Looking for an event space in Toronto to host a large meeting or event? Here's a look at 10 new and renovated Toronto venues—including convention centers, ballrooms, meeting rooms, banquet halls, auditoriums, conference rooms, clubs, and more—for corporate events, conferences, business dinners, weddings, parties, receptions, and other large events.
With more than one million square feet of exhibit space, the Direct Energy Centre is Canada's largest venue for conventions and events. A combination of halls A, B, C, and D creates the city’s largest continuous space at 358,433 square feet. Home to a number of annual trade shows, like the National Home Show and Toronto Sportsmen's Show, the combined halls hold 14,900 people. The center is adjacent to an 8,200-seat arena and a 20,000-seat open-air stadium.
Fort York National Historic Site is one of Toronto's largest outdoor venues. It includes the 10,000-person Garrison Common that is used for large-scale events. The $25 million Visitor Centre is slated to open in mid-September and will include spaces for rent such as the lobby, the exhibit gallery, an orientation theater, and an immersive gallery about the Battle of York. The center will hold as many as 500 people for receptions. It will also feature a full catering kitchen.
The International Centre in Mississauga is undergoing a $4.5 million renovation slated to wrap later this summer. The improvements include a renovated main entrance to Hall 1 that can be used for events, and all exterior main entrance and hall signage will be replaced with color LED screens. Already finished and in use is a new connection between Hall 4 and Hall 5 that can be used for registration, receptions, booths and displays, and lounge areas for food and beverage. The 100,000-square-foot Hall 5 is the largest column-free space; it holds 7,020 guests banquet-style or 572 trade show booths. In total, the International Centre has more than 548,000 square feet of exhibition space.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the largest indoor aquarium in the nation, opened in October. The $130 million project features more than 16,000 marine animals in 50 live exhibits. For events, the 135,000-square-foot aquarium holds 1,200 for receptions; 10 gallery spaces are also available for smaller gatherings.
The recently renovated Metro Toronto Convention Centre, home to some of the largest trade shows and galas in the city, has more than 600,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting room space. Halls A, B, and C in the North Building cover 182,000 square feet and make up the largest column-free space in the downtown venue. The space holds 10,570 for receptions or 10,400 banquet-style. The center offers free Wi-Fi.
For large outdoor events, Cabana Pool Bar holds 3,000 guests on its 23-acre lakeside property. The venue, which opened for the season in June, has a newly renovated 53,000-square-foot enclosed patio area, a saltwater pool, 12 elevated private cabanas surrounding the pool, and a new 3,000-square-foot second level with two small heated pools, five luxury cabanas, and a 22-foot bar.
Toronto's largest hotel, Eaton Chelsea opened in July 2013 in the former Delta Chelsea. The 1,600-room hotel—a four-star brand from Langham Hospitality—is finishing renovations to its event space, lobby, and two food and beverage outlets. Its largest ballroom, measuring 5,200 square feet, holds 550 guests for receptions. Overall, the hotel has 24,000 square feet of event space.
York Mills Gallery, which opens today, is a 15,000-square-foot loft-style space that seats 450 guests or holds 600 for receptions. The dedicated event venue in Midtown has industrial decor elements such as exposed brick and beamed ceilings, as well as amenities including a full kosher kitchen.
Located in Exhibition Place, the Better Living Centre has nearly 200,000 square feet of exhibit space. For shows, it can hold 818 10- by 10-foot booths and about 9,000 people. The space is home to events such as the Toronto Fall Home Show, galas, and other community events.
