We have been planning four 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
NOTE: COVID protocols have expired and are no longer implemented for border crossings.
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.†
About a 10-minute drive north of the US-Canada border, 90 minutes from the Pacific ocean, on the south bank of the Fraser River, sits the cozy community of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Located on the Trans-Canada highway, this natural beauty is all too often overlooked as passersby make their way to and from the big city of Vancouver. What they miss will be yours to discover…
First thing to notice: Though the municipal centre has grown to a population of 110,000 it has still maintained much of the pastoral charm that drew homesteaders to the area more than a century ago. Mill Lake, for example (shown above), is only a 4-minute drive or a 15-minute walk from the feast venue and showcases that rural feeling found in the middle of the city.
And today, having grown up at the heart of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford flourishes as an agricultural hub, providing visitors with a wide variety of harvest pleasures: berries, berries, berries galore. Did we mention the berries? Abbotsford is especially known as the raspberry capital of Canada. It also has to be noted, of course, that grapes are berries too. Which stands to reason why so many quality wineries exist in the area, ready to offer their delightful work of the vine for your enjoyment.
Abbotsford also offers many urban attractions, with many markets and shops, museums, restaurants and pubs to explore. The local Castle Fun Park is worth the trip in itself—it’s a family destination for exciting indoor activities like mini-golf, indoor softball and baseball batting cages, over 130 video and skill games and a Go Kart track. Facility admission is free.
And no outdoor enthusiast will be left out in Abbotsford. Nearby mountainous terrain provides excellent adventures for mountain cyclists and hikers of all skill levels. Plus fishing, golfing, horseback riding also await those more inclined toward gentle recreation. And many tours can be arranged to explore all the area has to offer, such as Fort Langley Historic Site.
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Services will be held at the Sandman Hotel & Suites at 32720 Simon Avenue, Abbotsford.
Please note: There are two Sandman Hotels in the area. The other is at the airport. Please be sure you are planning in regards to the facility on Simon Avenue.
Also note: We have no group housing arrangement with the hotel. You may still book with them, however there is no group booking reference code to cite.
There are also a number of other nearby hotels and motels, along with AirBnB’s that you can choose from.
Come and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in the unique badlands setting of Drumheller, Alberta. COVID-19 restrictions permitting, we plan to provide many fellowship opportunities for all the brethren to enjoy together.
Join us for a joyous Feast of Tabernacles in Calgary Alberta, the sunniest city in Canada!
The Feast will be held at the Courtyard by Marriot Calgary Airport. Many will enjoy the convenience of the conference facilities being located within the hotel and the location near the airport, away from the busy downtown area but within driving distance from many attractions and fine restaurants. The hotel is near the airport, but it backs onto a wonderful golf course, lending itself to very peaceful views.
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, and its altitude of 1,045 meters (3,428 feet) 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.
Dining: The hotel has a restaurant located onsite and there are a few other restaurants within walking distance and many within driving distance.
Housing: Housing has been negotiated at the Marriott, so please make every effort to stay on site to show our support for the Marriott allowing reasonable prices on the meeting rooms. It is becoming more difficult to find reasonably priced meeting rooms this close to the Rocky Mountains.
Activities: 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! There are many cultural, historical and entertainment attractions available in Calgary to please young and old alike. Following are some of Calgary’s popular attractions:
Calgary Zoo (14 km from the hotel)—The Calgary Zoo has been rated third best in North America and one of the top five zoos in the world for conservation research. There are almost 900 animals from around the world. Trek through the gorilla’s rainforest, safari over the Savannah to watch the hippos swim or climb the Canadian Wilds to see a grizzly bear. Cool off and get beak to nose with four species of penguins or visit endangered red pandas and amur tigers in Eurasia!
Telus Spark Science Center (10 km from the hotel)—A space for people of all ages and abilities to explore science, technology, engineering, art and math. Exhibits and programs ignite a sense of wonder and excitement.
Aero Space Museum of Calgary (2 km from hotel)—Learn about western Canada’s aviation history at the Aero Space Museum of Calgary. Located in a drill hall that was built as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the Second World War, the museum is a must-see destination for anyone passionate about aviation and its history.
Calgary Tower (14 km from hotel)—Experience breathtaking views of the city with a tour or while dining at Sky 360 Restaurant and Lounge.
Gasoline Alley Museum (23 km from hotel)—Return to the golden age of the automobile at Gasoline Alley Museum. Boasting one of the world’s largest public collections of antique vehicles and oil and gas-related artifacts, this expansive three-story museum brings auto history to life, from the turn of the 20th century to the 1950s. Immerse yourself in a bustling street scene, enjoy a blast from the past with a display of a vintage drive-in movie and enjoy some family fun and crafts in the Family Gallery. Gasoline Alley Museum is part of Heritage Park, Canada’s largest living history museum.
Devonian Gardens (11 km from hotel) is an urban oasis in the heart of Calgary that offers one hectare of botanical gardens including over 500 trees, 50 varieties of plants, a 900 sq. ft. living wall, fountains, fish ponds and a playground to climb and explore.
Parks—Outdoor enthusiasts will love the massive parks in addition to being very 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 takes you to the Columbia Icefields. Come early or stay late and take in these world-renowned sites!
For the 2023 Feast of Tabernacles, we are planning to return to lovely Midland, Ontario. This location is unique and hard to beat! As someone sagely observed, Midland is the next best thing there is to an all-inclusive Feast site.
Midland is situated on the picturesque Southern Georgian Bay, a short 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 also visit several local sites that tell about the region’s rich history. Area attractions include St. Marie Among the Hurons, Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre and Little Lake Park.
Shopping is available at several plazas, downtown or in nearby Barrie. There are a variety of restaurants throughout the area. For those who would prefer to stay put, dining will be available at the onsite restaurant.
Activities: “In-house” activities have been highly successful and will be continued in 2023 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, variety show and more.
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 a premier full-service hotel in the Southern Georgian Bay area. It has an excellent upgraded ballroom with seating capacity ideal for our needs.
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 “welcome back!”
For further information about the area, please go to southerngeorgian.bay.on.ca. The website for the host hotel can be found at qualityinnmidland.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.
For those that can come to St. John’s a couple days early and are interested we are planning a scenic bus trip on Sept. 28.
For general inquiries about this site, please contact Larry DeLong at larry_delong@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.
