Dear PNW Colleagues,
The PNW AAR/SBL and the hosting team at St. Joseph’s College of the University of Alberta have worked with dedication and excitement to prepare for an exceptional conference experience on May 15-17, 2020. This excitement was heightened by the report of the significant number of paper proposals and acceptances seen this year.
Yet given the ongoing and growing public health concerns associated with the international spread of COVID-19, and in particular its US emergence in the PNW, the PNW AAR/SBL together with SJC have discerned that it is best for all if we cancel the May conference this year. SJC has graciously agreed to do this with no cancelation cost to PNW AAR/SBL
We sought to make this decision in a timely manner before the majority of participants would begin to make travel arrangements, as well as to prevent the spread of a life-threatening virus that could be carried further as a result of our participants travel.
Of course, all event registration fees will be refunded in the next week. Also, presentations confirmed for 2020 will be honored for presentation at the 2021 conference. We are tentatively planned for hosting by SJC, but confirmation and more details will follow in coming months. Please stay tuned.
We recognize this decision will be met with both disappointed and relief. For many of us, this conference is the professional highlight of the spring not just because of the high quality of academic engagement but because of the beautiful and strong connections as well as depth of personal appreciation and professional regard we have developed for each other as a community of scholars.
Thank you to each of you for your support of our remarkable PNW regional.
As an accommodation for all participants, registrations fees via Eventbrite will be fully refunded. In addition, we are pleased to share that St. Joseph’s College has agreed to host the 2021 AAR/SBL Pacific Northwest Conference. Please watch for announcements regarding future plans. Together with SJC the PNW AAR/SBL executive committee will continue to discuss spring dates for 2021 and the various options and take the needed few months to monitor the international health environment.
Sincerely,
Mari Kim, PhD
PNW Regional Director
On behalf of
PNW AAR SBL Executive Committee
St Joseph’s College Conference Planning Committee