Disappointing News – Official Cancellation of 2020 ORA Annual Scientific Meeting

Managing concerns around COVID-19: An updated message to our community about the ORA Annual Scientific Meeting taking place April 17-19, 2020 at the Kingbridge Conference Centre

Published March 12, 2020.   Last updated March 13, 2020   8:35 AM.

As the outbreak of COVID-19 has been developing worldwide, the ORA Executive Leadership Team has been closely tracking its impact. We have been monitoring daily recommendations from Health Canada, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), along with the numerous travel restrictions issued by countries, organizations and medical institutions. Over the last several days the ORA has received notices from faculty nationwide who have been put on a travel ban from their institutions. Due to the limited number of academic faculty able to present at our meeting and other related factors, we are no longer able to host the high-caliber event that our attendees and exhibitors have come to expect.


After carefully weighing the emerging facts the ORA has made the difficult, but necessary decision to cancel the 2020 ORA Annual Scientific Meeting (and Residents’ Weekend) scheduled to be held April 17-19 at the Kingbridge Centre in King City, ON.


Preparing for these events involves the time, talent, and creativity of a great many of our ORA committee members, speakers, exhibitors, and event partners. We’re incredibly grateful for this and deeply disappointed not to be able to hold the meeting as planned.


We will be communicating specific information in the next several days to those who have registered, planned to speak, exhibit, or sponsor our meeting.

Please note registered participants will be offered a FULL REFUND on behalf of the ORA, and details of this will be communicated and processed over the coming weeks.
Please also note that all reservations at Kingbridge Centre will be automatically cancelled.  Delegates do not need to call or email the venue to cancel.  Where applicable, refunds will be processed and issued in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we were considering the rapidly changing circumstances as well as the safety and well-being of not just our meeting participants and staff, but their families, colleagues, and patients.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jane Purvis
Dr. Philip Baer
Dr. Janet Pope
Dr. Nikhil Chopra