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Grand
Railways Hotels and other,Famous
Doors of Hospitality
by
Jerry W. Bird
 Canada
is dotted with famous hotels, inns, lodges and
resorts; a few having existed since pioneer days,
while others are but faded memories. Some of my
favourite haunts remain as attractive and popular
as ever, keeping up with the times, yet retaining
their unique charm - those built during the hey day
of Canada's two great continental railways.
Victoria's elegant Empress, the Hotel Vancouver,
the palatial Banff Springs and Chateau Lake Louise,
Edmonton's Macdonald, Saskatoon's Bessborough,
Regina's Hotel Saskatchewan and Calgary's Palliser
are all prime examples.
 Further
east, there's Winnipeg's Fort Garry, Toronto's
Royal York, Quebec's Chateau Frontenac, Montreal's
Queen Elizabeth and Ottawa's Chateau Laurier. How
can one forget the Algonquin, a tudor style resort
on the Bay of Fundy at St. Andrews by the Sea, a
pleasant bus ride from St. John, NB. We enjoyed the
Mother of all Lobster Feasts on the grounds of that
historic property during a convention I helped
stage for CGA-Canada. We have participated in many
such events, worked on projects or enjoyed
memorable stays at most of these superb hotels, the
Banff Springs in particular. For several months, a
suite in Edmonton's Macdonald Hotel served as our
advertising agency's branch office.
Romantic
Dream Vacation: Coast to coast rail trip, with
overnight stops at several of these
nostalgia-inspiring properties, including
Victoria's Imperial Empress, Banff Springs Mountain
Majesty and Quebec's charming Chateau Frontenac.
It's a romantic, fairyland vacation for folks of
any age. From Vancouver or Halifax. Train
connections by Via Rail Canada, Royal Canadian
Pacific and Rocky Mountain Rail tours. Contact
Railways of the World Tours; fax (604) 681-6595,
airhwy@dowco.com
Harrison
Hot Springs Resort, near Vancouver also 'springs'
to mind. It recalls a legend of CPR's glory days,
when high rollers, from movie stars to royalty rode
the Canadian Pacific Railway, staying at hotels and
resorts at or near the main line. I am touched by
that same spirit with each visit to The Harrison.
And its always a happy return. We launched Air
Highways Magazine there, when the BC Aviation
Council selected me to speak at its 1996
Conference. Our publishing group is working on a
history of that great resort and others for our
Suite 2001 Program.
Reservations and information on many of the above
mentioned hotels, including those in the fotomation
sequence and vintage hotel posters are available
from Fairmont hotels www.fairmont.com
Canada's
Hotels continues with "Hotels
along the
Yukon"
Fotomation-
series of souvenir posters available
at Canadian Pacific Stores. Catalogue:
http://www.cphotels.ca
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