United Nations Integrated Mission Staff Officers (UNIMSOC) V
15 October 2007 – 22 November 2007
Joining Instructions
Welcome to The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre
The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre (PPC) is named in honour of Lester B. Pearson, former Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for the establishment of UNEF I, the first modern peacekeeping operation. The Centre was established in 1994 by the Government of Canada. Its mission is to support and enhance the Canadian contribution to international peace, security and stability. Its mandate is to make peacekeeping more effective by continuing education, training and research in all aspects of peace operations.
The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre overlooks the shores of the historic Annapolis Basin near the western tip of the Province of Nova Scotia. It is located at Cornwallis Park, Clementsport, which lies between the towns of Annapolis Royal and Digby. It is served by the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, which is three hours by road from the Centre.
The following pages contain some useful information pertaining to your travel and stay at the PPC.
Transportation
Travel for MTAP participants will be coordinated by the responsible Canadian Forces Attaché or the appropriate Canadian Embassy/ High Commission. Please plan on arriving at the PPC no later than 14 October 2007 and advise the PPC Registrar's Office of your travel itinerary no later 8 October 2007. Failure to do so could result in difficulty co-ordinating transportation to the Centre.
Air travelers are asked to state their point of origin, airline flight number and arrival time at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Please arrange your travel so that you arrive no later than early afternoon the Sunday preceding the course. You will be met by a PPC representative who will be carrying a sign with our name and logo on it. If you cannot locate the PPC representative, please go to the information booth (located on the main level across from the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission) and ask the Attendant to page the "Pearson Peacekeeping Centre Driver".
For road travelers, the most direct route to get to the PPC from the airport is to take route 102 towards Halifax, when you come to a Y in the highway, adjacent to a large lake on your left, stay to the right (Annapolis/Windsor), take Exit 4B Annapolis Royal/Windsor route 101, drive approximately two hours and take Exit 23 Deep Brook/Cornwallis/ Clementsport and at the stop sign turn right. The PPC is approximately five kilometres from there on the left-hand side.
Please let us know your planned day / time of arrival so that you may be met by one of our staff upon arrival. Should you be traveling by car from Quebec/New Brunswick, the recommended route includes the Saint John/Digby Ferry. Reservations are recommended.
Departure flights should not be booked from Halifax no earlier than 23 November. NO early departures will be entertained unless there is an immediate operational requirement or due to compassionate grounds.
Arrival Procedure
All arriving course participants will be met by a PPC representative. You will be escorted to your room and you will receive an information package.
Passports / Visas
Before you leave home YOU MUST OBTAIN THE NECESSARY VISAS in order to enter and stay in Canada for the course. Please remember to bring your passport.
Travel Receipts
In order for reimbursement of travel expenses to take place, you are required to provide the PPC with receipts for all travel. This includes boarding passes for air travel, and receipts for ferry, bus, taxi, etc. These are to be submitted to the PPC finance department upon arrival.
Medical
The PPC will assist in every way possible to ensure your medical needs are met during your stay with us; however, MEDICAL LIABILITY IS A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Before you arrive at the Centre, please check with your physician or health plan agency to see if your coverage is adequate. We strongly encourage you to consider purchasing a travel health insurance plan for your stay with us. Coverage for those under the MTAP programme will be covered by the Department of National Defence.
There are no medical or dental facilities at Cornwallis Park. Emergency care is available at Digby or Annapolis Royal, some 15 kms distant. For CF personnel, the nearest Canadian Forces facility is at CFB Greenwood, one hour away by road. If you require special medications, please ensure that you bring an ample supply.
Financial Arrangements
There is a banking machine located on site in the Cornwallis Park Mall and the nearest banks are located 15 kms away in the Towns of Digby and Annapolis Royal. The banking machines will accept all banking cards with the Interac Symbol or Plus System and all VISA. The machines will not accept American Express, MasterCard or Cirrus cards. The PPC does not have the resources to provide a currency exchange service. Please bring sufficient Canadian cash or
travelers cheques to meet your anticipated needs.
Mailing Address
Please advise anyone attempting to contact you while you are at the PPC to use the following address format:
(Your Name)
Pearson Peacekeeping Centre (UNIMSOC V)
CornwallisPark, PO Box 100
Clementsport, NS
CanadaB0S 1E0
Telephone and Email Contact Names / Numbers
To contact someone attending the course you can call directly to the individual’s room by dialing 902-638-8602 ext 3??? (last three digits are the room number). As well, if assistance is required, the front desk can be contacted between the hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm at 902-638-8602 ext 1227. For after hour emergency service you can call 902-678-4962.
For outgoing calls
There are pay telephones located in the Training Building (Admiral Desmond Piers Memorial Hall) and in residence (North Lodge). In addition, your room in Residence has a private phone. Only Canadian calling cards can be used on the telephones. Prepaid telephone cards can be purchased at the Lounge or local stores. Long distance calls can be made directly from your room phone and you will receive a weekly invoice for payment.
The Project Manager for UNIMSOC V is Captain Peter Amberley and he can be contacted at 613–520-5617 ext 5942 prior to course commencement or by email at any time pamberle@peaceoperations.org
Adaptors
If you arrive with electrical items, please bring your own adapter to fit North American plugs as they are not available at the Centre.
Computers
The Centre's computers offer internet access and all participants will have access. Participants are welcome to bring personal laptop or notebook computers; however, they will not be connected to the PPC LAN system.
Accommodations
You will be assigned a room in North Lodge, a private room with a private bathroom. Each room is equipped with a clock radio, desk, lamp, and towels. There is a TV/VCR in the lounge in each residence as well as washing machines and dryers for personal use. Laundry soap and toiletries can be purchased from the Lounge bar staff. Commercial dry cleaning and laundry service pickup is available upon request.
Course Objectives, Evaluations and Critiques
The course objectives and content can be found on the PPC website.
Each student will be given the opportunity to critique each portion of the course as it evolves with a final critique upon completion.
All students will also be given a Certificate of Participation and a Formal Course Report upon completion that will not give placement but will speak to each student’s strengths and what they accomplished.
Field Trips
During UNIMSOC V, there will be familiarization trips to Canadian Forces Bases and Units in Nova Scotia. Army, Navy and Air Force sights will be visited with the objective to expose the participants to the Canadian Military establishment which is accustomed to working under civilian control.
Dress
The usual dress while attending the course is civilian attire that is defined as casual pants or skirt with a buttondown or open neck shirt, blouse or sweater. Blue jeans, T-shirts and sweatshirts are considered inappropriate attire and are discouraged.
For certain events, participants are requested to dress more formally or in uniform; these include the meet and greet on the opening day of their session, a course photo during the final week, the closing ceremony on the last day, the military field trip, visits by selected VIP speakers as well as the end-of-course banquet. Suggested clothing is a jacket and tie for men and equivalent attire for women. Participants should also bring their uniform that includes a tunic and tie or equivalent. Participants are also welcome to wear their traditional or national dress for course activities, photos and banquets.
Personnel who participate in physical or recreational activities are requested to change into clean clothing prior to dining or using the lounge. As the temperature in Cornwallis varies with the season; however during UNIMSOC V, the average temperatures will be up to +15 C in October and as low as -8 C in November. Typically; however, the range is between -5 C to 15 C for the duration so please ensure that you bring appropriate clothing. Should it become unseasonably cold, PPC will provide adequate clothing such as a parka and toque. As well, we will provide the opportunity to purchase warm clothing during transport runs into the local town.
Meals
All meals will be provided in a 100-seat dining room located in the dining room located in the Lounge. If you have special dietary requirements, allergies, etc., please ensure that this information is clearly indicated on the registration form. Your special needs will be confirmed on arrival.
Religious Requirements
Please let us know if you have specific religious requirements. We will make every effort to meet those needs. The following denominations are represented in the local area: Advent Christian; Anglican; Baptist; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons); Roman Catholic; United; and Wesleyan.
Recreation
The local area is a wonderful location for walking and jogging with proper climatic dress. The PPC also has a mini-gym with limited exercise machines and weights. The Cornwallis Park site is the new home of the Lifeplex Wellness Centre. This centre has a state of the art exercise room along with a pool and a sauna. For more information call (902) 638-3033. The Lounge is equipped with a large TV, VCR, pool table, snooker table and a dartboard. Arrangements to attend local theatrical, musical and cultural events and tours can be made if sufficient numbers show an interest. Sports fields for soccer and tennis courts are available on-site. There are two golf courses within 15 kilometres of the PPC.
Conclusion
If you require further information prior to arrival at the PPC, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone 902-638-8611 ext 1106; fax 902-638-8888; or e-mail registrar@peaceoperations.org.
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UNIMSOC V JI
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