OFFICIAL LANGUAGES AND INTERPRETATION

The official languages of the 14th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf are International Sign (IS), American Sign Language (ASL), Langue des Signes Québécoise (LSQ), English and French. Commission presentations, Plenaries and Opening/Closing Ceremonies will be conducted in all of these languages. Special Interest Groups will take place in International Sign and English only.

Simultaneous interpretation in all five languages will be provided at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, during Keynote and Plenary presentations, and during Commissions. Captioning in English and French will also be available in Ceremonies as well as Keynote, Plenary Sessions and Commissions.

Official country interpreters (as nominated by the WFD Ordinary Member of that country) are required to fill in a Registration Form but do not pay the registration fee.

SILVIA LEMMO is a member of a third-generation socially and politically active Deaf family. In 1995 Ms. Lemmo set out to further expand and deepen her knowledge of and insight into the Deaf communities and schools outside Argentina. She has travelled to Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Congo, in the southern regions of the United States, Sweden, and Denmark. Acting on a suggestion from the Swedish National Association of the Deaf (SDR) of Sweden, she went to learn and provide her voluntary work in Nepal and India. By 1998, her work had helped Deaf people become more aware of their responsibility to fight for and stand up for their human rights in Nepal, Tibet, India, Russia, and Mexico, as well as Argentina. She has worked closely with the Dalai Lama and the late Mother Theresa in designing, developing and establishing a bilingual educational programme for Deaf children in Tibet and India. In 2000 Silvia returned to reside in the United States where she has been giving lectures at Gallaudet University and writing articles about her international observations and experiences for Silent News. She is currently Co-ordinator of the International Sign team associated with the Developing Nations Support Service of DeafWay II, as well as being involved in producing a series of written and videotaped material on International Sign.

Under the banner "Opportunities and Challenges in the 21st Century", the Congress will cover a broad array of topics specific to Deaf people and their circumstances. With a primary goal of communication and the sharing of experiences across geographic, linguistic and cultural lines, the scientific programme will explore in detail the successes, challenges and world view of Deaf participants from across the globe.

Following a very successful Call For Papers, the Congress has put together a five-day programme of presentations including an invited Keynote Address, Commissions, Special Interest Groups, in addition to Forums and Poster Sessions.

Commissions covering Education, Language and Culture, Human Rights, Community Relations, Technology, Developing Countries and Health will each be presented over two days, starting with a plenary lecture and ending with workshop presentations. Commissions will take place on either July 21-22 (Mon-Tues) or July 24-25 (Thurs-Fri). Special Interest Groups, discussing Deaf Indigenous People, Deafblind, Deaf Women, CODAs, Deaf Lesbians and Gays, Deaf Senior Citizens, Religion, Deaf Youth, Business and Media, will all be presented in parallel sessions on July 23 (Wednesday). Open and themed Forums will come at the end each day of the scientific programme (Mon-Fri).

FORUMS

After the Opening Ceremony, Congress participants will be invited to mingle while enjoying true Montréal hospitality. Join us at the Welcome Reception where you will be entertained by strolling artists in a festive atmosphere reminiscent of the best of Montréal's internationally renowned street festivals. Take this opportunity to enjoy good food and a relaxed drink while renewing acquaintances from past events and making new ones.

Nothing but pure delight and enjoyment awaits you at this oneof-a-kind event. Never before have you been dazzled by such talent, combining a highly-charged visual content, breathtaking acrobatics and colourful lighting. You will be treated to a show worthy of Québec's reputation as having given rise to contemporary circus. During the course of the evening, highly entertaining and dramatic circus acts will be mixed with a 4-course delicious feast to touch all your senses and provide you with an experience you will not soon forget. Tickets are limited, first-come, first-serve.

Located at the University of Quebec in Montréal (UQAM) in the Pavillon Judith-Jasmin, the Marie-Gérin Lajoie room will host various performances featuring the very best of professional Deaf theatre from around the world. Each Congress delegate is entitled to one theatre show ticket. Based on a first come, first served basis, a ticket of your choice will be remitted at the registration desk. Come join us for fantastic performances from varied countries such as Mexico, Russia, Tunisia, USA, China and Canada. For a full list of performance titles and show times visit the official 14th World Congress web site at www.wfd2003.org

The Deaf Pub will be an official Congress venue specifically designated for delegates from around the world to meet and socialize with long-standing acquaintances and new found friends made through the Congress. The sole purpose of the Deaf Pub is leisure; a place to relax, have fun, enjoy a few drinks and discuss the day’s events. Discover the "old world" charm and ambience of Le Medley where the Deaf Pub is taking place. Le Medley is renowned for its extensive crafted wood appointments, such as carved balconies, staircases and railings, all of which have been carefully preserved. Having retained all its beauty from yesteryears, Le Medley is a delightful venue located minutes from the heart of the city and Old Montréal.

The Farewell Lunch will follow the Closing Ceremony. Don't miss your last chance to say goodbye to Montréal and Congress friends, new and old, at the Windsor Station. The Farewell Lunch will be presented outdoors, picnic style. Come and experience the great feeling of summertime in Montréal with delicious sandwiches and open-air barbecue. Located in the heart of Montréal and a key component of the city's architectural heritage, Windsor Station has been transformed into a prestige office complex replete with restaurants and shops.

Mixing established tradition with a unique character, protocol with innovation, the Closing Ceremony will bring this Congress to an end with style. This year's hosts will draw the curtain on a week filled with new knowledge, new friends and lots of fun, while the 2007 host country will dazzle you with promises of things to come at the next Congress. Take part in the emotion that will surely underline this event, as all get ready to go home and take their priceless experiences with them in order to share them with Deaf people of all nations.

In addition to acting as the official venue for the 14th World Congress, the Palais des Congrès will be host to an international Prayer Service. International Sign interpreters will be provided and the service open to all Congress delegates practicing all forms of religion. Recently renovated, the Palais des Congrès represents a strategic sector of growth for the city and a major pole of the Quartier international. Under the kaleidoscope of the stained glass, the Palais reflects Montreal’s diverse character as a city of history, business and commerce and preferred site for international meetings.

Since 1995, the WFD Youth Camp has been held every four years in conjunction with the World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf. The III WFD Youth Camp 2003 is taking place July 10-17 in Val-Morin, located just 1 hour from Montréal in the Laurentian region of Québec. Open exclusively to Ordinary Member (OM) organisations of the WFD, the camp will welcome 120 Deaf youth, ages 18-30, for a week of activities amidst a beautiful natural setting of forested mountains. Through a variety of workshops (such as International Sign, Deaf Culture and Deaf History), outings and performances, focus will be on the exchange of information and experiences about various issues concerning Deaf Youth. The theme for 2003 is the Art of Leadership: Culture, Community and Sign Language. The registration for Developing Countries has been extended until April 30. If your country has not registered delegates for the Youth Camp, please contact organizers for more information, as below: