Eight weeks after the completion of a great ISAAC conference in Montreal we Canadians continue to bask in the afterglow. By now you have all returned safely to your homes in the many different locations across the globe, part of the contingent of people from 58 countries represented in Montreal: a world of people dedicated to communication that form the ISAAC family.





The ISAAC family was well represented in Montreal with 360 people attending the Pre-Conference Workshops, and 1,200 people attending the Main Conference, with a further 100 attending the Research Symposium. The Main Conference posed a wonderful challenge for the many attendees choosing from among the 450 presentations and events packed into four days. In addition, about 100 of the delegates were people who use AAC, one of the highest numbers ever. In our bilingual country, this was the first ISAAC conference to offer simultaneous translation: a recognition of the need to make communication accessible to as many people as possible.



Much hard work was done in Montreal and many new ideas were shared, but it wasn’t all work. Friends from near and far met and caught up on all the personal news, and renewed the bonds that span our planet. Of course, we all celebrated and raised a glass or two to mark ISAAC’s 25th anniversary. We were led down memory lane by our iconic family member, “Isaac,” during a video presentation of ISAAC’s history, which premiered at the opening ceremonies.


Naturally, where there are “Isaacians” there is music and dance, and Montreal was no exception: we were entertained by Alan MacGregor, an accomplished musician from Scotland, and a person who uses AAC. There was a gala President’s Reception with wine, music, street performers, and many people who left with amusing caricatures of themselves.






And then there was the really wild dancing, singing, and over-consumption of maple syrup at the Sugar Shack in the forest near Montreal!





From many of you from around the world we have received overwhelming
confirmation that the ISAAC 2008 conference in Montreal was a tremendous
success. As Canadians we are proud to have offered you a unique opportunity
to meet, learn, network, and enjoy our wonderful country and diverse
culture.

We look forward to seeing you again at the next ISAAC
conference in 2010 in Barcelona, Spain.

Merci beaucoup!




Jeff Riley and Ann Sutton

ISAAC 2008 Conference Co-Chairs