Stretching from the U.S. border north to Jasper National Park in Alberta, the Kootenay Rockies may well be B.C.’s best-kept secret. Separated by numerous mountain ranges from Vancouver, the country is characterized by jagged peaks, broad valleys and a friendly, frontier attitude.
The region is named for the Ktunaxa people, who today operate St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino with its 4,000 square feet of meeting space. Situated minutes from Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, St. Eugene is a blend of First Nations culture and turn-of-the-century architecture emblematic of the region’s heritage.
Cranbrook’s airport is a gateway for visitors to the region’s several ski resorts, situated along the so-called Powder Highway that connects eight properties, including Fernie Alpine Resort, Panorama Mountain Resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Red Mountain Resort in Rossland. Perched on breathtaking hills with primo powder, the resorts offer alpine meeting space with opportunities for recreation after the work’s done.
Panorama offers year-round facilities, from 14-person boardrooms to 500-person tents for celebrations. A new hotel at Red Mountain set to open in 2017 will add to Rossland’s offerings, boasting 1,200 to 3,000 square feet of space in the resort’s day lodge.
The resorts are popular for stags and stagettes, not to mention wedding parties. Revelstoke’s scenery has featured in films, and provides a stunning natural backdrop to the 5,000 square feet of meeting space at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The town’s historic core is home to a 275-seat performing arts centre, one of many small-town theatres across the region that now host speakers, performances and other community events.
St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino blends First Nations heritage with Victorian-era architecture | Kari Medig/Destination BC
Fernie Brewing Co. draws hundreds of people through the Crowsnest Pass to sample its suds each year. A range of mountain-themed craft beers is refreshing after a meeting at venues such as Fernie Golf & Country Club or team-building activities in the local mountains.
The sports theme is also in evidence in Kimberley, home of the Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre. Opened in 2010, it’s the largest meeting place in the East Kootenays with a main ballroom seating up to 500 people and four breakout rooms for smaller gatherings.
Geothermal energy bubbling under the region gives guests a chance to get into hot water at venues such as Fairmont Hot Springs, home to the largest hot springs in Canada. The town’s namesake resort has meeting space for up to 300 people, while Radium Hot Springs, located at the entrance of Kootenay National Park (which lays claim to Radium’s hot springs), can accommodate conferences and banquets for up to 150 people at Bighorn Meadows Resort.
The region is also known for its farms and ranches, some of which host corporate groups.
Creston, the epicentre of local fruit growing, boasts 1,300 square feet of meeting space at the local Ramada as well as four rooms at the Creston & District Community Complex, including the newly renovated Rotacrest Hall.
A pride in all things local abounds in the region, with Nelson supporting a vibrant community of artists. Selkirk College, home to the Kootenay School of the Arts, has a residence and conference facilities that can host up to 400 people. The Capitol and Civic theatres in Nelson’s scenic downtown offer reception space for 400 and 300 people, respectively.
Meanwhile, the presence of major resource companies means that several communities have fine meeting facilities to serve visitors.
Teck Resoures Ltd. contributed to construction of the Elkford Community Conference Centre, the region’s newest meeting space with a 300-seat banquet hall within its 16,575-square-foot premises. Smelting operations in Trail gave rise to the Cominco Arena, a 2,500-seat venue that hosts banquets and conventions in summer. It’s located within the Trail Memorial Centre, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people for concerts and meetings in the Cominco Gymnasium.
