Conference Details

Samantha Millar

Samantha Millar has been with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) since February 2009, serving in different capacities in the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) – UNICEF’s hub for the coordination of and support for response to various emergencies around the world. Within EMOPS, she is currently working with the Humanitarian Field Support Section covering the crisis in the Horn of Africa, as well as providing support to UNICEF’s country offices in West and Central Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean regions.

Samantha earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario in 2007. Her honours thesis focused on the politics of responsibility in cases of gross and persistent human rights abuses, and closely examined responsibility, ethics and moral ownership in the international community vis-à-vis such atrocities. In 2008, she completed her Master of Arts at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario in Political Science and International Relations. Her Masters included a focus on common debates in international human rights literature including gender issues in human rights, and the role of international agencies such as the United Nations in post-conflict transition, reconstruction and reconciliation.

Samantha has participated in and chaired several Model United Nations conferences, including the Secondary School United Nations Symposium and Canadian International Model United Nations (CANIMUN) Conferences.

Dr. Shafik Dharamsi

Dr. Shafik Dharamsi is a professor at UBC in the Faculty of Medicine. His teaching and research focus on social responsibility and accountability in medicine, and global health ethics. Internationally, he serves on the Global Task Force for Social Accountability as part of the Global Consensus for Social Accountability (GCSA) of Medical Schools. From 2005-2010 he served as Associate Director of the UBC Centre for International Health, and currently as Faculty Lead of the Global Health Network at the Liu Institute for Global Issues. Prior to coming to UBC he worked with the Aga Khan Development Network implementing an extensive health promotion and early-childhood development initiative in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. His work has been featured on a Canadian television documentary series, The Global Villagers. Dr. Dharamsi pioneered the UBC Ethics of International Engagement and Service Learning initiative that aims to raise critical consciousness and to prepare students for ethical leadership, civic engagement and global social responsibility.

Please take note of the important dates for CAHSMUN 2012 listed below.

Registrations for CAHSMUN 2012 will open on October 1, 2011. From this date onwards, CAHSMUN will implement three phases of registration: priority registration, regular registration, and late registration. Registrations made during the priority registration will have high likelihoods of receiving the chosen country and committee; in addition, students will pay reduced fees if they register during this period. Regardless of the registration phase, students will be able to register independently online or through their school's head delegate.

CAHSMUN 2012 is proud to be hosted at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. An icon of the downtown Vancouver skyline, the Wall Centre is conveniently located with numerous amenities provided on-site or nearby. We are certain that the Wall Centre will provide a cosmopolitan environment for CAHSMUN 2012 and that faculty advisors and delegates will have an enjoyable stay.

Address: 1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R9, Canada

The registration fee will include the following:

1. Two nights' accommodation at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel (CAHSMUN is not held liable for additional charges to you or your guestroom)
2. Delegate handbook
3. Name badge*
4. Placard*
5. Entrance to the social event on Saturday night.

In addition to each committee's background guide, delegates should consult the following documents to prepare them for CAHSMUN.

Rules of Procedure
(Note: CAHSMUN Rules of Procedure are now based on that used at NHSMUN, with slight modifications. Delegates and faculty advisors are advised to go through the Rules of Procedure. Each committee may also have special provisions, which are outlined in the committee's background guide.)

Position Papers

Resolutions

Enforcement

1. All CAHSMUN officers, faculty advisors, delegates, and others present at the Conference shall abide by the Policies on Conduct.
2. Faculty advisors are encouraged to assist CAHSMUN officers in enforcing the Policies on Conduct.
3. Please report any infringement of the Policies on Conduct or the suspicion thereof to your Committee Dais, the Secretariat, or the Board of Directors.
4. Should a delegate be suspected of violating any of the Policies on Conduct, the faculty advisor present shall be consulted to determine any disciplinary action.
5. Should a CAHSMUN officer be suspected of violating any of the Policies on Conduct, the Board of Directors and the Secretary-General shall be consulted to determine any disciplinary action.
6. All violations of the Policies on Conduct are resolved on a case-by-case basis. CAHSMUN reserves the right to suspend the individual from his or her role for a specific duration of time, or to remove the individual from the premises if deemed appropriate.
7. CAHSMUN reserves the right to include any federal, provincial, or municipal authorities as part of the enforcement of the Policies on Conduct.

Policies

1. Delegates are expected to attend all committee sessions and remain productive during the conference.
2. CAHSMUN requires all delegates to dress in Western business attire. School uniforms may be worn in lieu of Western business attire.
   1. The proper attire for men is a suit jacket, slacks, dress shirt, and tie. Jeans and running shoes are not part of proper attire. Men must wear their suit jackets in order to be recognized on the committee floor.
   2. The proper attire for women is a suit jacket, pants or a skirt of appropriate length, and dress shirt. A cardigan may be worn in lieu of the suit jacket. Women must conceal shoulders as part of proper decorum.
3. All individuals at CAHSMUN are required to wear conference-issued name badges in order to participate in committee sessions.
4. All actions, objects, materials, and substances that are deemed to be illegal, especially in the presence of minors, by federal, provincial, and municipal authorities are strictly prohibited at CAHSMUN.
5. Vandals assume all responsibility of structural damages done to the conference venue.
6. An individual who, intentionally or unintentionally, causes bodily harm to others at the conference will be handed over to federal, provincial, or municipal authorities, whichever one is appropriate.
7. All individuals at CAHSMUN shall respect each other in and out of committee sessions. CAHSMUN does not tolerate discrimination based on race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, age, or handicapping condition.
8. Curfew at CAHSMUN shall be 11:59 pm each night. All delegates must return to their own rooms by this time. Failure to abide by curfew may result in disciplinary actions. There will be no co-ed rooming.

What is the role of the head delegate and faculty advisor?

The relationship between the faculty advisor and the head delegate will differ with each team, but generally they share the responsibility for registration, hotel room assignments, payments, liaison between the Secretariat and the team, and the enforcement of all conference policies.

The faculty advisor will act as the legal chaperone for the team at CAHSMUN and assists the Conference in enforcing all applicable rules, regulations, and laws.

What do I do if there is no Model UN or debate club at my high school?

If this is the case, you have a variety of options. You may formally create your school's Model UN or debate club with the help and support of a teacher or you may organize a group of students, again with the involvement of a teacher, just to attend CAHSMUN. Of course, we recommend the former option as it creates longevity for MUN at your school and facilitates preparation. If neither option is suitable for your school, please contact the Secretariat to facilitate your participation at CAHSMUN.

What are the advantages of priority registration?

Priority registration offers the best rates available to attend the conference; as well, by registering early your school has a higher chance of receiving preferable country and committee assignments.

Are laptops required at the conference?

Laptops are not required in order for delegates to actively participate in the conference. However, delegates are encouraged to bring laptops in order to facilitate their experience, as well as to assist in writing draft resolutions and working papers throughout the course of the conference. If delegates choose to bring a laptop, please note that it is the delegates’ responsibility to ensure that the laptop is securely in their possession at all times. CAHSMUN is not responsible for any damage or theft involving laptops. Furthermore, laptops are not to be used in committee rooms as a sign of respect to any delegate speaking.

What is a position paper? How do I write it, and is it required?

A position paper is a document that outlines the positions and actions that a Member State holds toward a specific topic as dictated by its national policies. All delegates, as representatives of Member States, are required to write one position paper for each topic of their committees in order to actively participate in their committees and be eligible for awards. Position papers are typically two pages and double-spaced. Backgrounder guides written by the committee staff will be available to assist delegates in writing the position paper. Closer to the conference, the Secretariat will be assisting delegates new to writing position papers by producing a package that explains the finer points and provides examples of position papers.

Is staying at the hotel mandatory for all delegates?

Yes, staying at the hotel is mandatory. Delegations often develop a sense of camaraderie by staying at the hotel, and students from different schools often make lifelong friendships. All delegate fees currently include two nights’ stay at the hotel.

What awards will be given out and who makes the decision?

The awards that will be given out during the Closing Ceremony at CAHSMUN include: Best Delegate, Outstanding Delegate, Honorable Mention and Best Position Paper. The recipients of these awards are determined by the committee staff. During the committee sessions, the committee staff takes note of delegates who have not only actively participated in debate, but also those who create viable solutions in response to the topics at hand, as well as those who exercise tact and diplomacy throughout the conference.

How are the hotel rooms assigned?

The process of hotel room assignments is the responsibility of the head delegate and/or the faculty advisor of each school. Prior to the conference, the Secretariat will be sending a hotel room assignment sheet to the individual in charge. There is a maximum of 4 delegates per room.. The Secretariat, once they receive the sheet, will make arrangements for the rooming assignments requested.

How should I make my country/committee preferences on the delegate registration?

One should thoroughly browse the Committees section of the website in order to determine which committees and their topics that you would be most interested in discussing over the course of the conference. In choosing the country that most appeals to each delegate, one should not only apply for countries that they find interesting and powerful, but take into consideration past MUN experience. Typically, demanding and stressful countries such as the United States are given to more experienced delegates who are able to handle the many demands and crises thrust upon them during the conference. Please refer to the country matrix under the registration section of the website to see which countries are available in each committee.

What is the Foundations Program?

The Foundations Program is a program unique to CAHSMUN, as we are the only conference that offers the MUN Workshop, whose goal is to better prepare and familiarize delegates, especially those new to MUN, to the Rules and Procedures of a typical MUN conference. Please see the Foundations section of the website for further details.