Frequently Asked Questions About the 2025 International Convention & Travel to Canada

When will registration and hotel information be available?
Actual online registration and housing site links and print forms will be communicated to the Fellowship starting in August of 2024.  Registration opens September 10, 2024, at Noon Eastern Time.

Registration and housing questions?
Call (514) 380-9375. Press 1 for English, press 2 for Spanish, press 3 for French, or email: 2025IC@showcare.com.

How much is the registration fee to attend the 2025 International Convention?
The General Service Board has approved the 2025 International Convention fee so that when registration opens in September of 2024, it will cost $160.00 (USD) per person.  On April 15th, 2025, the price will increase to $185.00 (USD), where it will remain that price for those registering on site when the convention begins.

In the past I have been able to register and book my housing by filling out a printed registration form and mailing it in.  Is this still an option?
We are broadly distributing the Registration Brochure containing a printed registration form. The brochure is filled with specific information about the 2025 International Convention you will want to review.

The Print Form Registration Process will allow attendees to pay for the registration fee and our additional product offerings by check or money order only.  If your print registration form arrives by mail to Showcare before registration opens, it will not be processed until September 10, 2024. 

If you register by mail and select that you want to obtain housing, a link to the housing system by our vendor, Showcare, will be emailed to you to complete your reservation.  Regardless of whether you paid for registration by check or money order, you must provide a credit card to reserve and pay for your housing. 

What types of housing are available?
In addition to traditional hotel rooms, we also have dormitory housing available at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Simon Fraser University (SFU).  We also have options available through Airbnb.Once you have completed your registration you will be provided the option to book a hotel room or this alternate dormitory housing or an Airbnb.

Will there be virtual sessions or post-convention video products for those who are unable to attend in-person?
You can use the Online Registration or Print Registration Form to:

• Register for a Virtual Session Program Track. This is a two-day 8 session virtual program track. The sessions will be live streamed as they are taking place and will not be available for purchase after the Convention. Cost is $35 (USD).
• Purchase the 2025 International Convention Three Big Meetings Video Product.  It will be an anonymity-protected video recording available for viewing after the Convention is over.  Cost is $60 (USD)

Must everyone register? I thought I didn’t have to pay to go to an A.A. event.
Yes. Everyone must register. Attendance at this special celebration is voluntary, and, as responsible A.A. members, “we pay our own way.” The International Convention is paid for by those A.A.s who participate in it.

Can I book housing on my own?
As for previous international conventions, we have blocked and negotiated rates for our convention hotel and dorm rooms.  For the 2025 International Convention some of our policies and procedures have changed to accommodate specific conditions in Vancouver and to facilitate overall fairness in access to convention housing.  You may still make your own private housing arrangements but would not have access to our convention housing block unless you book through the convention site.

As in past conventions, registration and housing are linked. Meaning that you cannot request convention housing without being registered and you cannot request or reserve more than 2 rooms of our convention housing inventory.

We strongly suggest you book housing as you register for the convention to take advantage of our special convention room rates.

Will there be any camping sites available as a housing option? 
We will not be offering camping sites as part of our housing options for the 2025 International

Camping:
Parks BC – this is the central hub for all camping in BC.  Attendees will want to search by “near Vancouver” as they won’t know any of the park names AND use the filter on the left to select Vehicle Camping to shortlist to appropriate camps.

• Reservations Info
• Porteau Cover Park; Golden Ears Park are both within 1 hour drive of downtown Vancouver.
• Article about the best private campgrounds near Metro Vancouver - most are 45 mins to 1 hour distance, while some are over 2 hrs.
• Forest Farm Retreat (Maple Ridge) about 1 hour drive from Maple Ridge to downtown Vancouver.

RV Parks:

• Capilano River RV Park. West Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Burnaby Cariboo RV Park and Campground. Burnaby, British Columbia.
• Anmore Camp & RV Park. Anmore, British Columbia.
• Plaza RV Park: Surrey, British Columbia.
• Dogwood Campgrounds & RV Park. Surrey, British Columbia.
• Tsawwassen RV Resort.

Will there be accommodation for people with accessibility needs?
Yes, when registering for the convention you can request accommodation for whatever your accessibility needs may be. More information will be available as you participate in the registration and housing process. Our convention is unique, and most cities cannot accommodate all the special and ADA requests of our attendees. Facilities would be assigned on a first come first serve basis.

My group would like to book their housing together. How do we go about booking a group reservation?
Given the unique make up and location of our convention housing inventory, we are no longer able to facilitate Group Housing requests for the 2025 International Convention. Thank you.

I am traveling with a member of Al-Anon. Will there be programs for them? Do they need to register separately?
You will have to register every member of your party, including Al-Anon members, at the same time. There will be programing specifically for members of Al-Anon, taking place at a hotel on the Convention Campus. Details will be announced closer to the date of the convention.

Are there any discount codes for air travel or car rental?
Yes.  The codes can be found on our Registration Brochure located on https://www.aa.org/international-convention. 

How will I get around Vancouver?
To keep the registration fee affordable, no door-to-door shuttle bus service will be available (except for attendees with accessible needs). TransLink is Vancouver’s transit system that services most of the downtown and surrounding areas. A discounted TransLink Convention Pass will be available through the registration process. For more TransLink information regarding schedules and stations go to TransLink.ca.

Do I need to rent a car?
Vancouver is known for being a very walkable city with an efficient public transportation system TransLink, which we expect attendees to take full advantage of. If you feel like a car might be better suited for your needs, then please feel free to rent one.

Will scooters be available for rent?
Yes. More information on scooter rentals and other mobility devices will be available through Scootaround. This will be separate from the registration process.     

I would like to suggest a speaker. How are speakers chosen for the 2025 International Convention?
Following the opening of registration, a speaker suggestion form will be distributed to specific trusted servants within our service structure, such as local area delegates.  At that time, these members will be asked to submit names of suggested speakers. Note that the selection of speakers is through a group conscience process. Speakers come from those registered or who plan to register for the 2025 International Convention. We strive to use people who have not spoken at previous Conventions.

We anticipate receiving many suggestions for speakers and will likely receive more names than we can use. We may need to “go to the hat” to choose speakers at random.  We will strive for a diverse pool of selections according to several factors including geographic location.  Anyone selected as a speaker will be invited to speak sometime in early 2025.  (Please note that the final panel topics/themes are developed and chosen by the convention planning team.)

The 2025 Volunteer Welcome Committee is excited for next year.  We can’t wait to meet you all here in our beautiful city!

What kind of volunteer opportunities will there be?
The Volunteer Welcome Committee will need 5,000 happy and joyous volunteers to assist with making the 2025 International Convention a marvelous experience for everyone.  There will be between 12 and 15 sub-committees responsible for this, all headed up by a Chair and Co-Chair.  Many of them involve the best AA job of all – greeting!

If I’m a volunteer, do I have to pay?
Yes, all attendees, including volunteers, must have a paid registration.

When can I sign up to volunteer?
General volunteer opportunities will be announced in the fall after registration has opened.

My friend and I want to volunteer in the same places at the same times.  Is that possible?  Can I volunteer for more than one assignment? 
We will do our best to fulfill specific requests about scheduling, and assignments.  However, there are no guarantees.

I do not live in Vancouver. Are there volunteer opportunities for people from out of town?  How will I know where to go and how will I get training? 
If you are outside of Vancouver, outside of the province or from another country and are attending the Convention, there are plenty of opportunities for you. For instance, all meetings need greeters, and there are a lot of meetings!  You will be contacted ahead of time by a Volunteer Welcome Committee member regarding sub-committee details, training, directions and instruction.

Where can I find out more information about volunteer opportunities?
Visit the 2025 Volunteer Welcome Committee website for more information at https://icvwc2025.org/