We have been planning three Feast of Tabernacle locations across Canada. The map below gives an approximate location of each site. Click on the site name at left or click on the dots on the map to show the site description.
Attention US Transfers
If you travel by land (car/bus/van) or via sea port (ferry) you may be able to cross the border with a passport card, which is cheaper than a passport book.
For more information please visit the following page at the U.S. Department of State website.
Your U.S. dollar will be worth 25-35% more* than the Canadian dollar due to currency exchange rates. While many establishments accept U.S. cash, not all will do so.
Some U.S. credit cards will automatically calculate the exchange rate without a foreign transaction fee; you may want to contact your card's customer service line to see what fee, if any, they charge.
*To see an approximation of the current exchange rate please see sites online such as http://www.xe.com.†
Join us for a joyous Feast of Tabernacles in Calgary Alberta, the sunniest city in Canada!
The Feast will be held at the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel. Many will enjoy the convenience of the conference facilities being located within the hotel, the location near the airport and within driving distance to many attractions and a vast array of restaurants. Several restaurants are within walking distance as well as a restaurant within the hotel. The young, and young at heart, will enjoy the indoor pool with a two-story water slide and a poolside restaurant.
Although there is an abundance of things to do in and around Calgary, we plan to provide many organized activities for brethren of all ages to enjoy together! Some of the planned activities include group dinner options, a family dance, teen/young adult activities and Bible study, family Bible study, children’s lessons, seniors’ luncheon, Jazz Dinner night, family outing at the world-renowned Calgary Zoo, a possible golf tournament, and if there is enough interest, a day in Banff with a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur mountain and dinner in the picturesque town of Banff.
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, and its altitude of 1,045 m (3,428 ft) makes it the “highest” major city in Canada. Along with its noteworthy 333 average sunshine days per year, Calgary has been stated to be the cleanest city in the world! The city is also known for its amazing food scene with restaurants offering almost every cuisine around the world. The views of the Rocky Mountains and surreal landscapes add a unique charm to this place. There are many cultural, historical and entertainment attractions available in Calgary to please young and old alike.
Outdoor enthusiasts will love the massive parks in addition to being close to the Canadian badlands, the Kananaskis, and Banff National Park. A 90-minute drive west and you are in Banff National Park, the most visited park in Canada. The park includes many attractions and sites including the mountain towns of Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise. A short drive (1.5 hrs) north of Lake Louise and you can take in the Columbia Icefields. So come early or stay late and take in these world-renowned sites.
We look forward to rejoicing with you and your family this year in Calgary, Alberta!
Michael Erickson
michael_erickson@ucg.ca
We are planning to return to lovely Midland, Ontario, Canada for the Feast of Tabernacles. This location is truly hard to beat! As someone sagely observed, Midland is the next best thing there is to an all-inclusive Feast site.
Midland is perched on picturesque Southern Georgian Bay, an easy 90 minutes from Toronto and only 30 minutes from Barrie. The region has a natural blend of scenic landscapes, diverse wildlife and a quaint harbor with interesting waterfront trails and attractive parkland. Fall colors are usually vivid at Feast time.
You can visit several local sites that tell about the region’s rich history. Area attractions include St. Marie Among the Hurons, Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Huronia Museum, Ouendat Village and Little Lake Park. Shopping is available at several plazas downtown or in nearby Orillia at the Mariposa Market.
Services: We are returning to the Quality Inn (924 King St., Midland, ON), where the Feast was held last year. One of the reasons for returning to Midland is the warm and friendly service that we receive from the hotel staff. The Quality Inn is the premier full-service hotel in the Southern Georgian Bay area. It has an excellent upgraded ballroom with seating capacity ideal for our needs.
Dining: There are a variety of restaurants throughout the area. For those who would prefer to stay put, evening dining will be available at the on-site restaurant.
Housing: Accommodations include standard rooms as well as suites that come complete with a small refrigerator and coffeemaker. All rooms have free high-speed Internet. The room rate includes a hot breakfast at the on-site Atrium Café. (The negotiated rate can be accessed via https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/AK40S9. The naturally lit Atrium also provides a wonderful setting for interaction and relaxation ideal for connecting with spiritual members of the family. The Quality Inn also offers a heated indoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna for added relaxation. Members are encouraged as much as possible to stay at the Quality Inn. For those who need alternate housing, there are cottages and bed-andbreakfasts nearby.
Activities: “In-house” activities have been highly successful and will be continued this year due to popular demand. Planned festival activities will again focus on family togetherness, beginning with a meet and greet evening, seniors’ brunch, Bible studies, family day, games night and variety show.
For those who have not yet experienced the historic town of Midland and the advantages of a smaller Feast site, we invite you to join us this year. For those who have attended before, we extend a warm and cordial “please come back!”
For further information about the area, go to visitorguide.southgeorgianbay.ca.
Taxes: for guest room rates, there will be an additional 2.5 percent MAT (municipal accommodation tax).
Anthony Wasilkoff
anthony_wasilkoff@ucg.ca
St. John’s is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The city traces its history to 1497, when Italian explorer John Cabot first landed on the shores of what is now Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John’s is the oldest European settlement in Canada and one of the oldest overall in North America.
St. John’s quickly became a large commercial trading post for the Basques, French, Spanish, Portuguese and English engaged in the fishery along the western side of the North Atlantic. Due to its importance in the fishery trade of the region, St. John’s was often targeted by various European countries. The city’s earliest recorded battle dates back to 1555. Today, St. John’s remains as the main financial and commercial center for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Activities: As a city that is over 500 years old, St. John’s features history around every corner. From Signal Hill, that served as a watchtower over St. John’s Harbour, to homes and churches that have stood for centuries, this place is made up of cultural and historical wonders for you to explore.
Cape Spear, only 20 minutes from St. John’s, is the most easterly point of North America. Perched on its rugged cliff sits the Cape Spear Lighthouse—the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province, an iconic symbol of Newfoundland and Labrador’s marine history.
Newfoundland is affectionately known as the “Rock” because of its rugged beauty. If you can afford a couple extra days it is well worth it so as to be able to travel the countryside to see Newfoundland’s unique landscape.
Anthony Wasilkoff
anthony_wasilkoff@ucg.ca
† Links to third-party websites are for informational purposes only; data should be verified by the user via additional resources. The United Church of God-Canada cannot be held liable for the accuracy of content or data provided on third-party websites.
