Greater Minnesota - Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
*This archived article was originally published in Summer 2004.
Oh Canada!
Our international neighbors in Thunder Bay give planners a dose of Northern hospitality.
BY ELIZABETH KEPHART
It’s hard to describe the North Shore to someone who hasn’t seen it. Given the vastness of Lake Superior and the rocky landscape that dots much of the coastline, you might forget that you’re standing just shy of the center of North America, nestled at least a thousand miles from ocean in either direction. When scanning the horizon of Lake Superior, though, the word "lake" underrates not only the physical description, but its importance as well.
The same assessment would be applicable to Thunder Bay, Ontario, situated just 45 minutes north of Grand Marais. A bustling metropolis slightly bigger than Duluth, Thunder Bay is as unique as its natural surroundings, serving not only as a nexus of Great Lakes history and culture, but also as a growing, year-round tourist attraction. With a perfect combination of outdoor tranquility and urban convenience, Thunder Bay is a great alternative for an out-of-state (out-of-country!) meeting close to home.
This Land is Your Land
The "city" of Thunder Bay is technically new, although the area is quite old. Incorporated in 1970, Thunder Bay is the merger of two cities, Port Arthur and Fort William. The history of these two cities dates back to the 1600s and even further. "We like to say we’ve been hosting meetings for more than 400 years," said Rose Marie Tarnowski, convention and visitor services coordinator for the city of Thunder Bay’s department of tourism and economic development. History suggests it’s true – the area surrounding Thunder Bay was central to the European exploration of North America, setting up a series of fur trading posts at the place they named "Baie de Tonnere," or Thunder Bay. On the cusp of the 18th century, in 1798, the Northwest Company established Fort William, which quickly became an active trading post. Since then, the area has been a hub of the mining, forestry and shipbuilding industries, having coveted the position of being not only on Thunder Bay and Lake Superior but also on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Hosting visitors from all over is part of Thunder Bay’s history, and present-day, it’s no different. The perfect convention size for Thunder Bay is about 500, although the city has held much larger events. "Our average convention size is 300 to 500 people. We can accommodate that very well," said Tarnowski, noting that the city once hosted a convention of 3,500, with guests in every hotel in the city and even in nearby cities. In 1997, Thunder Bay took in 20,000 Boy Scouts as part of the Canadian Scout Jamboree. The city could host such numbers since most of the guests stayed in tents and used many of the outdoor facilities for the event.
Prime Properties
The largest space in Thunder Bay is the Valhalla Hotel, a full-service convention property with 267 rooms. The hotel’s banquet and ballroom space can accommodate 550 people banquet-style and 1,000 reception-style. With two in-house restaurants, a lounge/bar area and a pool and recreation area, the property has amenities throughout. The guest rooms offer high-speed Internet access while the meeting facilities are equipped with audiovisual equipment and support.
Another property of note is the Prince Arthur Hotel, a hotel erected in 1910 and fully restored, offering modern amenities such as an indoor pool, Internet access and a workout facility. Located right on the waterfront, the largest meeting room in the Prince Arthur can accommodate 300 people for a banquet or reception.
Royale Beauty
The natural surroundings play into Thunder Bay’s attractions. It’s hard not to miss the "sleeping giant" on the shores of Thunder Bay. The giant is actually Isle Royale, an island just outside Thunder Bay. Viewed from shore, the land formation resembles the sleeping body of a giant, arms folded across its chest. Once home to a tribe of Ojibwa, the island formerly held the richest silver mine in the Northwest. Thunder Bay is also a center for art and culture, with several theaters, museums and historical attractions; most of which provide meeting and event space for groups. One such attraction is Fort William Historical Park, the reconstructed and restored Fort William that once served as one of the largest fur-trading posts in North America. Within the Fort, there are four distinct banquet spaces, with the capacity of the largest space at 350 for a banquet. The Fort also offers plenty of tours for groups through the expansive grounds – expect costumed characters and authentic period surroundings. Other attractions include nearby gaming, outdoor recreation such as boat cruises, fishing expeditions, golfing or scuba diving and mine exhibits – even one where you can dig out your own amethyst.
Past meets present
Like all CVBs, the tourism and convention department can help plan any of these activities. In fact, Tarnowski has been with the department for 20 years and knows Thunder Bay inside and out. Most groups travel by plane (Thunder Bay’s International Airport is the third busiest airport in Ontario), but some choose to drive, simply for the scenic views. American visitors will find the border unintimidating; most travelers are through the crossing in a matter of minutes. And although passports are not necessary, some official identification is required, such as a state-issued licenses, or birth or naturalization certificates. The department will assist groups with any travel concerns or questions regarding currency exchange and customs.
"We like to plan something that is a bit unique and custom-made to suit the needs of the delegates, whether it be a historical dinner at Fort William or something a little different than the typical meeting room," said Tarnowski. "We boast about being in a meeting in the morning and out fishing by noon."
