Hello all, I can finally share a more detailed update for you with regards to the itinerary for the Montreal Trip. Plans are now very well underway, and we can proceed with the final stage of preparations. Our music is also well underway for development, and the schedule looks to be an exciting one! ## By this time all fees should be completely submitted. You will see one last form to complete from Mrs. Hartung very soon. # Baggage We are limited to the baggage requirements of Air Canada. A quick explanation is that all participants are permitted to bring one "standard article" and one "carry-on". Details for that are at [https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/baggage/carry-on.html](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/baggage/carry-on.html). As such we will also be combining instruments into hockey bags to take advantage of as much space as we can. Notre Dame Collegiate will be paying for tubas, baritone saxophones, and the hockey bags which will prioritize bass clarinets, trombones, tenor saxophones, euphoniums and percussion (chaperones, please note that you may have a hockey bag "attached" to you, because we're only allowed one checked luggage per person). We will be weighing them on Monday's class to ensure we do not exceed baggage requirements. All other instruments may be considered either carry-on or standard articles. Students will know their roommates by the end of today, and can start planning co-packing strategies amongst them. Please do not forget to include your black shoes, black pants, white top and NDC jacket (which you will get on Monday) as part of your packing plans, along with any medications and toiletries. If your student chooses to add checked luggage beyond a standard article and a carry-on, and it is not part of the instrument requirements that Notre Dame Collegiate is covering, they will be responsible for the fees, which can be reviewed by entering the "YYC" and "YUL" airport designations into the form at [https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/baggage/checked.html](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/baggage/checked.html). If you have any questions beyond that, please let me know via email, and I will do my best to respond to them. # The Itinerary Please note that the itinerary is still subject to change as we have not had our hotel locations completely finalized yet. Those who recall the intentional use of the Jassby cards, please note we have decided against using them. The manner in which these cards were to be administered were not as originally understood, and we found their value to be considerably low compared to what we expected of them. We have instead opted to move the value of those cards to improved buffet breakfasts, evening meals, and other activities. ### April 23, 2026 - 4:00 AM MDT - All students must be at the Calgary International Airport Domestic Departures for Air Canada by this time. We must all check in together, and with the large equipment, we cannot delay. - 6:00 AM MDT - Air Canada Flight 318 departs YYC. - 12:09 PM EDT - Flight arrives in YUL Montreal. Following collection of our materials we will head into Little Italy for food, meeting at the Jean-Talon Market. Transportation via coach by Groupe Menard. - 3:30 PM EDT - Go to Mont Royal - 5:00 PM EDT - Load Bus for Old Montreal / Notre Dame Basilica - 6:00 PM EDT - Aura Experience at the Notre Dame Basilica - 7:30 PM EDT - Dinner in Old Montreal - 9:00 PM EDT - Go to Hotel (Radisson Hotel Montreal Airport, 6500 Chemin de la Cote-de-Liesse, St-Laurent Quebec) ### April 24, 2026 (lots of walking day) - 8:00 AM EDT - Hotel Breakfast - 9:15 AM EDT - Load coach and depart for RÉSO (the Underground City) - 12:45 PM EDT - Load coach and depart for McGill University - 1:30 PM EDT - AIM Experience Musical Workshop with Dr. Danielle Gaudry at McGill University working on our music - 3:00 PM EDT - Return to Hotel, change for the evening - 4:15 PM EDT - Depart for Auberge du Dragon Rouge for Medieval Theme Dinner, cost included - 5:00 PM EDT - Dinner at Auberge du Dragon Rouge ("The *Poulpe Hurlant* (Howling Octopus), a pirate ship feared on the seven seas, is looking for a crew. Only the bravest will be recruited.) - 7:00 PM EDT - Load coach for Quartier des Spectacles - 9:00 PM EDT - Return to Hotel ### April 25, 2026 - 7:30 AM EDT - Hotel Breakfast - 8:30 AM EDT - Leave for St. Joseph's Oratory - 9:00 AM EDT - St. Joseph's Oratory, self-guided tour, cost included - 10:00 AM EDT - Head to The Plateau neighbourhood for French shopping and food. - 1:00 PM EDT - Load bus and go to Oscar Peterson Concert Hall at the Université Concordia, listen to two other ensembles before we perform. - 3:15 PM EDT - Band Warmup - 3:50 PM EDT - Group Performance - 4:30 PM EDT - Return to hotel, change for Dinner and Dance - 6:20 PM EDT - Walk to Armor Plaza Montreal Hotel for Dinner, Awards Ceremony and Dance - 10:00 PM EDT - Depart Festival Event, back to hotel. ### April 26, 2026 - 7:00 AM EDT - Hotel Breakfast - 7:45 AM EDT - Hotel Checkout and depart for Notre Dame Basilica - 8:00 AM EDT - Leave for Notre Dame Basilica - 9:00 AM EDT - Mass at Notre Dame Basilica - 10:30 AM EDT - Load Bus and head to the airport. - 1:45 PM EDT - Air Canada Flight 323 departs YUL. - 4:14 PM MDT - Air Canada Flight 323 arrives in YYC, all families should pick up students at this time.