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Travel Information
Arriving at McMaster University
The U21 HSG 2025 Annual Meeting will take place from August 25-29, 2025, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The meeting will be held at the following two venues:
Venue Location for August 25, 2025
(this is the venue for the Doctoral Student Forum and Student Forum)
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON
L8S 4L8
Canada
Venue Location for August 26-28, 2025
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
The regional public transportation company is GO Transit
From (YYZ) Toronto Pearson International Airport
By Car:
From Toronto Airport (Lester B. Pearson International) via car:
• Exit the airport onto Highway 427 South.
• Exit Highway 427 onto the QEW toward Hamilton.
• Follow detailed directions for coming from Toronto to appropriate campus entrance.
By GO Transit:
GO Transit provides weekday service between Pearson and campus, with a transfer at the Bramalea GO Station to the Highway 407 West service. Pacific Western’s Airport Express to downtown Toronto operates daily. There is a convenient transfer at Toronto Union Station Bus Terminal to GO Transit’s QEW express bus to downtown Hamilton.
From (YYZ) Toronto Pearson International Airport to Hamilton via GO Transit:
From the Niagara Peninsula:
Follow the QEW over the Burlington Skyway Bridge as though going to Toronto.
Take Highway 403 toward Hamilton and exit as described in the directions for coming from Toronto.
At the traffic signal turn left on to Main Street West, and then:
Continue along Main Street West to Emerson Street and turn right at the Main Street West entrance
onto the McMaster campus.
VISA INFORMATION
Customs Requirements
It is the attendee’s responsibility to investigate the visa requirements for Canada and apply for a visa, if necessary.
The nationality of the participants and delegates will determine whether they are required to apply for a visa. Please see the following websites for more information.
Invitation Letters
If you require a visa, you need to obtain and submit an official letter of invitation from the conference organizers to help facilitate the visa process. Please note that letters of invitation are only issued to registered attendees.
Your invitation letter will be sent via email. We are not able to provide letters via postal mail.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Loadable payment card for public transit PRESTO card
Highway bus line GO Transit
Municipal bus line HSR
Taxi service Hamilton Cab
Mobile application car hire service Uber
GENERAL INFORMATION WHILE VISITING CANADA
Currency: the official currency is the Canadian Dollar (CDN, $).
Power plugs & sockets: In all Canadian provinces, and in fact everywhere in North America, the standard voltage is 120 V (with a standard frequency of 60 Hz) rather than the 220 volts used in Europe. However, 110 V old designation, and it is still used by the general public.
European plugs are not compatible with Canadian electrical sockets. A plug adapter or converter is needed to use electrical appliances (e.g. phone charger, camera charger, laptop, etc.) during your Canadian vacation.
Check the label on your devices. Some devices never need a converter. If the label states 'INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz' the device can be used in every country in the world. This is common for devices with chargers like tablets/laptops, photo cameras, cell phones, toothbrushes, etc. For these devices you will only need a power plug adapter.
Time zone (Southern Ontario): Eastern Standard Time
Mobile phones: check with your provider if there are roaming fees while traveling abroad or if there are offers of travel packages to add to your mobile phone invoice.
Internet: when on McMaster University campus, you will be provided with wi-fi log-ins. For any additional internet usage, such as the hotel, you will have to inquire.
Credit cards: most major credit cards are accepted, however, check with your credit card company and/or banking institution.
Tipping, not mandatory, but is engrained into Canadian culture:
Formula to calculate tips or gratuity:
Tip amount = Amount excluding sales tax x (tip rate / 100).
· Restaurants dine-in: 15 to 20 per cent; to wait staff - less for poor service, more for exceptional service.
· For takeout: No tip necessary
· Note: Many restaurants may charge an automatic 15-18 per cent gratuity for large groups. This is up to the individual restaurant but is usually applicable to groups of eight or more.
· Food delivery person 10 per cent
· Bartenders: 15 to 20 per cent of total amount
· Hotel staff Housekeeping staff and maids: $2 to $5 CAD per night
· Concierge: $1 to $20 CAD, depending on the service provided
· Bellhop: $1 to $2 CAD per bag
· Valet: $2 to $5 CAD
· Room service: 15 per cent of the bill (or $2 at a minimum)
· Taxi drivers or Uber/Lyft drivers 10 to 20 per cent, depending on the service offered. If the driver helps you with your luggage or guides you to different places, you should consider tipping on the higher side.
NON-EMERGENCY LINES
Hamilton Police Services
· Telephone: 905-546-4925
· Website: Hamilton Police Services
Campus Safety Services
· Telephone: 905-525-9140 extension 24281
· Website: Campus Safety Services
EMERGENCY LINES
Hamilton Police Services
· Telephone: 911
Campus Safety Services
· Telephone: 905-525-9140 extension 88
