5 New Venues in West Canada for Spring 2023 Meetings and Events

Calgary’s BMO Centre is slated to unveil an expansion come June 2024, upon which the already largest convention center in western Canada will add more than 1 million square feet to the region’s venue space. Attendees can expect 65 meeting rooms across 68,000 square feet, three ballrooms—spanning 50,000, 20,000, and 12,000 square feet, respectively—as well as the Exhibition Hall, which will offer 350,000 square feet of contiguous space. An additional 102,500 square feet will be dedicated to an exhibit hall, in addition to a central hub, cafe spaces, and a pavilion—all made with today’s technology, sustainability, and energy efficiency in mind. Aside from extensive Wi-Fi and AV capabilities that can meet high-bandwidth demands, groups can expect to see natural materials in the BMO Centre’s design, as well as plenty of oversized windows that were installed intentionally to make use of sunlight.

Restaurant and lounge Brazen joined Banff’s dining scene when it opened in June 2022. Located inside the Mount Royal Hotel on bustling Banff Avenue, the 2,334-square-foot eatery is a cozy retreat that was designed to honor the spirit of the area’s mountaineers and explorers with an old-world-style menu. Highlights include pickled deviled eggs, salt cod served with lemon caviar, smoked sticky ribs, sherry cream mushrooms, and cheesecake. Guests can enjoy the classic Canadian fare at a food-centered event in the 1,690-square-foot main dining room. A semi-private, 644-square-foot space is also on offer for a more intimate affair for up to 38 guests. Brazen is also available for full buyouts for up to 100 patrons, and minimum spend ranges from $6,000-$10,000 depending on the day of the week; inquire within.

The original river lots of the late 1800s’ Métis settlers in Alberta are now home to Métis Crossing, a 10,000-square-foot cultural interpretive center. Aside from the ticketed, immersive Indigenous experiences, cultural tours, and classes that are on offer at the venue, Métis Crossing is also a sun-soaked, blank-canvas event space for groups looking to gather in a setting of the utmost significance. Métis Crossing opened its doors on Sept. 25, 2022—officially named Métis Crossing Day in Smoky Lake County—and offers a 9,000-square-foot main room, called the Cultural Gathering Center, as well as the 1,000-square-foot Classroom for events. The Gathering Center can accommodate a total of 410 seated or 716 standing guests, and is home to a boardroom and meeting room that can host intimate meetings of 20 and 40, respectively. The Classroom, meanwhile, can fit up to 60. Outdoors, aside from views of the North Saskatchewan River, there’s an outdoor space in the campground’s riverside Picnic Shelter that’s fit for hosting an intimate affair, and history buffs are encouraged to gather in the history-rich Red Barn or Homestead. Meeting spaces start at $500 for the day.

A Latin-American supper club opened alongside Calgary’s riverfront—between Chinatown and East Village—in late July 2022. Called Fortuna’s Row, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant is swanky in its design, with an eclectic mix of textures that collectively give off an amber glow. The main dining room is the largest bookable space for events, spanning 6,500 square feet for anywhere from 120-145 seated guests. Here, the minimum spend ranges from $30,000-$40,000 depending on the day of the week, and guests can expect to dine on a menu of elevated bites, like empanadas with braised beef, skirt steak with duck fat puree, grilled octopus with chimichurri, and more. A 3,000-square-foot lounge space called SRO Bar can accommodate up to 125 standing or 40 seated guests, and is recommended for planners looking to incorporate a dance floor or live performance into their event. A 400-square-foot private dining room (pictured) is also on offer, with room for 20 guests. Forthcoming are an outdoor patio for up to 80 standing or 20 seated guests, as well as a private tasting room—to open in 2024—to further immerse guests in Fortuna’s Row’s culinary culture.

On April 1, Fairmont Palliser in Calgary completed a $4.5 million renovation to its 20,000 square feet of venue spaces (pre-reno meeting room pictured). The largest of the spaces: the 4,734-square-foot Crystal Ballroom that can accommodate up to 391 guests for a reception. The Oval Room, the Banff Room, and the Alberta Ballroom are also on offer for guest lists that exceed 100. They span 1,510, 2,060, and 2,590 square feet, respectively, for receptions with anywhere from 106-212 guests. Smaller spaces include the 826-square-foot Willow Suite, the 770-square-foot Birch Room, and the 566-square-foot Juniper Room, which can each hold receptions of up to 40. The refresh—which the property dubbed the “Grandest of Experiences”—saw updates to the venue space’s carpets, hardwood flooring, paint, and drapes. All lighting was also upgraded, aside from the ballrooms’ chandeliers, which were kept to maintain the 407-key hotel’s historical ambiance. Ballrooms and meeting rooms alike now boast green granite accents and blue hues, plus wall sconces and touches of gold. Room rentals begin anywhere from $600-$4,500 per day, depending on the venue and the date of the event.