CAOAC Convention and Hamilton 75th Birthday Bash

[Jody]

Hey All,

   I am planning to go down to the Hamilton Aquarium Society 75th Anniversary Birthday Bash and CAOAC convention in November.

   It is the weekend of Nov 14-16, and have a nice line up of speakers and events.

   If anyone else wants to go, I am happy to carpool and share a room (I have a room booked already).

   Tickets and information can be found here.

  https://www.hdas.ca/75th-anniversary.html

Jody

[Jody]

Hey All,

 I have my ticket!

Now who is coming with me?

Jody

[Biulu]

Still waiting to hear what the topics of the speakers are going to be before deciding....

[charlie]

Hamilton and District Aquarium Society's 75th Birthday Bash and CAOAC Convention is Fri Nov 14 thru Sun Nov 16 at the Burlington Holiday Inn. If you decide you'd like to stay - both a King Room and Double Queen Room are $135 plus taxes. But book your room soon as this price is only available to Oct 17.
We will be hosting the 5th Canadian Biotope Competition and an Aquascape Competition, a CAOAC Convention first, we will have room for vendors and of course our speakers.

Our Speakers:

Marcus Nicholls - Calgary Aquarium Club

Dean Baayens - Calgary Aquarium Club

Jacqueline Heijman Bennett-Leaver - the Netherlands

Eric Bodrock - Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

and our bonus speaker

Regina Spotti - Great Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

 

Our ask of all the clubs is to bring a donation/gift from your club for the Presidents table draw. Please label your gift with your club information. All guests

Our event looks like this:

Fri - 4:00 - Welcome - check in

7:00 - opening of convention/introduce speakers

7:30 - speaker

8:45 - speaker

Hospitality Suit - mingle

Sat - speakers 9, 10:15, 11:30 lunch 1:30, 2:45, 4

8:30 - 5 - Aquascape Competition

10:00 - 5 - 5th Canadian Biotope Competition

Vendors -

6:00 - cocktails -

6:45 - dinner - buffet

8:00 - any presentations, presidents table draw, draws, 50/50

8:45 - dinner speaker

Hospitality Suit - mingle

Sun - H&DAS Fall 75th Birthday Bash Auction

8:30 - auction doors open

8:30 - Aquascape Competition - prepare your tank for judging

Si

10:30 - Auction starts

11:00 - Aquascape Judging followed by results - Franky Sebastiao

This Auction is open to everyone at no charge. All sellers and buys welcome. H&DAS Fall Auction Rules apply.

 

Donations

 

Northfin -

ZooMed -

Finatics -

Tropica -

Fluval/ Hagen - lighting, filters, skimmers

AquaFlora Canada - plants

Magical Aquariums – tanks

 
Aquascaping

$100 entrance fee

2 people can be on a team $50 each

All Aquascape products are provided - tank, soil, sand, filter, lighting, skimmer

We will provide for each tank 10 plants, rock and wood.

Water will be available

No livestock

You will need to bring Aquascaping tools, scissors, saw

 

We are very fortunate to have Franky Sebastiao joining our Birthday Bash Team

Frank Sebastiao - Scaping the Six!

Frank Sebastiao is a Toronto-based aquascaper whose tanks are equal parts nature, art, and chaos tamed. For the past 7 years, he's transformed Scaping the Six from a single planted aquarium and an oversized dream into a creative hub for nature aquariums, reef builds, and over-the-top aquascaping challenges.

A seasoned competitor, Frank has battled in five worldwide aquascaping contests and three live events, bringing precision hardscape design and cinematic flair to every project. His work has earned him recognition across the Canadian aquascaping community, where he's known for pushing boundaries and sometimes gravity, in pursuit of the perfect scape.

 

All participants:

Fri - 4:00 - 7:00 participants can check your area

Sat - 8:30 to 5 - Aquascape Competition

Sun - 8:30 - prepare your tank for judging

-11:00 - Judging starts followed by results

Good Luck to everyone!

Participants can purchase their set up with notice and payment made before the contest starts

All other tanks will be in a silent auction

Prizes - 3rd - $175 2nd - $275 1st - $375

 

Registration with Franky Sebastiao -

 

Pricing

Full ticket -

Fri thru Sun - all speakers, events, dinner

 

Aug 1 to Sept 14 - $135 changed to Oct 14

Oct 15 to Nov 5 - $150

[charlie]

There is still opportunities for Biotope scapers and Aquascapers

[CarlP]

There is still opportunities for Biotope scapers and Aquascapers

Unfortunately, I'm doing event support in Quebec that weekend.

[charlie]

Great event , first time competitive Aquascapers Greg & Sara proudly took first place   congrats guys.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/shared/GTWwNFJeR7u3LuxvIHWktQ.4QNRbwA1aWs4RS2X-tuann