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FAQs

General Event Information

1. Why a Family Visit and not an Open House?
Our primary objective in planning this event is to do something special for P&WC employees. For the past few years, many of them have told us that they would like the opportunity to show their families where they work and suggested an activity such as the Family Day. In addition, since the opening of our Mirabel Aerospace Centre, many employees have expressed an interest in visiting that facility as well. We took all of these requests into consideration and combined them with our operational needs, budgetary constraints and production requirements when deciding what kind of event to plan.

2. Will the Family Visit be similar to the 80th Anniversary Celebration or will it resemble previous Open House events?
It will not be exactly like either one. The Family Visit is meant to recognize employee dedication over the last eight decades. Attendees will be able to visit special kiosks on a variety of topics such as employee programs, technology, customers and sustainability. The kiosks will be manned by P&WC employees who will demonstrate their job functions and answer questions.

3. Why is the Family Visit taking place in August?
The feedback we received from employees with regard to previous family-style events is that the summer is the preferred time of the year for these types of activities, primarily because of the weather conditions.

4. How much time should I anticipate for the Family Visit?
You should plan to spend between two and three hours at each facility.

5. What is the latest time we can arrive to the Family Visit?
The visit at the Longueuil and Saint-Hubert facilities will end at 4 p.m. and at 5 p.m. for the Mirabel facility. In order to benefit from the activities and kiosks on the tour path, we encourage you to arrive at least one hour before closing time. Otherwise, you will be required to finish your visit when we close the facility even if you have not had time to see everything.

6. Will I be permitted to take photographs during the Family Visit?
No, only P&WC’s official photographers will be permitted to take photographs during the event.

7. Will the facilities be air-conditioned during the Family Visit?
Certain areas on the tour path will be air-conditioned and others, such as the hangar, will not.

8. Will there be any onsite emergency or medical services in case someone doesn’t feel well?
Yes. Each facility will be equipped with a First Aid station and an ambulance for emergencies. If you or someone in your group needs assistance, please flag a security guard or member of the event staff; both will be easily identifiable.

9. May I smoke cigarettes during the Family Visit?
P&WC is a smoke-free environment, which means that no smoking is permitted anywhere on company grounds, whether inside or outside. P&WC enforces this policy for health and safety reasons.

10. NEW QUESTION! Where should I park for the Family Visit?
Each facility is equipped with onsite parking that will be available to guests. Special parking areas will be reserved for persons with disabilities and will be clearly identified. The following arrangements have been made in case the onsite parking becomes full:

  • Longueuil Facility: In the event that this parking lot reaches full capacity, guests should park their cars in the surrounding area while respecting city rules and parking regulations.
  • Saint-Hubert Facility: Should the onsite parking lot become full, security officers will point guests to the offsite parking located at the École nationale d'aérotechnique at 5555 Place de la Savane in Saint-Hubert. Shuttle buses will be running continuously between this parking area and the Saint-Hubert facility all day to transport visitors.
  • Mirabel Aerospace Centre: Should the onsite parking lot become full, security officers will point guests to one of two offsite parking locations:

    • 1) Mecachrome, 11100 Julien Audette, Mirabel
    2) Aéroport de Montréal, corner of Irenée Vachon and Raymonde de la Roche

Shuttle buses will be running continuously between these parking areas and Mirabel Aerospace Centre all day to transport visitors.

Participating Facilities

11. Will I be able to visit all of the P&WC facilities in Quebec?
Yes. You’ll be able to visit the facilities in Longueuil and Saint-Hubert on August 20 and 21, and the Mirabel Aerospace Centre on August 27 and 28.

12. Why is the Mirabel Aerospace Centre visit scheduled for a different weekend than the visits of the Longueuil and Saint-Hubert facilities?
We want to give everyone ample time to enjoy all the activities at all the locations. Therefore, the Family Visit will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on August 20 and 21 at Longueuil and Saint-Hubert and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on August 27 and 28 at Mirabel.

13. Will a shuttle service be available between the participating facilities?
Based on the employee registrations we have received to date, most visitors plan to carpool which makes a shuttle service unnecessary. The only shuttle service provided will take guests from the parking lot to its corresponding facility.

Appropriate Attire

14. Will I be required to wear safety shoes and glasses during the Family Visit?
No. However, we do recommend that all visitors wear flat shoes with good support to ensure a safe visit through our facilities. In addition, we urge guests not to wear open-toed shoes such as sandals and flip-flops.

15. Is there a specific dress-code for the Family Visit? I plan to combine our visit with another activity and would like to know whether shorts, tank tops and/or bathing suits are permitted?
Casual clothes are permitted with the following exceptions: no bathing suits, open-toed shoes or strapless tops.

Food and Refreshments

16. Does the Family Visit include any meals?
No food of any kind will be provided during the Family Visit. Only beverages will be served to participants as refreshments.

17. Will refreshments be complimentary or should I bring cash to the event?
All refreshments served as part of the Family Visit will be complimentary.

18. May I bring a picnic lunch or snacks to eat during the Family Visit?
Yes. Picnic tables will be available at the Longueuil facility and guests are welcome to eat their food there if the weather permits. There will be no picnic tables at Saint-Hubert or Mirabel but guests may use the rest areas to eat.

Children, the Elderly and Guests with Special Needs

19. There will be an elderly person in my group; will the tour path contain rest areas?
Yes. Rest areas will be set up next to the washrooms in all three facilities. The rest areas will be clearly marked and easy to find.

20. Will the Family Visit be child-friendly?
Yes. Children of all ages will be admitted at all three participating facilities: Longueuil, Saint-Hubert and Mirabel. In addition, each facility will feature activities for children over 3 years of age. Parents are permitted to bring strollers, but please note that there is no room on the tour path for double strollers.

21. A two to three-hour visit may be long for a child. What kind of animation will be available to keep them entertained?
We are still finalizing the details pertaining to children’s entertainment, but there will be traveling entertainers throughout the visit and basic activities at some of the kiosks.

22. Will the tour path be able to accommodate wheel chairs and strollers?
Yes. The tour paths in all three facilities will be able to accommodate wheel chairs and single strollers. There will be no room on the tour path for double strollers. The office visits taking place on the upper floors will be accessible by elevator.

23. Will nursing mothers and the mothers of young children have access to special facilities?
Yes. Parents will have access to changing tables and nursing stations at all three locations (Longueuil, Saint-Hubert and Mirabel).

Attractions, Activities and Kiosks

24. Will any of the colleges and universities with which P&WC has ties attend the Family Visit as guests or to man a kiosk?
As indicated by the name of the event, this is a family visit and will not be accessible to partners or external clients.

25. Will any aircraft be on exhibit at the Family Visit?
Yes. The corporate aircraft, as well as a customer aircraft, will be on exhibit in the hangar of our Saint-Hubert facility. Two of our flying test beds will also be stationed at our Mirabel facility and guests will be able to step inside for a few minutes.

26. Will we be permitted to visit the interior of the corporate aircraft on exhibit at Saint-Hubert?
No. The corporate aircraft will be on exhibit at our Saint-Hubert facility, but guests will not be able to visit them. Two of our flying test beds will be stationed at our Mirabel facility and guests will be able to step inside for a few minutes.

27. Will the Family Visit include an air show?
No air show is planned for the Family Visit.

28. Will the test cells be accessible to guests during the Family Visit?
Visitors will be able to visit the interior of a test cell as well as a test cell control room at some point during the visit.

29. Will we be able to see an engine being built during the Family Visit?
It is possible that during the visit guests might spot someone working in the shop, but it is important that the person working not be disturbed as any distraction could be hazardous. There will be a kiosk on the tour path which demonstrates how an engine is built.

30. Will a guide accompany guests along the tour path during the Family Visit?
No. Upon arrival, all guests will be invited to follow an established and clearly marked path throughout each facility. There will be no guide to accompany you. Employees will be responsible for all their guests throughout the entire visit, which is one of the reasons why only employees with eight guests or less (in addition to themselves) will be admitted to the event.

31. Once I start on the tour path, is it required that I stay on it from start to finish? Or will I be able to leave during the tour if necessary?
In order to enjoy the full benefit of the visit, employees and their guests are encouraged to stay on the path until the end. If they need to leave, they should flag a security guard or a member of the support staff to accompany them.

32. NEW QUESTION! The Longueuil visit includes a kiosk named “Art Gallery” that features artwork that is available for purchase. What do I need to do to take advantage of this opportunity?
Over the years, P&WC has supported women artists by sponsoring exhibits and/or purchasing their artwork. As a result, the company owns several limited edition prints that are part of its private collection. P&WC would like to make over 50 of these prints available to employees, retirees and their guests at cost price as a special part of the Family Visit. All earnings from the sale of the artwork will be donated to women’s shelters in the South Shore. Purchases must be paid by check and are available to P&WC employees and their guests only.

33. NEW QUESTION! P&WC will be collecting school supplies during the Family Visit. How can I contribute?
When you come to the event, simply bring any new or lightly used school supplies that you would like to donate. Collection bins will be located at the entrances of the facilities where you can drop off your donation. All supplies will be given to needy educational institutions in the Montreal area

Guests

34. Why is the number of guests limited?
Limiting the number of guests gives us more control over outside access to our facilities, especially since our offices will be accessible to visitors for the first time. We have also taken into consideration that our employees will be responsible for all their guests throughout the entire visit. For these security-related reasons, only employees with eight guests or less (in addition to themselves) will be admitted to the event. However, employees can come more than once with different guests each time.

35. Why eight guests in particular?
The average number of guests each employee brought for the 2008 80th Anniversary Celebration was four. We decided to increase that number to eight in order to give our employees more flexibility. In addition, employees can come more than once with different guests each time.

36. Does the eight-person limit include employees?
No. Employees may bring eight guests in addition to themselves.

37. Do children count as part of the eight-person limit?
Yes. All individuals count towards the eight-person limit. Since employees will be responsible for all the guests who accompany them on the visit, it is important to take each of those guests into consideration. However, employees can come more than once with different guests each time.

38. Do guests need to be accompanied by a P&WC employee throughout the entire visit?
Yes. In order to gain admittance to the event, all P&WC employees will be required to show their badge and you will need to stay with them throughout the entire visit.

39. Will there be a designated meeting area for employees and their guests in case arrival times differ?
Guests can meet each other in the front entrances of each facility. In order to gain admittance to the event, all P&WC employees will be required to show their badge and you will need to stay with them throughout the entire visit.

40. Can guests attend the Family Visit without a P&WC employee if he/she is working during the weekend?
No. In order to gain admittance to the event, all P&WC employees will be required to show their badge and you will need to stay with them throughout the entire visit.

Employee-Specific Questions

General

41. Will I be able to use my assigned parking space on the day of the Family Visit?
No. In order to accommodate everyone, all parking spaces will be available to visitors, including those that are normally assigned.

42. I will be working the weekend of the Mirabel visit and will not be able to attend? Will there be another opportunity for me to attend?
Another visit will be organized during the fall for those employees working the weekend of August 27. All the necessary information will be communicated to these employees at a later date.

Registration

43. What is the purpose of the registration and is it required?
Employees have already indicated a significant amount of interest in the Family Visit, especially for Mirabel Aerospace Centre whose visitation hours have been extended as a result. Due to the high level of interest, we need to manage traffic through the facilities and the registration form will help us plan accordingly so that long lines and wait times are minimized, resulting in a more pleasant visit for you and your family. Anyone with a P&WC badge should register and include the number of guests they will be bringing, what days they plan to attend and what block of time (for Mirabel). Doing so will help us plan an event that is as efficient and environmentally-friendly as possible. Therefore, even though you will still be able to attend the event if you have not registered, we ask that you do so for the reasons stated above. Please note that the registration form does not ask for the names of the people who will be accompanying you on the visit.

44. I already registered when the Family Visit was first announced. Do I need to register again?
Yes. Thank you for completing the pre-registration. Your input provided valuable information that resulted in planning decisions such as the additional day and hours at Mirabel Aerospace Centre. Due to the high level of interest, we need to manage traffic through the facilities and the registration form will help us plan accordingly so that long lines and wait times are minimized, resulting in a more pleasant visit for you and your family.

45. Should I still register if my guests are not sure that they can attend the event?
Yes. We ask that anyone with a P&WC badge complete the registration form with an estimated headcount so that we can calculate the anticipated level of participation and plan accordingly.

46. Should I cancel the registration if I cannot attend the event?
Yes. Please send an email to pwc.communication@pwc.ca with your name, badge number and the number of visitors you had planned to bring to the Family Visit. This information helps us calculate the anticipated level of participation and plan accordingly.

47. Will I need to obtain a bracelet or stamp to enter the event once the registration has been completed?
No. You will present your badge at the event to gain admittance for you and your group. Please keep in mind that you will be responsible for your guests throughout the entire visit.

Guests

48. NEW QUESTION! Is it true that the maximum number of guests per employee has been raised to eight?
Yes! Over the last few months, many of you have requested an increase in the number of guests you can bring to the P&WC Family Visit to avoid making multiple trips to show everyone in your family your workplace. Your requests have been taken into consideration along with the necessary adjustments to safety and security measures so that we can welcome a greater number of visitors throughout our three facilities. Therefore, all employees, retirees and contractors will be able to invite a maximum of eight guests (nine people in total, including the employee). There is no need to reregister if you have already completed your registration. Please note that you remain responsible for all your visitors throughout the event and will not be permitted to attend with more than eight people.

49. NEW QUESTION! I work at P&WC as a contractor. Will my family members and I be permitted to attend the P&WC Family Visit?
Yes. Simply show your P&WC badge when you arrive at the event and be sure to accompany your guests throughout the entire visit.

50. If my family members cannot attend the event, may I invite my friends as guests?
Although this is a family-oriented event, we leave it to the discretion of each employee to determine who he/she would like to invite. Please keep in mind that you will be responsible for your guests throughout the entire visit.

51. My husband is also a P&WC employee. Are we permitted to invite eight guests each?
Yes. Each employee is permitted to bring eight guests in addition to themselves.

52. My brother works for a P&WC competitor; can he still attend the event?
Yes. The Family Visit is for employees and members of their family. In keeping with export compliance, controlled goods and intellectual property regulations, all guests will be required to follow directions and stay on the marked route throughout the visit.

53. Will I be able to visit the facilities more than once, with different guests each time?
Yes. You may come to the event more than once with eight guests (not including you) accompanying you during each visit. In order to gain admittance to the event with your guests, you will be required to show your badge. You will be responsible for your guests throughout the entire visit and must stay with them.

54. What if I am scheduled to work the weekend of the event? Can my guests attend without me?
No. Employees will be responsible for their guests throughout the entire visit. Depending on operational needs, employees who work the weekend shift can request from their supervisor in advance unpaid time off to attend the Family Visit.

Office and Shop Visits

55. I work in the shop and have never seen the offices. May I go see them?
No. We are pleased we were able to add the office visits to the event program. However, for circulation and security reasons, only salaried employees will be able to bring guests to their office area.

56. I used to work in Engineering but I recently moved to Quality. May I bring my guests to my former work area in Engineering?
No. For reasons related to circulation and security, employees may only bring guests to their current work area.

57. I work in the shop and my office/workstation is not on the tour path. May I bring my guests to visit it anyway?
No. In accordance with Environment, Health & Safety regulations and production requirements, employees and their guests are required to stay on the designated tour path throughout the entire visit.

58. My office is on the second/third floor of the R&D Building. May I bring my guests there?
Yes. The second and third floors of the R&D Building will be accessible by badge, as is normally the case. We are pleased we were able to add the office visits to the event program. However, for circulation and security reasons, only salaried employees will be able to bring guests to their office area.