. The expansion pack can help with these additional costs. Any money you raise above and beyond what you need, will go towards helping another participant pay for their travel or access to more of YACC’s in person programming.

Accommodation & Travel

Q: Do I need to book my own accommodations? What is the cost of these accommodations? What about additional days (I may decide to come early or stay a few days later)?

A: If you are not able to pay for your accommodation while at the Survivor Conference, you can select the “YACC-funded with hotel” or “partially-funded with hotel” option when registering and if/when you are confirmed, we will take care of the booking and the room fees for the duration of the Conference (Checking in: Thursday, December 5; Checking out: Sunday, December 8).

However, if you want to come early/stay late in Toronto/ON, you will need to arrange (and pay) for that yourself. Please be sure to make your own arrangements for any additional days.

If you can pay for your own hotel room and are planning to stay at the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Center, you can select the “self-funded” option when registering and we will send you the link to the room block once you are confirmed. The hotel has a special rate for our group at $209/night + taxes. You will need to book your room using the link before November 5, 2024. After that date, the hotel can’t guarantee space or rate.

If some of your YACCer friends are also planning on attending, you can share a room to save on the cost. Just connect with them and arrange things accordingly. Remember, YACC will not be booking rooms on your behalf unless you are attending as a “YACC-funded with hotel” or “partially funded with hotel” participant. 

If you are in Toronto, you can register for an option with “no hotel” and go back home if you choose to and join us for meals and programming throughout the day and evening. 

Finally, anyone needing accommodation and who is not planning on staying at the hotel where the conference takes place can also check sites like Airbnb or Vrbo for possible accommodations. And couch surfing is also a thing if you have good friends who have good couches! 

Q. I am planning on booking my flight, is there anything I need to know? 

A. Yes! All participants must be at the hotel and registered with YACC staff by 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Program will start promptly at 5 p.m. so you will need to be ready. YACC registration will take place from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the hotel. 

You can book your return flight for any time after 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 8 as there will be no official programming that afternoon. 

Once you have your travel booked, please send us your itinerary at [email protected]. All travel information must be submitted by November 15, 2024.

Q. Once I get to Toronto, how do I get to the hotel?

A. If you are flying into Toronto, you can explore options to get to the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Center here. 

If you are arranging your own transportation to the hotel, please ensure you are at the hotel and checked in with YACC volunteers by 4 p.m. 

Q. I am receiving Financial Assistance to help with my travel, how do I go about booking my travel?

A. If you are flying, you will book your own flight to Toronto (see information above on dates and times of booking). Then you send us a copy of the itinerary/receipt to [email protected]. We will then send you an email money transfer (emt) which will include your allocated travel assistance and/or any additional money you may have fundraised. 

If you are driving, taking a train or a bus, etc. you must keep your receipts (gas, ticket, mileage, etc.) and send them to us after the Conference. We will then reimburse you for the travel amounts based on the same travel assistance criteria mentioned above (within the flying section).

Q. I am from the Toronto area, do I stay at the hotel too?

A. If you live in/near Toronto, you can go back home each night. However, if for logistical or personal reasons you would need to stay at the hotel, please make sure to select the option that best suits your financial situation when you register.

Q: If I am staying at the totel and YACC books my room, how many people are in each room, and can we choose our roommates?

A: For everyone who chose the option where YACC pays for their room, there will be two people to a room. If you are bringing a supporter, we will make sure you are able to room with them unless you ask otherwise. For those of you coming on your own, you can request to share a room with another survivor if you know someone else who is coming. Otherwise, we try to match roommates based on gender, age and diagnosis and we will contact you before we match you to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable.

Q: What insurance/medical travel insurance do I need?

A: Each province and personal insurance are different. Please make sure you consult with your provincial body and/or personal insurance to determine what you would need when travelling outside of province. Also, do not forget to bring along your medical card; insurance cards; and photo IDs. 

Food & Dietary Concerns

Q. How does the food situation work at the hotel? 

A: YACC will be covering the following meals: 

If you need more food to get you through the day please come prepared. Please bring any special foods you need that you feel we may not have available. 

If you are not financially able to afford covering the supper on Friday night, please email us at [email protected] and we will find a solution with you. 

Q. I require special assistance or have dietary restrictions, whom do I contact?

A: We will contact everyone who is confirmed to attend to enquire about dietary needs. We will then work with the hotel to ensure your dietary restrictions, or any physical restrictions are met. You can also email us at [email protected] if necessary. 

Q: What happens if I am registered and then I need to cancel? 

We know that many things can happen between the time you register and the time you check-in at the conference. You will receive a full refund if you need to cancel before November 15, 2024. We will look at options of anyone who needs to cancel after this date for the following reasons:

If you are registered and you need to cancel due to personal reasons you must email [email protected] as early as possible. We always have a waitlist for this event, so we want to give those individuals as much notice as possible so they can plan their trip with enough time.

Getting Ready to Go!

Q: What is the dress code for the conference?

A: We want you to be comfortable. No three-piece-suits are necessary for a YACC conference. Feel free to wear your “Saturday best” such as your jeans and sneakers, jogging pants and flip-flops, or anything else that you can chill out in and be comfortable. 

Q: What items should I plan to bring/pack?

A: Everyone has specific needs/preferences, but here is a guideline you can use when planning your trip:

Program

Q. Do I have any choice over the workshops/program elements I participate in?

A. Yes, we will share the full program details in the coming weeks, and you will be able to explore which sessions might be most interesting to you. Some of those sessions will have limited spaces, but many are happening more than once, so you should have a chance to attend as much as desired!

Q. I am excited for the SC speakers and workshops, but I also want to connect with my cancer buddies on a social level. Will there be time/plans for that?

A. Of course. We have factored free time into each day. Sometimes it will be in the daytime, sometimes in the evening. This is time in which we encourage you to meet and chat with your fellow participants. 

Q. I am coming alone, and I am wondering if there will be any planned social activities I could join with?

A. Yes. We are excited to have amazing volunteers who will help us with that. The activities for the conference will include things like games night at the hotel, pub night, movie night, karaoke night, daytime excursion exploring the city, etc. However, it should be noted that most of these activities will be separate from the program, so any additional fees/costs are to be covered by individual participants unless otherwise planned. 

FEELING UNSURE?

Q. What should I do if am nervous about flying across the country to meet a group of people I do not know?

A. We know it can be daunting to choose to get on a plane, fly to the middle of the country to meet up with a bunch of people you do not know to participate in (quite likely your first ever) “cancer conference.” First, know that you are not alone in these feelings. Typically, each year our Survivor Conference is about half full of “newbies” (people who have never been to a Conference before), so you will likely be in the majority. 

Second, know that our staff are trained professionals. We have been offering successful, life changing, face-to-face programming since 2005. You are in good hands. 

One thing you can do before you get to the conference is to join (if you haven’t already) and participate in our private Facebook group or our other online offerings like chats and support groups. It is a great place to meet people before the event. While we know it is a digital relationship at first, once you meet, you will feel like you have been friends forever. If you are not a part of the Facebook group, and you would like to be, just connect with us ([email protected]) and we will make sure you get hooked up. If you are not on Facebook, but still want to connect with someone attending the conference, the chats or support groups are then the perfect space to do so while getting amazing support from your peers. 

Q: I have never been to a “cancer conference” before. Will I have to participate in support group sessions where emotions may run high? 

A: The simple answer is no. You don’t have to participate in anything you are not comfortable with. However, the activities and sessions happening at the Survivor Conference are not in a typical support group format. We mostly offer keynote speakers, workshops, panels and lots of free/fun time. If, however, your emotions do run a little high, don’t worry. We have trained professionals onsite that you can connect with. 

Q: My abilities change day to day. Will I be able to change my program choices based on my abilities that day?

A: We absolutely want you to have the best experience possible at the conference. If you are not feeling up to participating in the free time activities or evening activities, please feel free to take some relaxation time. If on the day, you are feeling better than ever, we hope you will take in everything you can. 

We do encourage you to attend all the group presentations and workshops to maximize the benefits while still listening to your body. 

MORE ABOUT TORONTO

Toronto – Local Sites and Attractions

We are so happy to be bringing our conference to Toronto once again! Included in this section are tips, ideas, etc. that may help make your stay in the area a little better. Whether you are staying a few extra days, or you want to explore during your conference free time, this document should give you some great ideas. 

The Hotel

The Conference is being held at the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre (30 Carlton Street Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2E9, Canada). The following amenities are located at the hotel:

In the Area: 

Toronto is full of fun and activities! The hotel lists many of these on its website and there are many more to discover. 

Q: My question is not listed in this section, who do I contact for more details?

A: Please contact us at [email protected] and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also call our toll-free number at 1-877-571-7325 

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