Social Events
Icebreaker at Heritage Park
Monday, September 16, 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket. Additional tickets are available for $100 USD each. Children ages 3-9 are $50 USD additional. No ticket needed for children under 3.
Kick off the 2024 AZA Annual Conference in true Calgary style at the iconic Heritage Park Historical Village! Nestled in southwest Calgary, Heritage Park sits on a 127-acre peninsula surrounded by the Glenmore Reservoir on three sides with the majestic Rocky Mountains providing a breathtaking backdrop for your first night in town.
On arrival, you will be warmly welcomed in true Western fashion and transported into a nostalgic wonderland where you can explore the history of the area and indulge in food and drink pairings with a prairie flair. Attendees will receive two complementary drink tickets; cash bar will be open until 9:30 pm. The entertainment lineup will keep us true to our roots with a country music band and Indigenous performers. Enjoy the amusement park rides, the ice cream parlour, and old-time candy shoppe. Don’t forget to snag photos of the showstopping landscapes as you make lasting memories with friends, new and old.
Heritage Park is a 25–30-minute bus ride from downtown Calgary. Transportation will be provided from the BMO Centre at Stampede Park. First bus will leave BMO Centre at 4:30 pm. Last bus will leave BMO Centre at 7:00 pm. Buses will return to two central hotels downtown/C-train stop at the end of the night.
If you are unable to make it to registration prior to the Icebreaker, you can still attend the event. Volunteers will have a list of registered attendees at the entrance to the Icebreaker. Please be advised, tickets cannot be purchased at the door.
Zoo Day at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
Thursday, September 19, 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket. Additional tickets are available for $100 USD each. Children ages 3-9 are $50 USD additional. No ticket needed for children under 3.
Celebrate a great conference with an unforgettable journey through “Canada’s most-visited zoo”! The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is delighted to warmly welcome you to Zoo Day, a time to explore and connect with friends new and old and experience the sights and sounds of more than 4,000 animal residents amidst the backdrop of stunning garden landscapes. The zoo is nestled on 127-acres at the heart of Calgary and has been a treasured destination for Canadians for almost 100-years.
Hop on the C-train from one of the many stations located outside of the city’s major hotels and make your way to your ZooDay adventure. When you arrive, you can pick up your lunch and enjoy it in any of the green spaces or at the various concessions located throughout the park. As the zoo will close its doors to the public for the day, you’ll have rare and exclusive access to back-of-house opportunities, tours, animal spotlights, informative demonstrations, engaging Wilder Moments presented by Servus Credit Union, and much more!
Experience firsthand the passion and dedication of our teams as they open their hearts, heads and doors to share their workspaces and expertise with you!
After 5:00 pm the zoo will transform into “A Taste of Canada”. Explore coast to coast of our great northern nation with pop-up themed zones featuring a range of entertainment, bars serving up refreshing libations, carefully curated food stations serving up Canadian culinary delights prepared by our in-house award-winning culinary team, along with interactive activities. Each attendee will be given two complimentary drink tickets. As the northern skies darken after 8:00 pm, we’ll light up the night and toast to an inspiring AZA Annual Conference! With good company, delectable cuisine, and vibrant music, an unforgettable evening awaits! The festivities will continue until 10:00 pm when you can catch the convenient C-train or a complimentary bus back to your hotel.