The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences launched a new web site on March 31, 2005. If there is any discrepancy between the information on this page and the new site, the information on the new site should be used.

Combinatorial Potlatches have been held for many years at various locations around Puget Sound and southern British Columbia, and are an opportunity for combinatorialists to gather informally for a day of invited talks and conversation.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines "potlatch" as: A ceremonial feast among certain Native American peoples of the northwest Pacific coast, as in celebration of a marriage or an accession, at which the host distributes gifts according to each guest's rank or status. Between rival groups the potlatch could involve extravagant or competitive giving and destruction by the host of valued items as a display of superior wealth. [Chinook Jargon, from Nootka  p'achitl, to make a potlatch gift.]
 
 

There is no registration fee for the Potlatch, but please let us know you are coming by sending email to Gary MacGillivray:  gmacgill at UVic dot ca.

For accommodation and travel information, please see below.

UVic Downtown is located in the Harbour Square Mall, at the corner of Government and Broughton Streets.  Enter from Government Street, going downwards.  For maps of the Victoria area, see the  Tourism Victoria website, for example.

There is a lot of tourist information for Victoria on the Web.  For example, you may find the following sites useful:

The cheapest, decent quality, hotels in the Victoria area are probably those in the  Travellers Inn chain, which has many locations in Victoria.  Rates at some locations in the downtown area start at $39.95 + taxes per night.  Discount coupons are often available on the ferries or at the Tourist Info Centre by the Inner Harbour at the intersection of Government, Humboldt and Wharf Streets.  The Travellers Inn locations within walking distance of downtown are Downtown, City Centre, and On Blanshard.

Other recommended hotels in the downtown area are:

More expensive options include:

From off of Vancouver Island, some options for travel to Victoria include bus (from Vancouver - it goes on the ferry),  BC Ferries (Vancouver - Victoria = Tswassen - Swartz Bay),  Washington State Ferries (Sidney - Anacortes),  Black Ball Ferries (Port Angeles - Victoria),  Victoria Clipper (catamaran from Seattle to Victoria), seaplanes from Vancouver (Harbour Air and  West Coast Air) and Seattle (Kenmore Air),  Helijet (helicopter from Vancouver, Seattle, and other locations), and any airline that flies to Victoria International Airport.

Information on busses within Greater Victoria is available from BC Transit.

Please don't hesitate to ask of any other information is required.  Contact info is at the top of the page.