Join us for the first-ever DevOur Campus Conference
“Uniting student leaders, organizers and innovators to forge practical paths for social, environmental and economic justice through campus food systems.”
June 18-20, Concordia University
What it is:
Three days of action, innovation and connections to help you spice up the student food movement on your campus.
We’re bringing together project creators and activists and taking the best lessons from 20 years of campus organizing to host trainings on coalition building, food compliance, case studies, field trips and lots of opportunities for building connections with like-minded people and craft new recipes for transformation.
When & Where:
June 18-20th, 2024
in-person at Concordia University, Montréal
In partnership the CAFS Student Symposium (bringing new food studies scholars together with mentors for skill building)
Alongside Congress 2024 at McGill (one of the biggest social sciences conferences in the world)
Conference sessions will take place on both Concordia campuses
June 18 & 19:
Concordia University SGW campus
Hall Building at 1455 avenue de Maisonneuve O, Montréal
June 20:
Concordia University Loyola campus
Student Centre Building at 7141 rue Sherbrooke O, Montréal
Stay tuned for detailed information about the conference room locations, including maps and directions.
Find details about accommodations in the FAQ section.
Theme, Program & Speakers:
DevOur Campus is about coalition building. The conference is open to all kinds of stakeholders in campus food: students, faculty, staff, advocates and external community partners. As students are the key impetus and funders of food services, as well as drivers of food system change, many conference sessions will focus on empowerment and agency of student organizers.
A sneak peek at the program plans:
June 18th: 1pm - 8:30pm An afternoon with the Canadian Association for Food Studies Student Symposium
Roundtable discussion: From the ground up: Addressing food inequalities through systemic changes/Du terrain vers le haut : aborder les inégalités alimentaires à partir de changements systémiques
Social Event with CAFS (includes buffet dinner and 1 drink ticket) at Reggies Solidarity Coop student bar
June 19th: 8:30am - 5:30pm A day full dynamic sessions and trainings
(includes light breakfast and lunch)
June 20th: 8:30 - 4pm A day full of field tours, cooking and dynamic sessions and closing reception
(includes light breakfast and communally prepared lunch)
How To Participate:
1. Understand Participation Costs
Let’s cut to the chase - it will cost at least $175 per person to attend - which covers all sessions and 5 meals, but it does not include accommodations nor travel to the conference. See more about cost details below.
We know costs are a huge barrier for students, academics and many other folks to access these sorts of events. That why we're fundraising to cover as much of the costs as possible and so far, we have covered about 65%. We strongly encourage and will help you in seeking grants/sponsorship to cover participation, as well as the travel costs associated with attending DevOur Campus. We are outlining the rough costs below so that you can share this information with potential funders/sponsors (such as your student union). See step 3 for more details on getting fund support.
Participation costs:
Your $175 helps cover:
- most meals (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner w/ drink ticket)
- venue fees for event sessions
- session animator fees
Participants are responsible for their own accommodations, travel and other expenses.
Accommodation costs:
If you need a room, we have a couple of budget options:
- Approximately $100 per night ($300.00 for nights of June 18, 19 and 20th) in the Grey Nun’s student residence.
- Book your spot before April 1st to guarantee your room rental.
- Approximately $236 per night ($710.00 for 3 nights) in Hotel 2170 near campus.
- On a first come, first served basis, book directly with the hotel.
TAXES ARE INCLUDED in these estimates. See specifics on how to book accommodations in the FAQ section.
Travel costs:
Travel costs will vary based on your geographic location and personal needs.
If you are traveling from outside of Montreal to the conference, we recommend taking the train or carpooling.
- If you are traveling from Ontario or Quebec by train, we recommend using viarail.ca and selecting the dates / times you wish to travel to get a sense of the fees.
- If you are traveling from Ontario or Quebec by carpool, you can use an AI language model with the prompt “calculate fuel costs for __[insert vehicle year, make and model]__ from __[insert your city or town]__ to Montreal” and then double that amount to factor in your return trip. Or you can use this Fuel Cost Calculator.
- If you plan to travel by some other means and want support, please contact us
Participants are responsible for their own accommodations, travel and other expenses.
If you need further help estimating travel costs, see the FAQ section below for tips. You can also get in touch with us for additional support.
2. Reserve Your Spot:
Fill out the form to reserve your spot and give us more details about you, your interest / reason for joining and what kind of support you might need to participate.
Are you part of a group of 2-4 people that want to participate together?
You can fill out one form for the entire group, indicating the lead contact person for this step and step 3 (funding and payment).
Please understand that your registration will only be finalized once your participation costs are paid for.
If you’re ready to pay and confirm your registration all in one step, contact communallunch@gmail.com.
3. Get funding to cover your participation costs
- Find out how much the travel costs will be from your location to Montreal (save the estimates for proof) and tally up your participation and accommodation cost needs to figure out your total funding request amount.
- Seek out 1-2 Support Letters: contact your professors, advisors, a food org where you volunteer, and even ask us at the Communal Lunch Project for a Support Letter to attach to your Request for Funding applications.
- Get in touch with your student support orgs: Contact your student union (undergrad or grad), faculty associations, Dean of Students, or even a relevant student club to see if they have any fund programs available for student research, engagement or personal development. Fill out an application if there is one, or submit a letter requesting support via email.
- Once you've secured your support funding and head to step 4 to finalize your registration!
4. Confirm your registration
When you're ready to finalize your registration and pay, complete the Final Registration form where you can pay and provide any dietary needs stuff. You can also contact us at communallunch@gmail.com for an invoice (if your funder needs one).
Interested in becoming a funder or sponsor?
Sponsor a Student, a Speaker or a Lunch! Check out ways you can support the conference here and get in touch at communallunch@gmail.com.
Want to promote the conference on your campus?
Use this Media Kit to print and share promo materials.
About the Organizers:
DevOur campus is part of the Communal Lunch Project, which is supported by NSERC’s College and Community Social Innovation Fund
Contact Us: communallunch@gmail.com
FAQ
Can I attend virtually?
No, this year the event is entirely in-person. We know recognize the environmental impact of travel and many folks' commitment to climate justice means that people limit their travel. While we wish to create options for virtual participation in the future, we are prioritizing face-to-face connections to foster community and solidarity in organizing for this first iteration of the conference.
How do I get a support letter from CLP?
Indicate that you would like one in your Reservation form, or send us an email at communallunch@gmail.com explaining who the letter will be sent to and when you need it by.
Who can sponsor the conference?
We are looking for student unions, Food initiatives and social change organizations that support student empowerment for a better future. Check out this brochure to learn more about where your sponsorship money goes.
How do I estimate travel costs?
- If you are traveling from Ontario or Quebec by train, we recommend using viarail.ca and selecting the dates / times you wish to travel to get a more accurate estimate of the current fees.
- If you are traveling from Ontario or Quebec by carpool, you can use an AI language model with the prompt “calculate fuel costs for __[insert vehicle year, make and model]__ from __[insert your city or town]__ to Montreal” and then double that amount to factor in your return trip. Or you can use this Fuel Cost Calculator.
- If you plan to travel by some other means and want support, please contact us
We cannot guarantee accurate costs for travel but to give you an idea (at the time of publishing this information):
- Round trip Via Rail train fees from Toronto - Montreal, currently range between $130 - $400
- Round trip Via Rail train fees from Ottawa - Montreal, currently range between $90 - 200
What other costs might I need to consider?
You should be prepared to purchase at least one supper and any additional snacks not included in the 2.5 day package.
If you wish to visit other attractions in the city during your stay you should budget additional costs for public transit or taxi.
I have special dietary requirements, how do I plan for meals at the conference?
The breakfast and lunch menus will cater to vegan, vegetarian, gluten free diets and will not contain nuts.
There will be a section in the Confirming Registration form to include any dietary restrictions or requirements you have.
How can I book accommodations?
Concordia Residence (Grey Nun’s) -
At 1190 Guy St
Approximately a 7-minute walk from the Hall Building
Available Dates:
Checkin - June 18th (earliest)
Checkout - June 21st (latest)
It is up to the person to reserve the dates they would like to stay during that period.
Rooms Available:
Single occupancy with shared washrooms and showers with 1 single bed for $79 per night plus taxes which are 19%
Double occupancy with shared washrooms and showers with either 2 single beds or 1 double bed for $115 per night plus taxes (which are 19%)
The COUPON Code gives you a 10% discount off these rates.
All rooms have a sink, small fridge and WIFI.
There are kitchenettes on every floor with a microwave, kettle and toaster.
There is no A/C, but the University does provide fans.
To reserve:
Visit our accommodation website to easily reserve online: https://www.concordia.ca/summerstays
To benefit from a 10% discount, use the COUPON CODE provided for the respective conference.
The COUPON Code is DEV24
To see the maximum number of room types available change the default setting from 2 to 1 adult.
The discount is valid for the dates mentioned above.
There is no reserved block, availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.