Our thanks...

The organizing committee wishes to extend its thanks and gratitude to many individuals and organizations who have contributed to this event. We believe that while this is an international event, that we have introduced a truly Canadian flavour to the Forum and its discussions. We wish to thank the Governments of Canada and British Columbia for their contributions, including a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency which permitted the organizing committee to invite 15 delegates from developing countries to attend. The organizing committee also thanks the hosts, the Office of the Ombudsman for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and Royal Roads University for their generous and steady contribution of personnel support, funds, and facilities to make this event a success. The organizing committee further acknowledges the participation of learners from the Bachelor of Justice Studies program at Royal Roads University, and the Masters in Conflict Resolution at Pepperdine University. The learners were an integral part of the smooth operation of the Forum, and their reports at the end of each day, and as a communiqué at the end of the Forum act to memorialize the Forum’s discussions.

The organizing committee thanks our many sponsors and donors who have helped to make the event a financial success. Royal Roads University President Allan Cahoon has announced that the University would be the recipient of the residual funds from the ODR Forum. These funds will be used to provide bursaries to Royal Roads learner in the Bachelor of Justice Studies program. The bursary will be called the Horta Cerf Bursary in honour of our two Keynote speakers, Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, President of East Timor, and Dr. Vinton Cerf, father of the Internet. Information on each individual sponsor may be found at: https://archive.icann.org/en/meetings/odrforum2008/host.html

The organizing committee thanks the host venue, and its staff. The Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour has ensured a friendly and seamless use of its facilities. Thanks are extended to Lindsay Thompson and Regine Brucks who handled our arrangements with professionalism and good humour. The organizing committee acknowledges the participation of the North West Ombudsman Group, and the participation and guidance of the Fellows of the National Centre for Technology and Dispute Resolution at the University Of Massachusetts –Amherst. Finally, the organizing committee thanks our many delegates and presenters, without whom this event could not have been considered a success.