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
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.†
Nestled in the orchards of the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada, the city of Kelowna is set to be a joyful site for the Feast of Tabernacles observance in 2024. Loaded with big city variety in a small package, the Kelowna area offers enjoyable activities for all—for the adventurous and for the less adventurous. It serves as the hub of the Okanagan Valley itself, which sprawls across the British Columbia southern interior with 176 km (109 miles) of stunning scenery—clear water lakes, mountainscapes, vineyards, fruit orchards and sandy beaches. The autumn harvest of apples, pears, plums and grapes abounds around Feast-time.
opular activities throughout Kelowna and the valley include nature walks, hiking, biking, golfing, boating, winery tours, ziplines, amusement parks, gocarting, simulation rooms, bowling, escape rooms and shopping in the many charming communities. Late season limitations may affect some outdoor activities.
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Services: The Fairfield Inn and Suites Kelowna (1655 Powick Rd., Kelowna, British Columbia, V1X 4L1) will be the location for Feast services. The main meeting room is perfectly suited for our convocation needs with large windows, a vaulted ceiling and surround-sound. We also have a separate room that will be used for children's lessons, parenting needs and anointing and counseling. Additionally we have a third room to be used for communal fellowship during the Feast. The whole conference area is situated together on the ground floor and will serve nicely for all of our Feast needs.
Dining: Restaurants in Kelowna have a vast array of cuisine from fast food to fine dining, as well as excellent dining experiences at wineries and resorts.
Housing: The Fairfield Inn and Suites Kelowna has fresh, clean and comfortable guest rooms. Every room has free Wi-Fi, a mini-fridge and a microwave. Guests can enjoy a daily free continental hot breakfast. The lobby also offers complementary coffee and tea for guests, plus a convenience store and a social area for relaxing with small groups. The hotel also offers a fitness center, year-round outdoor hot tub, heated pool and water-slide, and selfuse laundry room. Both accommodations and the meeting space are accessible. On-site housing at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Kelowna should be suitable for most attendees. We encourage everyone to consider it, as it would help with costs.
Activities: We are planning a variety of enjoyable fellowship opportunities throughout the Feast—beginning with a meet & greet reception, followed by engaging functions for everyone and ending with an Eighth Day Luncheon. We are also looking forward to using our fellowship room for drop-in socializing and games.
Travel: Only 12 minutes from Kelowna International Airport, the Fairfield Inn and Suites Kelowna is centrally located with walkable and short-drive attractions and is only a 10-minute drive from Lake Okanagan.
First Service: Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.
Wayne Ward
Join us for a joyous Feast of Tabernacles in Calgary Alberta, the sunniest city in Canada!
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.
Services: Feast services will be held at The Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre (1316 33 Street NE, Calgary, Alberta, T2A 6B6). We have secured a larger conference facility this year, so we do not anticipate any seating capacity issues. Many will enjoy the convenience of the conference facilities being located within the hotel and the location near the airport and within driving distance to many attractions and a vast array of restaurants.
Housing: The hotel has an on-site restaurant and lounge, fitness room, indoor pool, 24-hour room service and a sundry shop. Additionally, there is complimentary Wi-Fi and parking. Each room has a microwave and refrigerator. Discounted housing has been negotiated at the Best Western. Please make every effort to stay on-site to show our support for the Best Western allowing reasonable prices on the meeting rooms. We are required to have a certain number of rooms utilized or there is additional cost to the Church. 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! Some of the planned activities include group dinner options, a family dance, teen/young adult bowling, teen/young adult Bible study, family Bible study, children’s lessons, seniors’ luncheon, family indoor mini golf and a jazz dinner night. Weather permitting, we may plan a day at the Calgary Zoo and if there is enough interest, we may plan a day in Banff with a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain and dinner in the picturesque town of Banff.
There are many cultural, historical and entertainment attractions available in Calgary to please young and old alike. Following are some of the 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 oiland 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!
First service: Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The following day’s service will be at 1 p.m.
Michael Erickson
We are planning to return to lovely Midland, Ontario, Canada for the 2024 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 in 2024 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).
First service: Wednesday Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Anthony Wasilkoff
† 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.
