World Forum Protocols

Everyone Participates. The underlying driving force of the World Forum is that every delegate has something of value to contribute. There is no division of experts and learners — everyone is an expert on their setting and everyone is a learner. As a result, every effort is made to encourage delegates to get to know each other, to share ideas, and to establish lasting professional friendships. We believe the world will be a better place for our children if people reach across boundaries to understand and appreciate each other.

Everyone Connects. A primary goal for the World Forum is for all delegates to make connections with new friends for life from other parts of the World. Many features of the World Forum are designed to make this easier for you including the following food activities:

No Host Dinners: Take advantage of in-person No-Host Dinners on Wednesday and Thursday evening. This is a great way to meet new friends from around the world. Sign up for a group of your choice, decide on a restaurant, and enjoy dining together. Every participant pays for their own meal. Sign up and view menus of restaurants at the registration desk.

45 Minute Refreshment Breaks: Our breaks are intentionally long so that delegates have plenty of time to network.

World Forum Plenaries

In order to accept additional registrations to support our mission to promote an on-going global exchange of ideas on the delivery of quality services for young children in diverse settings, the 2024 World  Forum on Early Care and Education Plenary sessions will have an overflow room. Once all seats are filled in the Pavilion Ballroom, WFF team members will ask delegates to join us in Junior Ballroom C and D.

Information for Local Delegates

If you plan to drive to the World Forum on Early Care and Education each day, please note the World Forum contract with the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center does NOT include parking validation or discounted parking. Please plan ahead. You can learn more about directions for self-parking and rates HERE.

World Forum Food Information

Monday, April 15 | Delegates are responsible for all meals.

Tuesday, April 16 | Delegates are responsible for all meals. A Welcome Reception will serve light hors d’oeuvres from 8:30-9:30 PM.

Wednesday, April 17 | Delegates are responsible for all meals. Two break times will offer light snacks at 10:15 AM & 3:30 PM.

Thursday, April 18 | Delegates are responsible for all meals. Two break times will offer light snacks at 10:15 AM & 3:30 PM.

Friday, April 19 | Delegates are responsible for all meals. One break time will offer light snacks at 10:00 AM and a Closing Reception will serve light hors d’oeuvres at 2:30 PM.

A note from the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Kitchen: For our delegates with food allergies (celiac/nut allergies) the chefs will prepare food with as much precaution as possible as they take all allergens very seriously. However, there is always the disclaimer that the kitchen is not 100% gluten free or nut free, so there is no guarantee that ingredients won’t be air born.

World Forum Language

The 2024 World Forum will be conducted in English. The opportunity to add a sticker associated with additional languages will be noted on your nametag to help facilitate connections. You will select your language sticker when you check in at the Registration Desk. In your conversations and contributions to sessions, keep in mind that English is not the first language for many delegates. Try to speak clearly with a minimum of jargon.

World Forum Attire

Dress code for the World Forum is business casual. If you are participating in one of the pre or post conference optional tours, we recommend bringing a comfortable pair of walking shoes and a rain jacket. Additionally, bring a light jacket or sweater as the temperature of the conference space is typically cooler.

World Forum Time

All World Forum sessions and activities start at the exact time noted on the program. This includes breakout sessions and Plenaries. Don’t miss out! Please plan to arrive a few minutes before the starting time of each activity.

Welcome New Delegates

Everyone who is attending their first World Forum in-person will have a “New Delegate” ribbon attached to their name badge. Everyone who has attended World Forums in the past will have an “Ambassador” ribbon. If you are a new delegate, we encourage you to seek out ambassadors for help navigating this new and exciting experience. Likewise for ambassadors. Please seek out new delegates to welcome them and encourage engagement.

World Forum Opportunities

African Arrival Bags. The World Forum Foundation contracted with Quilts for Empowerment (www.quiltsforempowerment.org) to create delegate arrival bags in colorful African fabrics. “Quilts for Empowerment (QFE) is honored to have been given the commission to make the arrival bags for the World Forum. This has provided our women with the opportunity to earn valuable income to support themselves and their families. All women live in rural, Western Kenya and are impoverished. Most have also suffered the isolating and painful consequences of having an obstetric fistula. Thankfully, all have been successfully repaired. Our Program Director Norah Otondo, also a fistula survivor, closely supervised production. She is seen in the photo teaching the women to quilt using a stool as a table. Our two trained seamstresses, Carol and Metrine did the machine stitching with Ann, Everlyne, Tabitha, Esther, Norah A, Nancy, Ivy, Rose, and Rita assisting. Half the money received has been paid to these women and the other half put into their income-generating support group. The women will collectively decide how to spend the group money. It must benefit everyone, such as buying livestock or land with profit-sharing. Many thanks for this genuinely lifechanging opportunity for the women and their children”.

Children’s Book Exchange. One of the best parts of the World Forum is the opportunity it provides for sharing on a global basis. We would like to facilitate this process by asking you to bring with you your favorite children’s book. During on-site registration, you can add your book to those brought by others so delegates can view them throughout the week. On Friday morning at 7:30 am, there will be a random drawing among those who participate to see which book you get to take home with you.

International Children’s Art Exhibit. Vancouver, Canada will mark the 15th anniversary of the World Forum International Children’s Artwork Exhibit. Please contribute to the success of the exhibit by bringing one or two original pieces of children’s artwork from your country to donate to the exhibit. Artwork can be no larger than 11″ x 14″ (30.5 cm x 35.5 cm), and be suitable for wall mounting. The exhibit is unable to accommodate three-dimensional pieces. You will be asked to complete a Submission Form during on-site check-in that will be displayed along with the artwork that will indicate the child artist’s name, age, country, and organization.

WoFo Global Café. Visit WoFo Global Café in the convention space foyer for conversations and connections during each breakout session and break time. Take a peek HERE at the WoFo Global Café activities happening in Vancouver!

Lakeshore Hands-On Community Project. Please join Lakeshore Learning Materials and our friends from Wintergreen Learning Materials in the event space foyer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the very first Lakeshore Community Project by recreating the original World Forum quilt from the 1999 Honolulu conference! Gather with us to decorate a square representing your country with fun art materials (no sewing needed)! Your square will then be displayed next to the original quilt project from Hawaii. As founding sponsors of the World Forum Foundation, Lakeshore is proud to host this project
during the conference!

Joyful Children’s Places in the MAKERSPACE. Sponsored by studioMLA Architects and Guidecraft, the MAKERSPACE offers a curated selection of natural materials, versatile loose parts, and prompts  designed to inspire a collective journey of creativity. Unleash your inner child and venture into Junior Ballroom A to explore, create, and collaborate.

Visit the “Joy-Spotting” Station. Help us capture all the moments of joy during the World Forum! Visit the Joy-Spotting station, sponsored by Bright Horizons and learn how to submit photos throughout the event as well as relive special moments through others’ contributions.

International Dance. Plan to get down and have lots of fun at the always popular International Dance on Wednesday evening in the Pavilion Ballroom. Hot music from countries across the globe will be featured. Dress is very casual or traditional (you decide). Come prepared to dance and have fun.

Getting Help. Every day the registration desk will serve as a help desk where you can turn for assistance. World Forum Staff will be there, ready to support you.

Networking. Pack plenty of business cards and program brochures to share with the people you meet. We also ask that you bring along a family or work photo to show other delegates.

Photo Release Policy. By virtue of your attendance, you agree to usage of your likeness in still and video photography without compensation or notification.

Additional Information

Upon arrival, we recommend you find an UBER to travel from the Vancouver International Airport to the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre.

Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted credit cards in Vancouver. Amex is not quite as widely accepted as Mastercard or Visa, but some places will take take Amex.

If you have questions or need more information, call +1 (844) 260-5805 (toll-free) or send an email to [email protected].