Head over the U.S./Canada border and you are sure to find a wealth of history, evident in venues scattered all over the region. Eastern Canada, in particular, is wildly popular with attendees keen on the past--from Toronto and Montreal to Halifax and Thunder Bay.
“Canada has shaped the region with diverse cultures that include Celtic, Acadian, Irish, English, German, African and First Nations peoples,” says Jonathan Toms, group sales and manager for Destination Halifax. “With over 400 years of European settlement and thousands of years of First Nations settlement, the region can’t help but showcase its history.”
Quebec
As Canada’s largest province, consisting of nearly 600,000 square miles, Quebec is also one of the country’s most historic areas. Founded by French explorers in the early 1600s, today the region continues to hold strong to its European roots with the majority of the country still speaking French. In addition to its language, metros such as Quebec City, Montreal and Laurentians preserve their unique past with distinctive venues and historic districts.
“Quebec City turned 400 years old in 2008,” says Paule Bergeron, account executive at Quebec City Tourism. “This is really the center of North America. We were founded in 1608, and the rest of Canada developed around Quebec City.”
Step into Quebec City’s historic neighborhood, Old Quebec, and you will likely feel like you’ve just entered the 17th and 18 centuries. So perfectly preserved, the neighborhood is designated a UNSECO World Heritage Site and still features treasures of the past, many of which meeting planners can incorporate into itineraries, including the Chapele du Seminaire de Quebec (Old Seminary Chapel).
“The Old Seminary Chapel is a great place,” Bergeron says. “It has been desacralized, so you can use it to have a banquet or even a masquerade dinner with period costumes and orchestra musicians.”
Groups looking for a historic place to stay and meet can head over to the venerable, 618-room Fairmont Le Cheateau Frontenac, a castle-like property within easy walking distance of various attractions.
Another great venue for groups is the Museum of Civilization, which highlights the history of Quebec from Aboriginal inhabitants and offers space for meetings and group functions of up to 1,000 delegates.
Drive three hours south of Quebec City and you will find yourself in Montreal, another historic hot spot with the preserved Old Montreal district.
Among the many centuries-old venues are Marche Bonescours, a circa-1847 building in the heart of Old Montreal that was once the center of commerce for the city and today still plays host to a number of shops and restaurants. Groups ranging from 500-1,600 often rent spaces in the majestic venue for special events.
Another spot for Montreal-bound groups is the elaborately decorated Mount Stephen Club, which has been home to an exclusive business club since 1926 and has 12 meeting rooms able to accommodate up to 400 guests.
Groups interested in exploring the countryside north of Montreal can head up to Laurentians, a lush and mountainous region settled by the French in the early 19th century. Due to the area’s beauty—by both land and water—Laurentians quickly became dubbed “Montreal’s Playground” in the early 20th century and has been known as a great place to get away ever since.
Planners can get a taste of the region’s past by booking a meeting at Oka’s Monastery, located close to Oka National Park. The monastery was built in 1881 and is a great place for secluded meetings of up to 450 guests.
For an off-site event with a musical flair, groups can rent space at Music Hall Cabaret d’epoque Sainte-Adele, located in the town of Ste-Adele. Founded in 1961 as an Anglican church, the venue went through a transformation in 2008 and emerged as an entertainment venue, complete with original interior arches, and now welcomes groups for events.
Ontario
Just west of Quebec sits Ontario, a province founded in the early 1600s and known for its cities running the gamut of historical to cosmopolitan.
The past is prominently featured in Toronto, the province’s most populated city, with more than 2.5 million residents, according to Julie Holmen, director of sales for Tourism Toronto.
“History is all around us in Toronto,” she says, adding that last year the city celebrated its 175th anniversary. “When you walk down the street, you see it in the architecture, you experience it in the museums and art galleries, and the restaurants that serve a variety of dishes from more than 100 cultures are from some of the early immigrants that arrived to the city.”
Distillery District, a neighborhood in downtown, is a premier option.
“The Gooderham and Worts Whiskey Distillery originally opened in 1832, but was restored in 2001 and now features 44 buildings housing everything from restaurants and cafes to galleries and their own venue space called the Fermenting Cellar,” she says.
The district offers several other historic and distillery-like venues perfect for off-site group events.
“Another great place is Evergreen Brickworks, which is slated to open in September,” Holmen says. “Formerly the Don Valley Brick Company, the site is home to 16 historic factory buildings that are currently being repurposed into offices, a nursery and amazing venue space.”
Nearby Niagara offers a bevy of historic options for planners, including Fort Erie, the battle site of the War of 1812. Groups with an interest in visiting the fort can stay at the Holiday Inn Fort Erie Niagara Convention Centre.
Groups can also hold events at the McFarland House, a home built in 1800. The area around the house, the Niagara River Recreation Trail, is a popular spot for outdoor group picnics of up to 250 people.
Drive a little more than six hours northeast of Niagara and groups will find themselves in Ottawa, the capital of Canada.
“Ottawa offers a unique blend of culture, history and natural beauty all wrapped up in a relaxed urban vibe,” says Mark Nisbett, executive director of sales for Ottawa Tourism, adding that the Canadian Museum of Civilization is a great place for groups looking for a historic venue. “The museum showcases more than 1,000 years of Canadian history, from the early settlers to today. Its impressive Grand Hall, with spectacular views across the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill, can accommodate up to 1,000 guests for an elegant off-site dinner or reception.”
Just outside of Ottawa, Nisbett often points history-loving groups to The Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum.
“It is an underground nuclear bunker built in secrecy between 1959 and 1961 during the height of the Cold War and was meant to house the top officials of the government in case of a nuclear attack.”
Almost touching the Detroit border is the city of Windsor, first settled by the French in 1749 as a hub for agriculture. Today you won’t find many farms in Windsor. Instead, the city wows groups with a variety of restaurants, nightlife options, meeting spaces and historic venues.
One such venue is the Historic Essex Railway Station, located just outside Windsor in Essex. The station, which was built in 1887, is now used as an art gallery and can be rented for a group of up to 50 people.
A few miles south of Essex in Kingsville, groups can head over to the Canadian Transportation Museum & Historic Village, a collection of buildings dating back to the 1800s. There are several group-friendly spaces for meetings and receptions within the village.
Over on Ontario’s west side sits Thunder Bay, an area whose history dates back to copper miners in 5,000 B.C. Today, groups interested in the history of the region can visit Fort William Historical Park, says Rose Marie Tarnowski, convention and visitor services coordinator for Thunder Bay Tourism and Economic Development.
“Back in its time, the park was where voyagers met to conduct business,” she says, adding that groups like to recreate history. “It is always nice for a group to spend an evening or afternoon in the park’s great hall.”
Maritime Provinces
Sitting along Canada’s eastern edge are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, four provinces with a wealth of history and venues primed for groups.
The city of Fredericton sits on the banks of the St. John River and was first settled by French explorers in the 17th century. Groups can take a tour of the Christ Church Cathedral, built in 1845 and known as the first cathedral in North America. They can also hold an event at Fredericton’s Government House, a former 17th century residence that features period furniture and accommodates up to 300 meeting delegates.
About an hour south of Fredericton in Saint John, groups can take a glimpse into the past at the Imperial Theatre, which opened as a vaudeville venue in 1913 and was later transformed into a movie cinema. In 1994, it was restored to its original state and now welcomes groups of up to 900.
In nearby Nova Scotia, groups can get a healthy dose of the past in Halifax, according Destination Halifax’s Toms.
“In Halifax, we really live among history every day,” he says. “You can see remnants of history with the historic properties on the waterfront, where privateers unloaded their bounty back in the 18th and 19th centuries, and visit the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, which still fires off the noon-day gun over downtown as it has for hundreds of years. Groups of up to 1,500 can enjoy tented events at the Halifax Citadel.”
Another historic place for groups is Pier 21, Canada’s Immigration Museum.
“More than 1 million immigrants passed through the doors from the 1920s to the 1970s, and their stories and experiences are celebrated at Pier 21,” he says, adding that the venue can accommodate groups of up to 400 guests.
St. John’s, the most populated city in Newfoundland and Labrador, also offers groups enriching historic venues, including the Railway Coastal Museum. The building, which is more than 100 years old, houses exhibits detailing the region’s rail history and is a popular group attraction.
Another historic venue for groups in St. John’s is The Rooms, a collection of archival exhibits, a museum and an art gallery, often used for events.
Rounding out Eastern Canada is scenic Prince Edward Island, founded in 1534 by Jacques Cartier. Charlottetown is a historic area of the island and welcomes groups in venues such as Founder’s Hall, the 1864 meeting place of the Fathers of Confederation.
Katie Morell is a Chicago-based freelance writer and former Meetings Media editor. Growing up near Detroit, she often ventured across the border to Windsor to experience the destination’s new and old attractions.
