THURSDAY, April 5, 2012
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Enjoying a royal weekend in Ottawa By Jane Cassie SPECIAL TO KTW travelwriterstales.com
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AVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT ROYAL LIVING WOULD BE LIKE — PEDIGREE SERVICE, POSH PAMPERING, CHEFPREPARED MEALS? While staying at the Fairmont Château Laurier during this weekend escape to Ottawa, we get a real regal taste. Slabs of limestone and Gothic turrets embellish this castlelike cornerstone that’s been well-rooted in Canada’s capital for nearly a century. This architectural wonder was the brainchild of Charles Melville Hays, who unfortunately perished on the doomed Titanic before getting to cut the inaugural ribbon. All celebrations were postponed for two months and, on June 1, 1912, this grand dame began graciously greeting her guests. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s seventh prime minister, still holds a prominent position here. Immortalized in marble, his sculpted bust sits front and centre in the spacious foyer. We enter this convivial meeting spot where cushy couches are embraced by swanky decor. Impressive pillars and ornate archways fall beneath a glitzy embossed ceiling.
It’s time for some afternoon tea at Zoe’s Lounge at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, an eating establishment named for Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s wife.
Within these confines, it’s not unusual to spot well-known MPs, cabinet ministers and prestigious senators as they chin-wag or text on their Blackberries. After all, this is Ottawa and our parliamentary nexus is just a walk away. As well as government gurus, Chateau Laurier has been the chosen retreat to a starstudded lineup. In the adjacent Heritage Hall, cronies like Jack Benny and Billy Bishop are framed next to Bryan Adams and Nelson Mandela. A few imperial icons intermingle here, as well: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, the late Princess Diana. Many of the black and whites were crafted
by Yousuf Karsh, a sought-after photographer who took up residency here for 18 years. It must have been quite the life, living in the hottest hotel on the continent. To this day, the Chateau hosts almost every name of fame who visits our capital — from intellectual highbrows to raging rock stars. As I enter my getaway haven, I wonder what famous footsteps have preceded mine. Although all the guest rooms boast sumptuous delights like marble baths and dreamy feather beds, we bump it up a notch and go for the gold. Fairmont’s fourth floor is dedicated to
guests who are looking for added perks and pleasantries. A private lounge that’s textured with antiques is decked out with luxury-loving conveniences: A breakfast spread in the morning, late-afternoon culinary canapes and an honour bar that hosts everything from fine wine to malt brew. The service is also pedigree-rated and presented with a smile. Within seconds of asking, our concierge, Mallory, produces a list of DVDs for late-night viewing and whips out a map, circling the popular tourist tromps and recommended eateries. Wilfrid’s Restaurant on the main level dishes up regional fine fare topped off with a pretty panorama.
La Terrasse, overlooking the Rideau Canal, is the summer place to wine and dine. And, Zoe’s Lounge, named in honor of Sir Laurier’s better half, entices us with afternoon tea. In spite of once being a hoity event, there’s no longer a pretentious air. We arrive in our touring duds and feel right at home when dining on dainty sandwiches, pastries and cranberry scones topped with clotted cream. It’s a feast that’s literally steeped with tradition and one that gets our vote. With all this fine royal living, it’s easy to see why waist-cinching corsets were once necessary. Thanks to the lower floor’s art-deco pool and high-tech fitness club, there’s no need to worry. And, within a brief stroll, there are dozens of ways to burn off those unwanted calories. During this threeday visit, we take in the free hour-long Parliamentary tour and get a sneak peek into the operations of our capital. We browse ByWard Market, one of the oldest and largest open-air venues of its kind, where fruits and veggies spill from stalls and chic boutiques butt up with yummy bistros. We meander through a few of the 29 museums, retracing Canada’s thousand years of histo-
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royal blood in our veins, when it’s time for more pampering, we return to our sweet retreat and feel like a king and queen again.
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The Kamloops Exploration Group is pleased to present their 2012 Lecture Series This year, we have outstanding speakers that will promote the interests of mining, earth sciences and mineral exploration. The lectures start at 7:00 pm and are free to attend. The next talk will be held on
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Thursday, April 12th TRU Mountain Room 3rd floor of the Activity Centre • 7pm
Ice Age Fossils in the Klondike Goldfields with Dr Grant Zazula *Topics and dates subject to change* For more information and biographies please visit our website at www.keg.bc.ca