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Railway Research Advisory Board

Background

The Railway Research Advisory Board, a partnership of government, private-sector corporations and academia, hosted a 3-day workshop to explore the potential of combining risk management methods and technology developments to manage the natural risks posed to railways by landslide and washout hazards in Canada. The workshop took place in beautiful Kananaskis, AB.

The Challenge

An agreement was executed between the client and a major hotel in Kananaskis, AB prior to HPB involvement in the project. A room block, with an attrition clause, was included as part of the package. Just prior to the event, hotel officials advised the client that it would be liable for covering the cost of the rooms not picked up in the room block. Upon review of the agreement by HPB, it appeared that hotel legal advisors had also included a liability clause for unused rooms in the block in the agreement. The event was in serious jeopardy as the client did not have adequate funds to cover this unplanned liability.

The Solution

HPB legal principal reviewed the agreement and HPB intervened on behalf of the client. Given the contradictory nature of the two separate room block clauses within the agreement, the hotel agreed to release the client from any liability for unused rooms in the room block.

Library and Archives Canada

Background

Library and Archives Canada approached HPB to manage the Canadian Metadata Forum II held in Ottawa. The Forum’s goal was to address the challenges of metadata implementation, namely: how to realize the investment in metadata and how to influence metadata policy where it matters most: in organizations and search engines.

Two hundred and seventy-five experts from the Canadian and international metadata communities (government and non-government) including libraries, archives, museums, educational and research institutions, academia, multimedia producers and other experts attended.

The Challenge

A prominent speaker was traveling to Ottawa from Washington, DC by rail the day prior to the event. The train derailed en route to Canada and could not continue its journey. The speaker had a medical condition that prevented travel by air. Understandably, the client concluded that the presentation (a critical part of the program) could not be made and was concerned about the negative affect this would have on the overall quality of the event.

The Solution

HPB was successful in securing a technical component (only a hand-full of these components are available in the Ottawa area) late in the day prior to the event. This enabled the speaker to make the presentation from Washington by telephone. The presentation was flawless and the sound quality was outstanding. Delegates reported that the presentation was the most significant at the Forum.

Council of Federal Libraries

Background

The Council of Federal Libraries (CFL) is an organization of federal libraries established in 1976 by the National Librarian of Canada as a means of coordinating library services in departments, branches and agencies of the Government of Canada. The CFL organizes an annual seminar in the National Capital Region. The Agatha Bystram Award for Leadership in Information Management is awarded during the Seminar.

The Challenge

The client undertook to coordinate the logistical arrangements with the venue for the one-day seminar. HPB was contracted to provide registration services, speaker and delegate liaison and support for the awards presentation ceremony.

Early on event day, it was apparent that there had been a serious communication breakdown at all levels within the venue organization and that none of the logistical arrangements (including special room layout, simultaneous translation booth, audio-visual equipment) were in place one hour prior to the start of registration.

The Solution

HPB worked closely with the client and venue management to ensure that the logistical arrangements were in place on time. Post-event, HPB also drafted a letter for the client to the venue outlining the deficiencies and the contractual breaches. This resulted in the venue offering a substantial reduction in the final invoice to the client.

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