April 2010 by MERCI

Using trade show survival tips can help BY BARRY SISKIND

In this economy, the last thing any company wants is to show cracks in their well-being recently had the opportunity of moderating a panel of experts at the Eastern Canada chapter of the Trade Show Exhibitors Association. The panel members covered four areas of the exhibition industry; a show manager, a display builder, a shipper and a show contractor. Each spoke on how to ride out the current economic uncertainly from their perspective. We started by asking the audience for a show of hands on how many would be cutting back on their exhibit expense, how many would be maintaining the same level as last year and how many would be increasing their budget. The percentages were split evenly at one third for each question. It is both astonishing and encouraging to hear that two thirds of the participants plan to either keep their budgets at the same level or increase it. The panel offered some thought provoking ideas. Here are a few points that are worth considering.

1. EXHIBIT SPACE Rather than pulling out of a show, consider taking a smaller space. Some companies are pulling out of shows to an attempt to lower their expenses. The problem with this approach is that in many cases these companies do not really know which shows produce results and which don’t. Chopping shows from can be tantamount to “throwing the baby out with the bath water.” A better solution is to pare back the amount of exhibit space during these challenging times and measure the results. Once the company knows clearly which shows produce positive results then the decision about which to drop not only becomes easier to justify it makes sense. 2. WORKING WITH THE SHOW MANAGER Now more than ever, it is important to strengthen your relationship with show management. Prior to making any radical changes to the exhibit program, companies should talk to the one person who has an incredible wealth of knowledge – the show manager. Traditionally there is a wall between show management and exhibitors with no attempt to cross over to see what’s on the other site. The show manager is busy juggling the needs of many

exhibitors and the exhibitor looks at the show management’s advice with skepticism. The truth of this myth is that show management has a long term view of their shows. Nothing pleases them more than exhibitors who add value to their shows and are happy with the experience. Show mangers have also raised the bar on their professionalism through some of the certification programs offered by the industry. Ignoring this potential wealth of knowledge means that exhibitors simply miss important opportunities. 3. NEGOTIATE COSTS Show managers generally will not cut the cost of exhibit space and suppliers generally do not adjust the price for specific services. But both agreed that they would be open to discussing the entire exhibit expenditure and helping the exhibitor put together a package of services that make economic sense. The panelists expressed a willingness to sit down and talk with the exhibitor’s and develop win-win solutions. 4. MAINTAIN THE COMPANY IMAGE While it may be necessary to make some cutbacks, of equal importance is the assurance that the integrity of your presence has not been compromised. In this economy the last thing any company wants is to show cracks in their well-being. Poorly conceived exhibition plans can quickly back-fire leaving the impression with your clients that your stability is not what you profess it to be. 5. TURNING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN INTO OPPORTUNITIES Since one third of exhibitors might be cutting back or maintaining the same level of commitment, there is an opportunity during the current economic slowdown for those who stay in the game. While some exhibitors may choose to have less space, it's what they do with the space that is crucial. Those companies who give proper attention to their exhibitory, ensure that their physical appearance attracts the right people and gives the right message and have booth staff who are up for the challenge will come through this economic downturn well ahead of the competition. The discussion between panelists and participants was lively and the feeling in the room was that, in spite of some of the rumors and to paraphrase Mark Twain, “Reports of the death of trade shows are an exaggeration.”

Barry Siskind is North America’ foremost trade and consumer show expert. Visit his Web site: www.siskindtraining.com or e-mail him at: barry@siskindtraining.com.

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In this Issue THE CANADIAN EDITION

6 Hit the ground running >

The Coaster hat’s the state of affairs in our industry right now. Everyone is waiting to see where we’re heading. Well, one thing is certain – although things are getting better we are definitely not there yet. Older hotels are closing as it’s currently not economically viable to renovate them. And other than banks and financial institutions nobody seems to have started to spend big bucks on meetings and events yet. So where does that leave the industry? It’s still in a holding pattern. And with a higher dollar, it’s not about to change soon. It was tough getting groups to come to Canada before the dollar went up 25 percent, imagine what it will be like now. And if interest rates creep up, will the dollar follow? You will probably see hotel rates at their lowest level in years this summer, as every hotel tries to fill up by undercutting their competitors’ prices. The Internet is all about price. You don’t buy on the Internet because you want a relationship – price is the motivating factor, and it should be called ‘dealernet’. So what can we do to try and move things along? For one we can hold our events in Canada, which a lot of companies have been doing. Two, we can buy locally and encourage hotels to do the same, from fruits and vegetables to wines and beer. Yes yes, we have been repeating this message over and over at The Planner, but by using a Canadian supplier from the AV Company to the airline you keep the money in Canada, which turns the wheels of your local industries. But some of the bigger hotel chains may not be doing the same. Tell them your group has both a green and, by default, a buy local policy and encourage them to do the same. Wines from Australia are excellent but so are local wines and American AV companies are fine but so are local companies. So as some of us learned in school Ceteris paribus (all things being the same) why would we not encourage local companies? In some areas you may not have a choice, but when you can why wouldn’t you? Let’s all get this Coaster moving in the right direction by doing what we can. So think green by buying local and spending local. LEO GERVAIS

In her Planner debut, Toronto writer Marilyn Lazar looks at how stress can affect planners when they travel. She offers some fabulous fitness tips that will get you moving and enjoying your business trips.

8 Regions of Canada >

Every planner faces the daunting task of finding new meeting destinations so attendees will be enthusiastic to attend. This Planner provides information from several locales you may not have ever considered before.

11 Golf resort guide >

We have included in this issue a comprehensive guide to many of the golf resorts across the country to help you find places for work and play, all self-contained in one location.

23 Where are all the heroes? >

Old-fashioned heroism seems to be on the ropes; at the same time, unsung heroes are everywhere. This article about heroes will certainly resonate with anyone who knwows some of the unsung people in our industry.

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The Planner is distributed to professional meeting and event planners across Canada. E DITOR

A SSOCIATE E DITOR G RAPHIC A RTIST S ALES C IRCULATION C ONTRIBUTORS

Leo Gervais lgervais@theplanner.ca Camille Lay clay@theplanner.ca Matt Riopel mriopel@theplanner.ca info@theplanner.ca Patricia Lemus circulation@theplanner.ca Marilyn Lazar, Barry Siskind

2105, de la Montagne, suite 100 Montréal, Quebec H3G 1Z8 Telephone : (514) 849-6841 ext. 315 Fax : (514) 284-2282 Your comments are appreciated: info@theplanner.ca Poste-publication No. 40934013 The Planner is published ten times a year.

The Planner uses 30% recycled post-consumer paper. Colour Printer: Litho Express, (514) 816-3865, www.lithoexpress.ca PAP – Registration No. 111100 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage toward our mailing costs.

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Recharging your batteries (literally) Tofino, B.C. to ban smoking in parks

On Vancouver Island, there is a little town called Tofino. Long known for its idyllic scenery and granola-edged population, Tofino residents have fought hard to keep fastfood chains and box stores out of their community lest they change it from a sleepy, oceanside town to regular North American suburbia. Now they are drawing up a by-law to prevent people from smoking in municipal parks. One Tofino city councilor said it makes perfect sense as parks are supposed to be “…a place of health and recreation.” Schools in the Tofino district already have an on-premises smoking ban.

Cruise ships dock in Vancouver and save energy

On their Alaskan-bound journeys, cruise ships can now stop in Vancouver and plug into the city’s electricity grid – cutting their engines and their diesel emissions. Only the third of its kind in the world, the recently-unveiled shore power facility for cruise ships while in harbour lets the ships plug into the electrical grid of BC Hydro which claims that its mostly hydroelectric-generated power is 90% nonpolluting. The project aims to improve local air quality by reducing emissions during the cruise ship season.

Airport body scanners produce negligible radiation

You would need to have 1,000 full body scans to receive the same dose of radiation as a standard chest X-ray, according to the American College of Radiology. The College also noted that flying for two minutes in a commercial jet at 30,000 feet exposes you to as much background radiation as being screened by one of these devices.

Briskly rubbing your dead batteries for a minute or two on your pants leg will create enough static electricity to recharge them for an hour or two. This is ideal while flying or in a cheap hotel room where they never change the remote batteries.

Airline crisis will continue: Hohmeister

The global economy is in the midst of its biggest-ever crisis right now and SWISS (Lufthansa Group) CEO Harry Hohmeister said recently that it will affect the airline industry for another four or five years. He also criticized discount airlines for trying to gain market share with low prices, but then adding fees and other add-ons which end up making the actual price more than an allinclusive price from major airlines. Hohmeister concluded his interview with the German media in Berlin by saying strikes at British Airways and Lufthansa were also affecting the industry.

It’s bird, it’s a plane it’s a 747 bus!

The new 747 express bus to Montreal’s Trudeau airport started service on March 30, and not a day too soon for many travellers. The new service – which runs 24 hours 365 days a year, every 30 minutes during off-peak hours and at 20-minute intervals during the afternoon rush hour – is meant to make airport travel faster and cheaper for air passengers and workers. The service is free for those with a weekly or monthly transit pass and costs $7 each way for all others, which also allows them full use of the transit system for the day. There are nine stops, including Central Station, Lionel-Groulx Métro station and several downtown stops along Boul. René Lévesque at major intersections like Mansfield and Guy near major hotels. Tickets are available at the airport currency exchange counter in international arrivals. A customer can pay cash, but in coins only - the machines on the bus don’t take paper money. Downtown, express bus tickets can be bought at the central bus terminal at Berri and the Infotourist Centre at Dominion Square. On the Web: www.stm.info/English/info/a-747.htm

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Hit the ground running! Exercise when traveling is the key to reducing stress Whether en route to work a destination event, attending an out-of-town trade show or on a well-deserved holiday, an event planner’s time away is precious. Following are some fitness travel tips from The Planner’s roaming reporter Marilyn Lazar.

BY MARILYN LAZAR

our alarm jarred the airwaves when it was still pitch black outside. Twenty minutes into the airport lineup, you’re not sure if that eye burn is due to sheer exhaustion or unkind airport lighting. When you finally take off, air cabin pressure wreaks havoc on your ear drums and nasal passages and sucks moisture from your skin. Coach seating has twisted your limbs into a pretzel. Coincidentally, a pretzel is all you’ve been offered as nourishment. To maximize your limited time on this trip, you plan to hit the ground running when you land. But that’s when you’ll be hit by the traveler’s piece de resistance: jet lag. Is there a way to counter-balance the stress that travel puts on our bodies and our minds?

from head to toe - literally.” TWO PILATES MOVES: Neck Stretch. While seated, make your neck long – think of reaching the top of your ears to the ceiling and pull your jaw back in space. 2) Spine Roll. Stand with feet parallel and hip distance apart. Inhale to lengthen the spine. On an exhale, draw the navel to the spine and round into a forward bend, keeping knees slightly bent. Inhale, letting arms dangle, and rotate head gently from side to side to release the neck. On an exhale, draw the navel to the spine and engage the abdominal muscles to round back up, one vertebra at a time. Al Greene, Group Fitness Manager at the Delisle Club has the following advice. “On the plane, in and out of your seat, range of motion exercises should be done periodically to prevent muscle tension and promote circulation. At your destination, choose an environment conducive to your fitness needs. Ensure that your hotel has a gym equipped with weights and cardio equipment. Runners should confirm that there are safe and challenging routes available. If recreation is your thing, look for the facilities you require nearby; golf course, basketball or volleyball courts, etc.”

Is there a way to counter-balance the stress that travel puts on our bodies and our minds?

EXPERTS AGREE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVEMENT. Start before departure! As the ideal workout routine involves days of recovery, try to time your trip to follow a series of heavily active workout days so that your body may actually benefit from a day off. Paula Ryff has straddled the worlds of professional dance and competitive bodybuilding. She is currently a highly sought after personal trainer and instructor at Extreme Fitness in Toronto. “Not moving at all for the entire flight is best avoided at all costs,” she warns. “Befriend your neighbour so your routine seems less disruptive and avoid being seat-bound. While seated, maintain good posture, leaning slightly forward, using a small pillow or rolled up sweatshirt for lumbar support. Mobilize the spine hourly. Restore the entire body and find relief from stiffness through isolated stretches. “I’d love to suggest using the seat tray in front of you as a ballet barre,” she jokes, “but the body needs light activity. We are not talking about fancy choreography here, just proper movement 6

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TWO ISOMETRIC/ISOTONIC MOVES: 1. Seated: Point, flex and circle your feet and hands. Go through the muscles sequentially flexing and relaxing each one. Bend and extend limbs at the elbow and knee. 2. Standing: It is difficult but not impossible to do cardio on a plane. High repetitions of deep squats tones the lower body but can provide a nice bonus cardio effect when performed in high repetitions, fairly quickly. Note: never compromise form when fatigued Be cognizant that foreign countries may have different definitions of fitness. In North America, exercise comprises a large component of health spas. Less so in Europe where spas connote water treatments and services. Leanne Hazon, National Field Producer for CBC, has experienced some surprises while traveling. “While planning for five weeks in London, I invested in a Pilates DVD. When I got there, I realized that they’re on a totally different system and I couldn’t play it. Another time, I was thrilled to read that my hotel in Beijing included fitness facilities, but arrived to discover that meant a bowling alley and darts.” Tip: Packing weights isn’t practical with weight restrictions these days. Think dynabands and rubber tubing instead.

Formal travel attire is out Even if you’re not a fitness aficionado, you should be aware of potential effects of flying on health, says occupational therapist Debbie Seligman. “Blood pools in your legs and in an extreme case, you could develop a clot. Get up and walk around the plane every hour,” she advises. “It’s wise to wear anti-embolic stockings while traveling,” she adds. Ever see photos of families off on a voyage years ago? Just as soft duffels on wheels have replaced antiquated trunks, so has formal travel attire gone by the wayside. But think logically – tight jeans just don’t cut it. Or rather they do - as in cutting uncomfortably at the waist. Fitness wear is not only acceptable for travel and touring, it really makes sense. Workout pants don’t crease and stretch every which way to accommodate water retention. A matching jacket adds not only a finished look but also a valuable layer which can be added when snuggling down for the night on a trans-Atlantic flight and tied around the waist when on a power walk through a city centre. Running shoes can be loosened to accommodate swelling feet. Last but not least, we’ve all experienced lost luggage. Being dressed for activity lets you hit the ground running!

Marilyn is a freelance writer with a focus on travel, fitness and events. She can be reached by email at: marilyn@marilynlazar.com. Read more of her work at www.marilynlazar.com.

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Sudoku Fill each square with a number from 1 to 9 so that every number appears only once in each row, column and cell.

SOME SUDOKU RESOURCES ON THE WEB: • www.websudoku.com •www.sudoweb.com •www.dailysudoku.com •www.sudokupuzz.com

LEVEL: EASY

Solution, page 24

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

Solution, page 24

PEI makes sense Editor’s Note: We asked the Prince Edward Island tourism bureau to tell us why planners should go to the famous isle. They gave us the answer in ABC style: The Answer: Accessible…easier to get here Beautiful …from people to beaches (and Anne too) Crafts…World class artisans at every corner Dining…savour our Island flavours Exquisite…and enchanting Fresh fish…from the sea to your plate, same day satisfaction Gentle…Island Hospitality…second to none Interesting…past and present Jaunts…biking, hiking, swimming, trails, museums, history Ketchup…loves potatoes Lobster…freshest you’ve ever tasted Moonshine…its now legal here Nightlife…theatre, bars, outdoor cafes, kitchen parties Oysters…& Mussels cultivated & popular, known to be the best in the World Potatoes…any way you slice ‘em Quaint…eh? Rejuvenation…restore Shopping…what, no PST on shoes? Toes…in the sand Unending…scenery that makes your eyes water Vitality…renew yours here Water…our lifeblood Xtraordinary…xpect the best You…on our Island Zzz…sleep like a baby Tel: 877.638.8734 On the Web: www.seasidesocial.com

Winnipeg rocks! ith great patios, lively outdoor entertainment, unique summertime venues and boutique shopping in trendy neighbourhoods, Winnipeg is an ideal city to combine business and pleasure. Centrally located, Winnipeg is affordable and easily accessible from all corners of the continent. The city’s 24/7 international airport provides excellent service and numerous direct flights to accommodate event the busiest delegates schedule. Home to an ethnically diverse population, Winnipeg is a great place to treat delegates to tastes from around the world.

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Visit St. John. NB UNCONVENTIONAL MEETINGS Explore colourful historic streetscapes, the natural beauty of the bay, and the comfort and convenience of the “Inside Connection” pedway, linking two major hotels and convention centre, all within steps. New developments include a new 110unit Chateau hotel, bringing the total number of guestrooms to over 1800 city-wide, a multimillion dollar convention centre refurbishment, and a new cruise terminal on the waterfront serves as an off-site venue. Whether convention goers kick up their heels at a Maritime “Shin dig” or experience a “Saints and Sinners” tour of local historic churches, a one-of-a-kind experience awaits delegates in Saint John. THE “ORIGINAL CITY” Saint John, Canada’s first incorporated city, (Est.1785) is raising the curtain in 2010 to celebrate its 225th anniversary with events showcasing the cultural capital of Canada. ANCHOR OF THE BAY OF FUNDY Saint John has some of the highest tides in the world, rising as tall as a four-storey building or about 28 feet. Located at the mouth of the St. John River, the Reversing Falls is one of the

area’s top attractions, where you can witness the powerful tides push the 450-mile long river backwards twice daily. One hundred billion tons of water cascade through the mouth of the Bay from the Atlantic Ocean every 12 hours. This volume is double the daily flow of all the rivers of the world. The Convention Capital on the Bay, Saint John offers upscale facilities with a down east pace. A one of a kind experience awaits with distinctive venues and unique delegate activities. With our convenient Inside Connection Pedway, the province's largest complete event complex, Saint John has your event covered. An array of shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural activities with 50,000 square feet of convention and exhibit space – all under one roof! Unspoiled natural parks with views carved by the Bay of Fundy. Steep, history-lined streets bustling with Maritime charm. Uptown arts, dining and entertainment inspired by the passion of the region. Whether it is through the people you meet, the places you visit, or the sights you see, the spirit of Saint John is always clearly in view. “It was the New Brunswick flavour that made it special. I am going home with a suitcase full of local gifts and wonderful memories, and wanting to come back.” Lesia Davis, Canadian Museums Association 2006 On the Web: www.tourismsaintjohn.com

The Outaouais region is a great destination vent organizers looking for the complete package have found the destination for their next event in the Outaouais region. Whether you would like your delegates to commune with nature in a tranquil setting or you would prefer a more urban getaway without the big city headaches, the ideal location for your next gathering is definitely the Outaouais. Located just a few minutes from Ottawa, the Outaouais region is a unique blend of urban lifestyle and countryside escapes. You can combine cultural events and the great outdoors, and top it off by sumptuous regional cuisine for the most discerning palates.

WHY CHOOSE THE OUTAOUAIS REGION? Since it can offer a wide range of products (hotels, restaurants, meeting or conference rooms of all sizes, etc.), the destination can satisfy every requirement that group organizers may have: from the smallest to the largest event budgets, from intimate locations to ballrooms, from countryside serenity to urban rhythms, our team of dedicated specialists proudly caters to everyone. Because there’s more to events than meeting rooms, we will also suggest numerous activities including team building, and help you discover our scenic destination!

What other destination features a waterfront hotel right in the city, a variety of cultural and historical establishments, all just a stone’s throw from Ottawa? Our first-rate infrastructure gives you the opportunity to host your meeting in the downtown core in the early morning and complete it with an outing in renowned Gatineau Park. Our extensive offering is crowned by our legendary hospitality and bilingual hosts. NUMBERS IN THE OUTAOUAIS REGION: • More then 20 fine dining establishments, including one CAAAAA rated Five Diamonds • 212 meeting rooms, totalling 406,653 sq. ft. • More than 30 hotels, including two 5-star hotels • 370 km of cycling paths • 150 golf courses in a 100 km radius (including these four resorts: Club de golf Château Cartier Relais-Resort; Club de golf Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Club de golf Héritage et Club de golf Montpellier) • More than 560 tourism industry members at your service

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Winnipeg has inspired cuisine CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Globally inspired cuisine can be found in almost every Winnipeg neighbourhood and the two-week multicultural showcase Folklorama – recipient of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada Event of the Year award – is an excellent evening activity that is sure to leave delegates with a lasting memory. As the 2010 Culture Capital of Canada, Winnipeg is a city where delegates truly can experience a wide array of world-class arts and culture on every corner. Annual summer festivals and events such as the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, Jazz Winnipeg Festival and Ballet in the Park offer delegates an entertaining way to spend their evenings in indoor and outdoor settings. This year, a number of new festivals are planned to celebrate Winnipeg’s designation as the 2010 Cultural Capital of Canada. Festivals in the works include a river barge festival, cello festival and urban music festival in the city’s historic Exchange District. Home to some of the finest Chicago-style architecture, the Exchange District is a place where history meets contemporary flair. Here, delegates can shop at trendy boutiques and antique stores, grab a pint at an English-style pub or sample some savoury dim sum in neighbouring Chinatown. When it comes to dining al fresco, Winnipeg’s Corydon Avenue is the place to be. This local strip is a hotspot for hipsters, foodies and anyone looking to enjoy a delicious meal or refreshing beverage in an urban outdoor setting. During the day, delegates can boutique shop and sample some of the best gelato on the Prairies while at night they can enjoy dinner on one of the many patios or take part in the urban nightlife. Winnipeg is also home to a variety of unique offsite summertime venues catering to groups of all sizes. For a down-home party and reception, the Hitch ’n’ Post Ranch offers a rustic yet charming experience. Here, delegates can enjoy an afternoon outdoors followed by noshing barbecue cooked on an open spit, while surrounded by western antiques and artifacts in the dining area. For something a little more urban and chic, The Winnipeg Art Gallery’s rooftop patio and sculpture garden offers great views of the city and one of the largest collections of Inuit art. If a uniquely Winnipeg experience is what you are after, Fort Gibraltar and Maison du Bourgeois is the perfect place to host an offsite event. Situated on the bank of the Red River, this historical venue will take delegates 200 years back to the time of voyageurs and the fur trade as they kick-back and enjoy FrenchCanadian themed entertainment and costumed interpreters. On the Web: www.destinationwinnipeg.ca 10

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Discover planning opportunities in Fredericton, NB Fredericton, New Brunswick’s Capital City, will leave a lasting impression in your mind. Discover Fredericton’s history with a visit to the Historic Garrison District and watch as perioddressed guards re-enact a drill ceremony to the beat of a pipe and drummer. Immerse yourself in a special place where the past enriches the senses at Kings Landing Historical Settlement. Embrace our culture by taking part in some of the best festivals in Atlantic Canada. Fredericton has more working artisans per capita than anywhere else in Canada. There is craft and culture on every street corner. Explore great art galleries (Beaverbrook Art Gallery) and top attractions. Browse for fine crafts, talk with vendors at an authentic farmers market (Boyce Farmers’ Market) and visit unique specialty boutiques and studios. See bald eagles and osprey soar over a stunning river valley. Rent a bike, kayak or canoe and discover island experiences and 85 kilometres of trails. Chill out on a zip line aerial obstacle course (TreeGo). Work on your game at five golf courses guaranteed to offer variety and excitement for any golfer. Join our community for free outdoor entertainment seven days a week at films, concerts, guard ceremonies and theatre. A complete list of free outdoor music and entertainment in Atlantic Canada’s Riverfront capitalis available on the website. On the Web: www.tourismfredericton.ca

The Outaouais region is close to Ottawa and major airports CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 AN IDEALLY LOCATED DESTINATION Planning a trip to the Outaouais region is always simple, since all the major modes of transportation lead to our destination: • By car or by bus, only two hours from Montreal • By plane, through Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport, or through the Executive Gatineau-Ottawa Airport (for smaller planes only) • By train on the VIA rail network from most major Canadian cities. Furthermore, the meeting specialists at Outaouais Tourism propose many additional services to assist you in the successful planning of your special event. Lean on us to simplify your life! Among other services, we will analyze your overall needs, assist in getting various quotes from local businesses, help you with ideas and organization of your theme night, provide references for your suppliers and suggest pre and post-event activity and spousal programs. On the Web: www.outaouaismeeting.com

Explaining our definition of Golf Resort for this guide F

or this year’s special issue featuring resorts, we have selected self-contained golf resorts that cater specifically to the sport of golf and include access to one or more golf courses. The resort facility should provide a relaxed environment where the participant will feel removed from the day-to-day pressures of business life. Resorts are usually posh to very posh and offer numerous amenities. A resort destination should not be selected for a meeting with a full program as it is primarily selected for the opportunity to enjoy its recreational facilities. In selecting our properties, we based our choices on the resort/hotel having a minimum of the following amenities as well as a golf course or access to a golf course in the immediate vicinity. A few of the very important items our business/meeting golfers need to be located within the resort/hotel are the following:

Other items which are also considered important: the destination’s scenic beauty; the availability of meeting space; the resort needs to be large enough to accommodate the group either for meetings or group meals all within the resort/hotel; as little on-site transport as possible; and obviously, a proper golf course with all the necessities that entails. When we surveyed the resorts, we asked many questions. You may notice the absence of info on phone lines, Internet and WiFi. As these things are readily available in all the resorts, we will not indicate that information in the Guide. The same thing applies for dance floors, having an AV supplier, as well as storage space and parking facilities. We have not covered the resorts’ green initiatives or their recent renovations as we expect that most planners will be doing a thorough sight inspection and that type of information can be gleaned then, if they want it.

Bar Business Centre Fitness Club Restaurant Room service

As a quote in the the Cranberry Resorts literature states: “Will you remember taking every bit of enjoyment out of every moment of your day? Or will you remember relaxing in the evening, enjoying the view and reliving the memories?”

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Distance from airport (km)

Fairmont Chateau Whistler (The) Contact: Carol Eberhard, (604) 938-8000, (800) 606-8244/(877) 938-2092 4599 Chateau Boul., Whistler, BC, V0N 1B4 E-mail: chateauwhistlerresort@fairmont.com Fax: (604) 938-2020 Web: www.fairmont.com/whistler, www.fairmontgolf.com/whistler Description: At the base of Blackcomb Mountain, this resort has year-round ski-in/ski-out access, on-site golf course and spa, over 32,000 sq. ft. of ballrooms, intimate meeting rooms and 360° views from the rooftop Woodlands Terrace. Capacity: Reception–1,000 Banquet–704 Classroom–567 Theatre–1,300 Lake Okanagan Resort Contact: Kelly McAree, (250) 769-3511, (800) 663-3273 2751 Westside Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Z 3T1 E-mail: kelly@lakeokanagan.com Fax: (250) 769-6665 Web: www.lakeokanagan.com Description: The resort sits on 300 acres of lakefront parkland with numerous activities including an on-site golf course, stables, marina, spa, beach, waterpark, outdoor pools, hot tubs, fitness centre and various team building activities. Capacity: Reception–300 Banquet–175 Classroom–120 Theatre–225 Predator Ridge Golf Resort Contact: Margaret L. Penner, (250) 542-3436, (888) 578-6688 301 Village Centre Place, Vernon, BC, V1H 1T2 E-mail: mpenner@predatorridge.com Fax: (250) 542-3835 Web: www.predatorridge.com Description: This resort has an award-winning golf course, 1,200 acres of naturally preserved property with amenities even for non-golfers. Also offers a 5,000 sq. ft. AVEDA spa. Outdoors activities like hiking and walking trails are also available. Capacity: Reception–60 Banquet–60 Classroom–40 Theatre–60

Varia

Executive Suites Garibaldi Springs Golf Course Contact: Kris Szylowski, (604) 815-0048, (877) 815-0048 40900 Tantalus Road, Squamish, BC, V8B 0R3 E-mail: kris@executivesuitesgaribaldi.com Fax: (604) 815-0049 Web: www.executivesuitesgaribaldi.com Description: Experience BC’s newest golf resort just 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver on the scenic Sea to Sky Highway. Capacity: Reception–120 Banquet–100 Classroom–100 Theatre–120

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel & Resort (The) Contact: Sales/Ventes, (403) 762-6822, (800) 441-1414 405 Spray Ave., Banff, AB, T1L 1J4 E-mail: banffsprings@fairmont.com Fax: (403) 762-5741 Web: www.fairmont.com/banffsprings Description: This renowned Four-Diamond luxurious resort is styled after a Scottish Baronial castle. It has 27 holes of word-renowned championship golf, world-class skiing nearby and an outstanding spa. Fairmont GOLD service offered to select guests. Capacity: Reception–1,200 Banquet–1,050 Classroom–975 Theatre–1,500 Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (The) Contact: Alan Palmer, (780) 852-3301, (866) 540-4454 1 Old Lodge Road, Jasper, AB, T0E 1E0 E-mail: alan.palmer@fairmont.com Fax: (780) 852-6457 Web: www.fairmont.com/jasper Description: Located in the wilderness paradise of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The impeccable greens, service and accommodations as well as the breathtaking scenery make this an exceptional golf resort. Capacity: Reception–600 Banquet–500 Classroom–500 Theatre–600

# of Guest Rooms

Name of resort

768

7/3/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 27

YYC 145 km

451

7/2/Y

BC,FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YEG 350 km

111

1/1/N

P,BC,FC, TNH 18, PS

YVR 65 km

550

4/1/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YVR 137 km

145

2/3/N

P, FC, PS ,TNH 9

YLW 35 km

121

3/1/N

P, FC, TNH 18

YLW 40 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

Golf resorts in Canada

LEGEND : – = Not available, BC = Business Centre, FC = Fitness Centre, GA = Golf Academy, Y = Yes, N = No, P = Heated indoor pool, PS = Pro Shop, TNH = Total Number of Holes AIRPORTS : YEG = Edmonton, AB YHZ = Halifax, NS YKA = Kamloops, BC YLW = Kelowna, BC YOW = Ottawa, ON YPA = Prince Albert, SK YQB = Québec, QC YQY = Sidney, NS YSJ = Saint John, NB YUL = Montréal, QC YVR = Vancouver, BC YXC = Cranbrook, BC YYC = Calgary, AB YYG = Charlottetown, PE YYJ = Victoria, BC YYZ = Toronto, ON 12

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PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

Varia

Distance from airport (km)

2/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 36, PS

YYC 250 km

2/1/N

BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YKA 16 km

St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino Contact: Wendy Van Puymbroeck, (250) 420-2007, (866) 292-2020 7777 Mission Road, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 7E5 E-mail: wvanpuymbroeck@steugene.ca Fax: (250) 420-2001 Web: www.steugene.ca Description: Nestled between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains, a 4.5-Star resort that offers gourmet dining, world-class golf and casino nightlife. Capacity: Reception–100 Banquet–80 Classroom–72 Theatre–100

125

4/2/Y

BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YXC 7 km

Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa (The) Contact: Tracey Webster, (250) 391-7160, (888) 533-2327 1999 Country Club Way, Victoria, BC, V9B 6R3 E-mail: twebster@bearmountain.ca Fax: (250) 391-3792 Web: www.westin.com/bearmountain Description: Canada's only 36-hole Nicklaus Design Golf course. A 4-Diamond AAA resort located on picturesque Vancouver Island. Capacity: Reception–650 Banquet–320 Classroom–250 Theatre–410

5/0/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 36, PS

YYJ 37 km

234

4/1/Y

BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YSJ 100 km

2/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YHZ 350 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

# of Guest Rooms

Golf resorts in Canada Name of resort Radium Resort Contact: Sales, (250) 347-9311, (800) 667-6444 8100 Golf Course Road, Radium, BC, V0A 1M0 E-mail: reservations@radiumresort.com Fax: (250) 347-6299 Web: www.radiumresort.com Description: Can comfortably accommodate 500 guests, all rooms overlooking the Resort Course. You take a spectacular 2.5 hour drive from Calgary through the Banff and Kootenay National Parks and the majestic Rocky Mountains to get there. Capacity: Reception–150 Banquet–150 Classroom–100 Theatre–120 South Thompson Inn & Conference Centre Contact: Gerda Schrottner, (250) 573-3777, (800) 797-7713 3438 Shuswap Road, Kamloops, BC, V2H 1T2 E-mail: groups@stigr.com Fax: (250) 573-2853 Web: www.stigr.com Description: The only 4-Star resort property on the river in Kamloops. Over 55 acres to meander or enjoy the balconies overlooking the water and the mountains. Sterling Silver Awards for front desk guest services and catering categories. Capacity: Reception–200 Banquet–160 Classroom–130 Theatre–225

Fairmont Algonquin (The) Contact: Becky Bell, (506) 529-8823, (888) 441-1414 184 Adophus St., St. Andrews, NB, E5B 1T7 E-mail: becky.bell@fairmont.com Fax: (506) 529-7190 Web: www.fairmont.com/algonquin Description: A maritime tradition in its second century of impeccable hospitality, The Fairmont Algonquin blends old-world charm with modern luxury and is a historic Canadian seaside resort. Capacity: Reception–400 Banquet–400 Classroom–225 Theatre–400 Dundee Resort and Golf Club Contact: Dorothy Cooper, (902) 345-2649, (800) 565-5660 RR # 2, 2750 West Bay Highway, West Bay, NS, B0E 3K0 E-mail: dorothy@capebretonresorts.com Fax: (902) 345-2697 Web: www.capebretonresorts.com Description: This beautiful resort offers a lakeside adventure centre with kayaks, canoes and paddleboats, pools, beach, playground, sauna. It is open May to October and is located just three hours from Halifax. Capacity: Reception–250 Banquet–170 Classroom–125 Theatre–250

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PLANNER

Distance from airport (km)

Varia

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

Fox Harb'r Resort Contact: Jim Zareski, (902) 257-1801, (866) 257-1801 1337 Fox Harbour Road, Wallace, NS, B0K 1Y0 E-mail: jzareski@foxharbr.com Fax: (902) 257-1852 Web: www.foxharbr.com Description: A 5-Star resort with breathtaking scenery and warm hospitality. Conference facilities easily allow executive groups of all sizes to mix both business and pleasure. Luxury spa and wellness centre, marina with secluded beachfront. Capacity: Reception–160 Banquet–160 Classroom–100 Theatre–120 Glenhorm Beach Resort Contact: Colleen Dunphy, (902) 285-2363, (800) 565-5660 36743 Cabot Trail, Ingonish, NS, B0C 1K0 E-mail: colleen@capebretonresorts.com Fax: (902) 285-2395 Web: www.glenhormbeachresort.com Description: Open May to October. A private sand beach on the word famous Cabot Trail and Highlands Links, Canada’s #1 public golf course. The Thirsty Hiker Pub is the place to be with local entertainment every night, and numerous activities are available. Capacity: Reception–80 Banquet–60 Classroom–50 Theatre–100 Inverary Resort Contact: Audrey Laffin, (902) 295-3500 ext. 3309, (800) 565-5660 368 Shore Road, Baddeck, NS, B0E 1B0 E-mail: audrey@capebretonresorts.com Fax: (902) 295-3527 Web: www.inveraryresort.com Description: Only lakeside resort in the small village of Baddeck. Tee-off Golf Club, Thomas McBroom’s spectacular masterpiece. Full service spa, pub with nightly entertainment, indoor pool, fitness center, sauna and hot tub. Capacity: Reception–275 Banquet–250 Classroom–200 Theatre–300 Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa Contact: Angela Steeves, (902) 285-2880, (800) 565-0444 Middle Head Peninsula, Ingonish Beach, NS, B0C 1L0 E-mail: asteeves@kelticlodge.ca Fax: (902) 285-2859 Web: www.kelticlodge.ca Description: Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa is truly a unique place where groups return again and again for its exceptional cuisine and hospitality. A wide selection of postmeeting recreational activities and entertainment is available. Capacity: Reception–225 Banquet–175 Classroom–100 Theatre–200 White Point Beach Resort Contact: Danny Morton, (902) 354- 2711, (800) 565-5068 White Point Road, White Point, NS, B0T 1G0 E-mail: greatday@whitepoint.com Fax: (902) 354-7278 Web: www.whitepoint.com Description: Oceanside resort located on a 1 km-long beach. Offers spectacular views, extensive recreational programming and many unique culinary experiences. The resort is a Green Leaf Certified property. Capacity: Reception–250 Banquet–230 Classroom–150 Theatre–350 Blue Mountain Resort Contact: Mark Rich, (705) 445-0231, (877) 445-0231 110 Jozo Weider Blvd., The Blue Mountains, ON, L9Y 3Z2 E-mail: mrich@bluemountain.ca Fax: (705) 443-5529 Web: www.bluemountain.ca Description: Ontario’s largest resort-based conference destination, with an 18-hole championship course in the heart of the village. Located 1.5 hours north of Toronto, between Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment. Capacity: Reception–592 Banquet–592 Classroom–474 Theatre–947

# of Guest Rooms

Name of resort

2/1/Y

P, BC, FC, GA, TNH 27

YHZ 80 km

1/1/N

FC, PS, TNH 18

YQY 300 km

137

2/2/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YQY 100 km

105

2/1/N

BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YQY 143 km

163

1/1/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 9, PS

YHZ 150 km

844

15/8/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YYZ 105 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

Golf resorts in Canada

The

PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

Distance from airport (km)

Varia

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

# of Guest Rooms

276

1/1/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 27, PS, GA

YOW 30 km

157

1/1/N

TNH 27, BC, YYZ PS, GA 212 km

2/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YYZ 100 km

400

3/2/N

P, BC, FC, PS, GA, TNH 36

YYZ 200 km

120

4/2/N

P, BC, FC, PS, GA, TNH 27

YYZ 219 km

3/2/N

BC, PS, GA, TNH 18

YYZ 160 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

Golf resorts in Canada Name of resort Brookstreet Contact: Caroline Savignac, (613) 271-3576, (888) 826-2220 525 Legget Drive, Ottawa, ON, K2K 2W2 E-mail: media@brookstreet.com Fax: (613) 271-3541 Web: www.brookstreet.com Description: Brookstreet is a 4-Diamond destination with gourmet dining, naturally-lit conference spaces, full-service spa and fitness studio as well as The Marshes Golf Course. The staff provides superior service. Capacity: Reception–800 Banquet–340 Classroom–350 Theatre–500 Clevelands House Resort Contact: Bob Shaw/Ted Carruthers, (705) 765-3171 ext. 165/135, (888) 567-1177 1040 Juddhaven Road, PO Box 60, Minett, ON, P0B 1G0 E-mail: groupsales@clevelandshouse.com Fax: (705) 765-6296 Web: www.clevelandshouse.com Description: Located in the heart of Muskoka, this 408-acre estate maintains all the prerequisites for productive and innovative meeting experiences. Located 1 km from the st 1 tee at The Rock golf course. Capacity: Reception–500 Banquet–500 Classroom–220 Theatre–375 Cranberry Resort Contact: Evelyn Urgello Lumsden, (705) 446-3253, (800) 465-9077 19 Keith Ave., Collingwood, ON, L9Y 4T9 E-mail: elumsden@thecranberryresort.com Fax: (705) 446-0270 Web: www.thecranberryresort.com Description: The only waterfront meeting centre in the entire region. Set against the panoramic backdrop of Blue Mountain and the waters of Georgian Bay. Tranquil setting and captivating natural beauty abound. Capacity: Reception–300 Banquet–300 Classroom–120 Theatre–300 Deerhurst Resort Contact: Peggy Mayo, (705) 789-6411, (800) 461-6522 1235 Deerhurst Drive, Huntsville, ON, P1H 2E8 E-mail: sales@deerhurstresort.com Fax: (705) 789-8099 Web: www.deerhurstresort.com Description: An easy-to-reach, lakeside location with flexible function space and onestop shopping for everything from golf to entertainment and teambuilding. Non-stop commitment to streamline your planning and beat your budget. Capacity: Reception–1,200 Banquet–700 Classroom–750 Theatre–1,200 Delta Grandview Resort Contact: Quinn Michell, (705) 789-4417, (866) 472-6388 939 Highway 60, Grandview Drive, Huntsville, ON, P1H 1Z4 E-mail: qmichell@deltahotels.com Fax: (705) 789-2611 Web: www.deltagrandview.ca Description: A historic, sprawling luxury resort dating back to 1874, offering everything from championship golf to tennis to spa services and skiing. Stargazing is available from Grandview’s own Astronomical Observatory. Capacity: Reception–800 Banquet–500 Classroom–500 Theatre–800 Delta Rocky Crest Contact: Quinn Michell, (705) 375-2240, (800) 263-5763 RR#1, Hamer Bay Road, MacTier, ON, P0C 1H0 E-mail: qmichell@deltahotels.com Fax: (705) 375-1147 Web: www.deltarockycrest.ca Description: Located on Lake Joseph, the resort is an easy, scenic drive from Toronto. Suites include a living room, kitchenette, fireplace and private porch or sunroom. Intimate, yet offering a wide variety of activities and facilities. Capacity: Reception–115 Banquet–96 Classroom–60 Theatre–100

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PLANNER

Organizing a golf tournament in 40 easy steps BY LYNE BRANCHAUD t least once in your career as an event organizer, you will be expected to organize a golf tournament! I have put together a summary of the key steps to setting up such an event based on a checklist from the Association des directeurs généraux de clubs de golf du Québec.

1. Set your tournament’s mission and goals and decide what kind of people you want to attend. Establish guidelines for developing the event, ideas to convey in your communications and a list of prospective (employees, customers and suppliers) guests. Will they come alone or with a friend? 2. Calculate the likely maximum and minimum numbers of players. 3. Select two or three possible dates (and make sure your bosses OK them and will be free on those days). 4. Check if the suggested dates conflict with any other tournaments (organized by organizations in the same field as yours or with the same guest list). 5. Determine the most accessible region (and its northern, southern, eastern and western limits) for your guests. 6. Select two or three greens that are up to par for you and your guests (private, semi-private or public course). 7. Make sure these greens are suitable. Check the minimum and maximum numbers of golfers they can accommodate, the number of available parking spaces, the number and size of reception rooms, the number of golf carts, etc. Eliminate any courses that do not meet your criteria. 8. Check if the course is available on your preferred dates. If not, see if a different day will work. Also find out if any other tournaments will be held at the same time as yours (in which case, the respective sites should be clearly marked out). 9. Find out rates for green fees, golf carts, meals, pro demos, practice balls, etc. and prepare a working budget. 10. Ask the club to email your information on its menus, rules, scorecard, etc. 11. Visit potential clubs to make sure they have the necessary facilities (showers, locker rooms, lockers). Also make sure you can eat outdoors and determine what kinds of signs you will need to produce (directions to the course along local roads, directions from the parking lot to the reception area, directions to the locker rooms and meal areas, etc.). Finally, check how the site’s standards of quality and cleanliness. 12. Select the club and date that will best meet all your requirements. 13. Produce a schedule and a working budget. 14. Check with the club on: • The starting format: shotgun, criss cross or consecutive. • The tournament format: match, per hole or Las Vegas, for example. • Car to cart golf bag transfer service (do the bags need to be labelled with the participant’s name and the number of his/her hole or tee-off time?). 16

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PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

• Activities during the tournament on the course and the nature of any competitions there might be (Will you hire a photographer for photos of all foursomes or a corporate video to be shown in the evening? Do you want to set up competitions: hole in one, longest tee-off, ball closest to the hole, etc.? Will you organize tastings by the holes?). • Where will your registration table be located and how and where will activities be situated along the course? • Does the club offers an end-of-day score compilation service (if necessary and if you can produce scorecards with the company’s or a sponsor’s logo). • If the club provides tech support for posting your signs (welcome, competition, activities, sponsorships) and if it can provide carts for organizing committee members and volunteers. • If it will provide you with an official in charge of your tee-times. • If the club furnishes box lunches on the green, refreshments at the ninth hole or if it will allow you to set up sponsored refreshment stops. • The number of showers available and if certain items (soap, shampoo, towels, locks, etc.) are provided. • The cost and number of lockers. • The layout of the room to be used for the evening’s event (based on your planned activities). • Whether seats at tables are or are not assigned (if so, make sure to tell guests their table numbers). • The number of seats per table (from 8 to 12 people depending on the size of the tables used). • Selection of menus (brunch, lunch, barbecue or supper) as well as prices. • Selection of drinks and prices, as well as style of service – open or cash bar. Also, will you provide a pre-supper cocktail. • After-tournament activities (DJ, entertainment and prize awards, door prizes, comedian, video projections, auction, etc.). • Club rate and method of payment policies. • Regulations on the course, the dress code and outdoor sponsorships. • Bad weather policy. • The club’s tipping policy. 15. Tweak the working budget and submit the project plan to your bosses for approval. 16. Sign the agreement with the selected golf club and pay a deposit to hold the date. 17. Decide what to charge your guests and what will be included (green fees, cart, meals, activities, etc.). 18. Prepare invitations and registration forms and send them to participants, highlighting the registration deadline. Ideally, you will send the invitation and receive registrations by Internet. 19. Prepare tickets or e-mail confirmations containing all relevant information: dates, schedules (registration, brunch, tee-off, BBQ, cocktail, supper), prices, names, club name, address and phone number, course, photos, numbering, coupons if necessary (for

The best advice: Be prepared brunch, golf, meals, cocktails, etc.) and the corporate or tournament logo. You can email the ticket or confirmation to your participants. 20. Create a ticket sale committee and appoint an honorary chair (if relevant). 21. Make sure of media coverage, if necessary. 22. Reserve event hosts and the necessary technical equipment (DJ, hosts, sound system, etc.). 23. Take out insurance for the event. 24. Set up an operations commitment to make sure the event goes smoothly and check if you must provide them with clothing (golf shirt, caps) in the company’s colours or bearing the tournament’s or sponsor’s logo. 25. Reserve a truck to deliver materials (posters, presents). 26. Set up an action plan and produce a scenario for the event that includes all important details and everyone’s responsibilities. Transmit the scenario to all parties concerned. 27. Make sure you have enough volunteers to greet your golfers and handle activities (some clubs may provide staff for a slight additional charge. Be careful about the age of volunteers, because some insurance companies require hole-in-one supervisors to be at least 18 or 21 years old). 28. Find and purchase any prizes. Label each gift with its corresponding activity. Select presents based on participant profiles and identify them with the logo of the company, the tournament or the sponsor. Also think about the wrapping! 29. Form foursomes. 30. Send tee-off locations and schedules to all participants with their confirmations or tickets, based on the club’s rules and policies. 31. Draw up a list of participants, including their names, company names, free or paid tickets, tee-off time and hole (if applicable). Print two lists to make it easier to greet people with a quick search: • One list by tee-off time or hole. • One alphabetical list with the tee-off time and hole. 32. Send participant lists to the golf club one week prior to the event with confirmation of the number of golfers, the number of carts, the number of meals and the desired layout of the room for your activities. 33. Prepare all printed materials (posters, thanks to sponsors, banners, scorecards, card posters, menus, etc.), along with the logo of the business, the tournament or the sponsor. Since some of these items will be installed outside, make sure to use water resistant materials and punch holes in the banners so wind can pass through them. Also think about how you will suspend, hang or post these materials. 34. Prepare kits or presents to give your golfers at registration, if you wish. They will be pleased with items that they can use during the game, such as golf balls (with the company’s or sponsor’s logo, naturally), T-shirts, mosquito spray, bottled water, Kleenex, pencils, stain remover, markers, umbrellas, windbreaker, etc.

35. Set the winning numbers (gross score, net score, Las Vegas score, highest score, closest to hole, longest tee-off, hole in one, putting competition, approach shot competition, closest to the line, the colour ball, the water ball, etc.). 36. Determine how draws will be decided. 37. Preferably meet at the golf club with your operations committee before the tournament, so that everyone understands his or her roles and is familiar with the site. 38. Prepare a list and make sure necessary materials will be transported to the site for the event. If possible, deliver all required materials the day before. Club staff may be able to start setting it up the evening before or early in the morning. Get together with your team at least 45 minutes before participants arrive on the day of the event to make sure everything is ready (registration table, presents, posters, etc.) and be there to greet your guests. 39. Make a final check of all tournament details with each supplier and those concerned, hang a rosary on your clothesline and pray for good weather. 40. Implement your action plan to make sure your tournament is an unforgettable event and give yourself an extra half hour to make sure everything is in place. Have a great tournament!

Lyne Branchaud is Head of Events and Sponsorships at Uniprix and Event Organization Trainer. You can email Lyne at l.branchaud@sympatico.ca or view her blog at www.lesblogues.com/guideevenement.

www.theplanner.ca | April 2010 |

The

PLANNER

Distance from airport (km)

Varia

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

Eganridge Inn & Spa Contact: Nancy Saville, (705) 738-5111, (888) 452-5111 26 Country Club Drive, Fenelon Falls, ON, K0M 1N0 E-mail: nancysaville@eganridge.com Fax: (705) 738-5111 Web: www.eganridge.com Description: Eganridge is steeped in historic significance and natural beauty. Privacy, understated luxury, award-winning cuisine and service excellence have earned this property international recognition and acceptance. Capacity: Reception–150 Banquet–138 Classroom–60 Theatre–80 Fallsview Casino Resort Contact: Annette Bennitz, (888) 325-5788 6380 Fallsview Boul., Niagara Falls, ON, L2G 7X5 E-mail: abennitz@fallsviewcasinoresort.com Fax: (905) 371-7639 Web: www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com Description: Everything planners need for a successful and stimulating conference for 15 or 1,500 is available here. An open air terrace overlooking Niagara Falls is a highlight. Also offers a full-service spa. Capacity: Reception–2,500 Banquet–1,250 Classroom–1,500 Theatre–2,500 Glen House Resort Contact: Jeanine Hunter, (613) 659-2204, (800) 268-GLEN #409 1000 Islands Parkway, Lansdowne, ON, K0C 1L0 E-mail: glenhse@1000island.net Fax: (613) 659-2232 Web: www.glenhouseresort.com Description: Located directly in the 1000 Islands, this resort offers amazing views from its facilities. Smuggler’s Glen Championship Golf Course is on-site and the 18-hole facility has dramatic elevations, views and vistas. Capacity: Reception–180 Banquet–180 Classroom–120 Theatre–200 Hockley Valley Resort Contact: Claudia Taylor, (416) 363-5490 ext. 5112, (866) Hockley (462-5539) RR # 1, Orangeville, ON, L9W 2Y8 E-mail: ctaylor@hockley.com Fax: (519) 942-8033 Web: www.hockley.com Description: A four-season, multi-purpose venue with more than 20 years’ experience servicing corporate events and golf tournament. Close to Pearson International Airport but far enough away that it is considered a ‘retreat’ location. Capacity: Reception–550 Banquet–380 Classroom–200 Theatre–550 Millcroft Inn & Spa Contact: Kerri Fernandez, (519) 941-3903 ext. 5370, (800) 383-3976 55 John St., Village of Alton, Caledon, ON, L7K 0C4 E-mail: kfernandez@vintage-hotels.com Fax: (519) 941-1960 Web: www.millcroft.com Description: Less than 60 minutes from Toronto, and nestled in 100 acres of private land among the forest and the river in the beautiful Caledon Hills, this resort is a haven for those who work hard and play hard. Capacity: Reception–70 Banquet–70 Classroom–55 Theatre–80 Mountain Springs Resort Contact: Heather LeQuyere, (705) 444-7776, (800) 704-8633 ext. 280 796468 Grey Road 19 RR#3, Collingwood, ON, L9Y 3Z2 E-mail: sales@mountainspringsresort.com Fax: (705) 444-6533 Web: www.mountainspringsresort.com Description: A boutique resort, located at the north base of Blue Mountain. All suites include kitchen and jacuzzi bath. Also offers a year-round heated pool, hot tub and Internet service. Capacity: Reception–110 Banquet–96 Classroom–72 Theatre–120

# of Guest Rooms

Name of resort

1/0/N

PS, GA, TNH 9

YYZ 200 km

374

7/4/Y

P, BC, FC

YYZ 135 km

2/2/N

P, FC, PS, GA, TNH 18

YOW 150 km

104

2/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YYZ 45 km

1/1/N

P, FC, TNH 18

YYZ 100 km

144

1/1/N

BC,TNH 18

YYZ 120 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

Golf resorts in Canada

The

PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

Distance from airport (km)

Varia

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

# of Guest Rooms

269

3/2/N

P, FC, PS, GA, TNH 45

YYZ 77 km

103

2/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YYZ 170 km

221

3/2/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YYZ 200 km

1/0/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 9

YYZ 150 km

4/5/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 9, PS

YYZ 150 km

220

2/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 27, PS, GA

YYZ 115 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

Golf resorts in Canada Name of resort Nottawasaga Inn Resort Contact: Reservations, (705) 435-5501, (800) 669-5501 6015 Highway 89, Alliston, ON, L9R 1A4 E-mail: reservations@nottawasagaresort.com Fax: (705) 435-5840 Web: www.nottawasagaresort.com Description: The only resort in Ontario with 45 holes of golf and two NHL sized ice surfaces on-site. With 42 years of experience, this is an ideal destination for meetings, conventions, trade shows, tournaments, getaways and weddings. Capacity: Reception–1,000 Banquet–900 Classroom–350 Theatre–1,000 Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre Contact: Leanne Tenant, (705) 457-1800, (800) 461-0357 4252, County Road #21, Haliburton, ON, K0M 1S0 E-mail: sales@pinestone-resort.com Fax: (705) 457-3136 Web: www.pinestone-resort.com Description: Shining star of the Haliburton Hightlands. It is the only year-round, full service resort in the area and features fabulous dining, comfy guest rooms, endless activities and 18-hole golf course (6,024 yards, par 71). Capacity: Reception –350 Banquet–200 Classroom–170 Theatre–280 Rosseau, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa (The) Contact: Leah Lesile, (705) 765-1900, (866) 240-8604 1050 Paignton House Road, Minett, ON, P0B 1G0 E-mail: leah.lesile@marriott.com Fax: (705) 765-6948 Web: www.jwrosseau.com Description: The first JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Canada. Service rituals include personalized wake-up; outdoor programs include astronomy tours and guided hikes. The resort has a 4 Green Key rating. Capacity: Reception–500 Banquet–400 Classroom–400 Theatre–500 Ste. Anne’s Spa Contact: Wanda Hoehn, (905) 349-2493, (888) 346-6772 1009 Massey Road, Grafton, ON, K0K 2G0 E-mail: wanda.hoehn@steannes.com Fax: (905) 349-3156 Web: www.steannes.com Description: An all-inclusive destination spa experience for planners looking for an alternate style, mixing business and recuperation. The resort is 90 minutes from Toronto and accessible by train. Capacity: Reception–20 Banquet–15 Classroom–15 Theatre–30 Talisman Resort Village Contact: Ryan Markham, (519) 599-2520, (800) 265-3759 150 Talisman Mountain Drive, Kimberley, ON, N0C 1G0 E-mail: RyanM@Talisman.ca Fax: (519) 599-3186 Web: www.talisman.ca Description: The facilities and Niagara Escarpment location provide a stimulating environment to create exciting and unique teambuilding programs to compliment your meeting objectives year round. Plenty of meeting space flexibility is available. Capacity: Reception–500 Banquet–350 Classroom–160 Theatre–250 White Oaks Resort & Spa Contact: Julie Lepp, (905) 704-5638, (800) 263-5766 253 Taylor Road SS 4, Niagara on the Lake, ON, L0S 1J0 E-mail: jlepp@whiteoaksresort.com Fax: (905) 704-5616 Web: www.whiteoaksresort.com Description: 5 Diamond, 4 Star resort in the heart of Niagara wine country featuring award winning LIV Restaurant, world class Spa and a cart path to take you directly from the front door to the first tee at Royal Niagara Golf Course. Capacity: Reception–750 Banquet–580 Classroom–450 Theatre–825

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Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

Varia

Distance from airport (km)

140

3/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 45, PS

YYG 53 km

1/1/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YYG 50 km

1/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YYG 116 km

1/1/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YUL & YQB 150 km

Chantecler (Le) Contact: Sales/Ventes, (450) 229-3555, (888) 916-1616 1474 Ch. du Chantecler, Ste-Adèle, QC, J8B 1A2 E-mail: infochantecler@lechantecler.com Fax: (450) 229-1098 Web: www.lechantecler.com Description: Located in the heart of the Laurentians, this resort offers fine Italian cuisine, a terrace with a view of Lake Rond, a private beach and many recreational activities. Capacity: Reception–620 Banquet–485 Classroom–284 Theatre–600

179

1/1/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 45, PS

YUL 76 km

Château Logue, Golf & Resort Contact: Johanne Gervais, (514) 886-2573, (877) 797-2573 12, rue Comeau, Maniwaki, QC, J9E 2R8 E-mail: johanne.gervais@chateaulogue.com, Fax: (418) 827-5072 Web: www.chateaulogue.com Description: Ideal for business meetings or luxurious stays, situated in a natural environment. 51 rooms & suites, 4-star restaurant & bar, interior swimming pool, spa, sauna, exercise room, massages & golf course, 6 conference rooms for up to 300 people, cocktail in our wine cellar. Free high-speed, wireless Internet. Capacity: Reception–300 Banquet–200 Classroom–75 Theatre–300

1/1/N

P, FC, TNH 9, PS

YOW 149 km

Name of resort Rodd Brudenell River - A Rodd Signature Resort Contact: Mary Ellen Dougan, (902) 629-2310, (800) 565-7633 86 Highway 3, Roseneath, PE, C0A 1G0 E-mail: mdougan@roddhotelsandresorts.com Fax: (902) 368-3569 Web: www.roddhotelsandresorts.com Description: Rodd Brudenell River is home to two of the Atlantic Canada's finest golf courses, Brudenell River and Dundarave Golf Course. The Callaway Performance Centre of Atlantic Canada and the Callaway Divine Nine opened in 2007. Capacity: Reception–250 Banquet–180 Classroom–100 Theatre–250 Rodd Crowbush Golf & Beach Resort – a Rodd Signature resort Contact: Mary Ellen Dougan, (902) 629-2310, (800) 565-7633 632 Route 350, Lakeside, PE, C0A 1S0 E-mail: mdougan@roddhotelsandresorts.com Fax: (902) 368-3569 Web: www.roddhotelsandresorts.com Description: With its tranquil setting overlooking Prince Edward Island’s panoramic North Shore and wide variety of activities on-site, the 5-Star and this 4-Diamond resort is one of Atlantic Canada’s most luxurious. Capacity: Reception–200 Banquet–176 Classroom–80 Theatre–200 Rodd Mill River - a Rodd Signature Resort Contact: Mary Ellen Dougan, (902) 629-2310, (800) 565-7633 180 Mill River Resort Road, Route 136, Woodstock, PE, C0B 1V0 E-mail: mdougan@roddhotelsandresorts.com Fax: (902) 368-3569 Web: www.roddhotelsandresorts.com Description: Voted one of Canada's best golf values, Rodd Mill River is ranked as one of the Top 50 golf resorts in Canada. This full service resort is located within Mill River Provincial Park the North Cape Coastal Drive. Capacity: Reception–200 Banquet–175 Classroom–120 Theatre–200 Auberge Godefroy Contact: Francine Bouffard, (819) 233-3516, (888) 422-1620 17575 boul. Becancour, Becancour, QC, G9H 1A5 E-mail: fbouffard@aubergegodefroy.com Fax: (819) 233-2288 Web: www.aubergegodefroy.com Description: The Auberge Godefroy, is a superior class hotel offers 9 golf. An ideal choice whether you are looking for the ideal place to spend a holiday vacation or searching for the best accommodation for your business gatherings. Capacity: Reception–400 Banquet–250 Classroom–170 Theatre–300

# Meeting Rooms 6

Province

# of Guest Rooms

Golf resorts in Canada

The

PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

Distance from airport (km)

Varia

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

# of Guest Rooms

239

2/1/N

P, FC, PS, GA, TNH 36

YQB 60 km

211

2/2/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS

YOW 80 km

405

3/2/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 27, GA

YQB 150 km

102

1/1/N

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YQB 20 km

164

2/2/Y

P, BC, FC, TNH 18, PS, GA

YUL 100 km

3/2/Y

P, FC, TNH 18

YUL 91 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

Golf resorts in Canada Name of resort Château Mont-Sainte-Anne Contact: Marie-Andrée Boivin, (418) 827-1862 ext. 2809, (800) 463-4467 500, boulevard du Beau-Pré, Beaupré, QC, G0A 1E0 E-mail: maboivin@chateaumsa.com, Fax: (418) 827-5072 Web: www.chateaumsa.com Description: This 4-Star, 4-Diamonds destination is only two minutes from the challenging Le Grand Vallon golf course. More than 26,000 sq. ft. of meeting space available. A modern, 6,840 sq. ft. exhibition hall is also available. Capacity: Reception–600 Banquet–600 Classroom–500 Theatre–800 Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello Contact: Nathalie Beauchamps, (819) 423-3004, (800) 441-1414 392 rue Notre Dame, Montebello, QC, J0V 1L0 E-mail: nathalie.beauchamps@fairmont.com Fax: (819) 423-5106 Web: www.fairmont.com/montebello Description: The world's largest log castle, famed for its rugged luxury, is located halfway between Ottawa and Montreal. More than 40 adventures including Canada's only Land Rover Experience driving school and cross-country skiing. Capacity: Reception–500 Banquet–320 Classroom–250 Theatre–425 Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Contact: Eric Quesnel, (418) 665-3703, (800) 441-1414 181 rue Richelieu, La Malbaie, QC, G5A 1X7 E-mail: eric.quesnel@fairmont.com Fax: (418) 665-4566 Web: www.fairmont.com/richelieu Description: This scenic resort is located on a cliff, between the mountains and the sea. New restaurant opened in 2008, La Bellerive. Capacity: Reception–1,050 Banquet–820 Classroom–600 Theatre–1,000 Four Points by Sheraton Québec Contact: José de Freitas, (418) 627-4900 ext. 606, (866) 627-8008 7900, rue du Marigot, Québec, QC, G1G 6T8 E-mail: jose.defreitas@fourpointsquebec.com Fax: (418) 627-3658 Web: www.fourpoints.com/quebec Description: Resort hotel located a few minutes from Quebec City. Features Le Dijon, a fine French cuisine restaurant and Golf de la Faune, an international caliber golf course. Four-season spa/pool, free parking and high speed wireless Internet. Capacity: Reception–200 Banquet–280 Classroom–160 Theatre–300 Golf Bromont Contact: Martin Ducharme, (450) 534-3133, (888) BROMONT (276-6668) 95 rue de Montmorency, Bromont, QC, J2L 2J1 E-mail: mducharme@chateaubromont.com Fax: (450) 534-1700 Web: www.chateaubromont.com Description: A well-designed golf course in an enchanting setting for all levels of golfers. Located between the mountains and the valley, Golf Bromont offers a front-row seat of a nature-sized show for a truly memorable golf experience. Capacity: Reception–600 Banquet–400 Classroom–345 Theatre–486 Hôtel du Lac Carling Contact: Nancy Ménard, (450) 533-6327 ext. 5, (888) 522-7546 ext. 5 2255 Route 327 Nord, Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, QC J0V 1B0 E-mail: sales@laccarling.com Fax: (450) 533-4495 Web: www.laccarling.com Description: Four-seasons hotel replete with antique charm and located between mountains and lakes. Offers a number of activities for teambuilding, spa services and many racquet sports. Rooms have a panoramic view of the golf course. Capacity: Reception–600 Banquet–400 Classroom–400 Theatre–400

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Varia

Distance from airport (km)

Elk Ridge Resort Contact: Steve Johnston, (306) 663-4653, (800) 510-1824 Box 130, Waskesiu Lake, SK, S0J 2Y0 E-mail: steve@elkridgeresort.com Fax: (306) 663-5800 Web: www.elkridgeresort.com Description: Elk Ridge is a four-star, four-season resort located in the natural setting of the Boreal forest. It is a great venue for corporate and leisure business. Capacity: Reception–210 Banquet–248 Classroom–96 Theatre–240

Restaurant/Bar/ Room Service

Hôtel & Golf Mont Gabriel Contact: Anne-Marie Roy, (450) 229-7983 ext.241, (800) 668-5253 ext. 241 1699 chemin Mont Gabriel, Ste-Adele, QC, J8B 1A5 E-mail: amroy@montgabriel.com Fax: (450) 229-7034 Web: www.montgabriel.com Description: Golf Mont Gabriel is situated at the top of a mountain and offers spectacular views of the Laurentians and St. Sauveur Valley. Located directly at the door of the hotel with easy access. Capacity: Reception–400 Banquet–300 Classroom–240 Theatre–350 Manoir des Sables Contact: Carole Imbleau, (819) 847-4747, (877) 343-5344 90 avenue des Jardins, Orford, QC, J1X 6M6 E-mail: cimbleau@hotelsvillegia.com Fax: (819) 847-3519 Web: www.hotelsvillegia.com Description: All meetings rooms have large windows and a French door opening onto a private terrace. Spectacular views and lots of on-site activities such as golf, kayaking, tennis, volleyball, cross country skiing and more. Capacity: Reception–300 Banquet–200 Classroom–175 Theatre–260

# of Guest Rooms

Name of resort

128

1/1/Y

P, BC, FC, PS, TNH 18

YUL 85 km

141

2/2/N

P, BC, FC, PS, TNH 27

YUL 138 km

2/1/N

P, BC, FC, PS, TNH 27

YPA 80 km

# Meeting Rooms

Province

Golf resorts in Canada

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PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

Where have all the heroes gone? Editor’s Note : What can we do for an encore after the Olympics and our Towers of Industry Award winners? Continuing the momentum and the example that they set is not an easy task. However, we have discovered an article by the Royal Bank entitled “Where Have All the Heroes Gone?” It will make you think and will point you in the right direction. So here to continue with the theme of heroes is an article that we hope you will enjoy. n an age of disenchantment, old-fashioned heroism seems to be on the ropes; at the same time, unsung heroes are everywhere. Maybe it's time to switch from public to private heroism. Beginning in the home... Peter H. Gibbon is a research fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education who travels around the United States talking about the current lack of respect for heroism in his country. He points out that New York City’s Hall of Fame for Great Americans attracts only a fraction of the number of visitors who flock annually to Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He says that in an age of instant but often ill-prepared communication, people are being given the impression that "sleaze is everywhere, that nothing is sacred, that no one is noble, and that there are no heroes." He reaches back to the ancient Roman poet Horace for words to describe this state of affairs: “Nil Admirari” – nothing to admire. Though Gibbon focusses on the situation in the U.S., what happens there in this regard is all too likely to happen elsewhere. Americans are the leading trend-setters in the global society. They produce the movies, television shows, videos, CDs and web sites that are seen and heard more than any others by the international public. The publicity mills of Hollywood and New York turn out the stars who set examples for good or ill among impressionable young people around the world. So if America really is giving up on heroism, other societies can be expected to act accordingly. The fading of public heroism in the U.S. is especially disturbing in the light of its national mythology. As the world’s most heroically-minded nationality, Americans have reserved a central place for noble conduct in their collective self- image. They have concentrated on individual greatness to define their greatness as a nation. With this record in mind, it is to be hoped for all our sakes that Dr. Gibbon is being a bit alarmist. For the end of the heroic tradition would mean the end of a lot of other good things, too. If there is no admiration of greatness, no representative figures that ordinary people would want to emulate, we could be taking a U-turn on the road to civilization. True heroes and heroines (the qualification "true" is necessary because there have been a lot of phoney ones) have always shown the way to the betterment of the human condition. Heroism and progress (again, true progress of the moral and not the illusive material kind) go hand in hand.

A loss of interest in heroes and heroines would be something new under the sun, for history shows that human beings have always felt a need for paragons to look up to. Why? Because they show the rest of us that members of our species can be better than we ever thought they could be. Heroism symbolizes the soaring potential of humankind. Dr. Gibbon suggests that the scepticism that has led to the decline of admiration in the United States is connected to religious scepticism. With the spread of secularism, people have come to feel that they are sufficient unto themselves and have no need of a higher power. A loss of religious faith implies a loss of faith in anyone greater than oneself, including heroes and heroines. Along with secularism has come modernism, a cultural movement that thumbs its nose at structure, form, and convention. To modernists, one work of art or artist is as good as the next. Through reductio ad absurdum, that would put a gangsta rap "song" on a par with a Beethoven sonata. In the modernist mindset, the old standards of what is good and bad do not apply. DILUTED BY EXCESS Those "old" standards, which obtained for thousands of years, were predicated on excellence. They gave the rank and file of humanity something to aim for by identifying what was best. The “old” values system held out reasonable rewards for successful efforts to be among the best in one’s calling. Entertainment was a metaphor for the way things worked in every aspect of society. Performers were admired not only for their talent, but for the work they put into developing that talent to a state of excellence. “Without emulation we sink into meaninglessness, or mediocrity, for nothing great or excellent can be done without it.” Francis Beaumont In the new wired popular culture, excellence has been more or less abandoned. It’s a simple matter of supply and demand. The more the demand for entertainment is pumped up for commercial purposes, the lower the standards. Television’s hundred-plus-channel universe cannot sustain a continual flow of excellent material. In fact it does not produce much that is even very good. A byproduct of this form of mass production is instant and apparently effortless stardom, and the wealth that goes along with it. A performer no longer needs to be first-class to win a following among a public whose tastes have been diluted by excess. By capitalizing on the commercial possibilities of the cheap thrill, popular culture pays more attention to glitz than merit and to trash than things of value. That might be all right but for the fact that merit and value have been thoroughly confused with glitz and trash.

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We knock our heroes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 The net effect is that persons who are "famous for being famous" are held in the same respect as genuine heroes and heroines. DINING ON SUBJECTS Much of the blame for this rests with the news and public affairs media, which have become more and more like the entertainment media in their race for ratings and circulation. Because scandal sells big -time, the media now hasten to tell us the worst about everybody and everything. They certainly show us the worst about the human race as a whole, concentrating on crime, conflict, and perfidy. By doing so, they make the world out to be a more cynical and ignoble place than it actually is. As Dr. Gibbon is quick to note, today’s journalists are not responsible for the situations they cover: "They did not invent celebrity worship and gossip. Nor did they create leaders who misbehave and let us down." At the same time, they "are not innocent, and they know it... Roger Rosenblatt, a veteran of the Washington Post, Time, Life and New York Times Magazine, says, ‘My trade of journalism is sodden these days with practitioners who seem incapable of admiring others or anything.’ In his memoir, former presidential press secretary and ABC senior news editor Pierre Salinger writes, ‘No reporter can be famous unless they have [sic] brought someone down.’ And New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik comments, ‘The reporter used to gain status by dining with his subjects; now he gains status by dining on them.’" TURNING UP DIRT The malaise surrounding heroism might be attributed to the media’s obsession with the up-to-date, as if nothing that has happened in the past is of any importance. But that does not account for the fact that the heroes of former times are also being "brought down." "Thomas Jefferson is now thought of as the president with the slave mistress and Mozart as the careless genius who liked to talk dirty, " as Dr. Gibbon observes. Under the spell of nil admirari, revisionist historians twist the facts to suit their political or cultural points of view, and biographers sometimes treat their subjects as blood enemies. The latter are well aware that biographies that turn up dirt about a prominent person, however irrelevant that dirt might be, sell better than those that stick to the point of why that person was worth writing about in the first place. All of the above applies to Canada as well as the United States. With the majority of its population sitting across the border within close range of the American media, Canada is in bed with an elephant not only economically, but attitudinally. Canadian youths wear the same styles of clothes and listen to the same kind of music as their U.S. counterparts.

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PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

There is little to choose between American and Canadian young professionals in their range of enthusiasms and tastes. It follows that if respect for heroism is waning in the U.S., the same thing will occur in Canada, only more so. Canadians have more to lose out of their culture from this trend, since heroes and heroines are scarcer in relation to their population. Canadians have never glorified heroism to the extent that the Americans do. A CANADIAN TRADITION? It has long been lamented that Canadians grow up knowing more about famous Americans than about the famous people –or people deserving of fame - who have occupied their own territory. A generation of Canadian youngsters could identify Davey Crockett as "king of the wild frontier" without having a clue about explorers like the LeMoyne brothers, Samuel Hearne and Sir Alexander Mackenzie who performed similar exploits on the Canadian frontier. As if the lack of recognition of Canadian heroes were not enough, Canadians tend to knock the heroes they do recognize. People who know of Sir John A. Macdonald at all are likely to make jokes about his heavy drinking, and never mind his incredible accomplishment in setting Canada on the road to nationhood. Knocking heroes, it seems, is almost a Canadian tradition. Years ago every Anglo Canadian knew about the World War I flying ace Billy Bishop. A revisionist National Film Board docudrama a few years ago depicted Bishop as a fraud who faked his victories. Sir Arthur Currie was another revered figure in World War I as commander of the Canadian Corps, hailed as the finest military formation among the Allies. In the 1920s Currie was accused of wasting the lives of his soldiers for his own glory. He fought and won a libel suit against the newspaper that had printed the charges. Not long ago, a spokesperson for Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal listed all the famous people who were buried there. She named several hockey players, and Sir Arthur Currie - last. While that may seem a sorry commentary on the priorities of Canadians, the fact is that they have always been more likely to find heroes among hockey players than of any other people. And there is nothing really wrong with their preference: hockey at its best is a game that brings out qualities that people are bound to admire - dash and quick thinking, physical courage, stamina, a certain artistry, and that ineffable characteristic called "class." “The grandest of heroic deeds are those which are performed within four walls of domestic privacy.” Jean Paul Richter DEATH OF THE LOCAL HERO There was a time when every Canadian boy could rhyme off names like Syl Apps, Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard and Jean Béliveau. The most admirable thing about such men was their character.

Character above all Of the last- named hero, Guy Lafleur said in his younger days: "I may not be the hockey player Jean Béliveau was, but some day I hope to be the man he is." Brilliant as they were by themselves, the old-time hockey idols were team players. The team played in the spirit of one for all and all for one; if one of them stood above the rest, so much the better for them all. Lately, with the frenetic sports media as a cheering section, we have entered into the era of the individualistic superstar. Teams built around a single player are vulnerable. If the great man refuses to play when he does not get the money he demands, he sentences his teammates and fans to a losing season. An already high -priced player recently did just that. Hockey is only one of the sports that has deteriorated into a game of spending money. In the money-spending game, players go to the highest bidder, and show no attachment to a particular team or city. The identification with their fans which once made them local heroes has faded out of sight.

FROM JOE LOUIS TO MIKE TYSON Meanwhile, the notion that "it matters not whether you win or lose but how you play the game" has apparently been tossed out the window. "Show me a gracious loser and I’ll show you a perennial loser," O.J. Simpson once said. Winning is everything because winning means more and more money for the players and owners. "I measure respect by the figures on my contract," one baseball star declared in a fair reflection of the prevailing mentality in pro sports. Athletes are heroes and heroines among the young, who regard them as the kind of men and women they would want to be when they grow up. A child who emulated some of the pro players these days might go on to be guilty of all the seven deadly sins. (For the record, these are pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.) From the days of Joe Louis to the days of Mike Tyson, the emphasis in sports heroism has shifted from character to performance. In a perversion of the old saying quoted above, it matters not what kind of human being an athlete is; it matters how well he or she plays the game, meaning how many ticket-buyers he or she can draw. “Every man is a hero and an oracle to somebody, and to that person, whatever he says has enchanced value.” Ralph Waldo Emerson FIGHTING ANONYMOUS BATTLES Not that the great athletes of the past could not perform as well as those today, given the training and equipment available to them. But it was character above all that made men like Joe Louis beloved among their own people and people around the world.

Sport is a peaceful - well, comparatively peaceful - substitute for war, the anvil upon which heroism has been hammered out over the centuries. Canada has had its share of heroes from two world wars and the Korean war in which Canadians fought against aggression; they are ill-remembered today. While turning their backs on the traditional type of hero - the good guy type - the youth of the sixties and seventies gravitated towards the bad boys. For the most part, rock stars do not make healthy role models. Partly out of the joy of shocking their parents, young people placed them on a pedestal nonetheless. The icons of pop culture have a heavy influence on fashions and behaviour among the general populace due to the well-established fact that humans are an imitative species. If people do not imitate good examples, they will imitate bad ones. The problem is not that there is nothing to admire, but that people are liable to admire the wrong persons and things. In his 1998 novel A Man in Full, that marvellous social observer Tom Wolfe points out that the fashion for baggy pants among boys originated in prison. "In jail they don’t provide belts," one character explains, "and so if your pants are too big you just let them ride low." When jailbirds become role models for youth, it is indeed time to start worrying about what the world is coming to. The attraction of "grunge" to teenagers raises the question of whether they were exposed to better role models, they would emulate them anyway. Maybe not; but the fact remains that there is no shortage of authentic heroes and heroines around. They are simply not as well-recognized as they rightly ought to be. The heroic figures of the new age have better things to do than appear on Entertainment Tonight, and they are unlikely to be written up in People. Nor, like the old-style war heroes, are they likely to be found fighting battles against a national enemy. Rather their battles are against man’s inhumanity to man, against injustice, disease and hunger - and for the most part they are waged anonymously. The new-style heroes and heroines will be found in non-governmental agencies in the trouble-spots of the world, in run-down neighbourhoods giving aid to the helpless and homeless, in schoolrooms and community centres doing their best to steer underprivileged youngsters in a constructive direction. They will be found - as true heroes and heroines have ever been found - leading lives of self-sacrifice. TURNING OFF THE TRASH The abandonment of the traditional concept of heroism is not altogether a bad thing. There has always been an element of exaggeration in the making of idols for public worship. Instead of looking at the statues of the kings and queens, the generals, presidents and prime ministers of the past, we should be looking at those unknown soldiers whose effigies adorn our cenotaphs. The generals memorialized in statuary merely lived to take the credit for what the troops under them suffered to win their victories.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 www.theplanner.ca | April 2010 |

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Heroes are often unsung CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 Like those nameless campaigners for freedom, most of the heroes and heroines throughout history have been of the unsung kind. The media may continue to produce shabby role models, but there is no reason for independent-minded people to go along with them. In a free society, the way to get rid of trash is simply not to subscribe to it, so that it is no longer so profitable to its purveyors. If the age of the public hero has come to an end, then we must look for the kind of heroism that is won with a minimum of publicity. And if parents find that their children have no wholesome role models, then they must strive to become those role models themselves.

Originally published by RBC Financial Group and reprinted with their permission. All editions from the RBC Letter collection are available on our web site at www.rbc.com/responsibility/letter.Their e-mail address is: rbcletter@rbc.com. Publié aussi en francais.

Quebec airport trying to go global

Mont Tremblant International Airport is trying to live up to its name by offering commercial summer service for the first time this year. Porter Airlines will be starting twice weekly service between Toronto and Tremblant in June and the airport is reportedly in talks with a major carrier in Europe, one in Mexico and two in the United States. The facility, which already handles private flights year round, will close May 6 for the remainder of the month to allow work that will accommodate larger airliners. Airport president and owner Serge Larivière, along with a group of investors, purchased the former landing strip of an abandoned military base in La Macaza, about 35 kilometres north of Mont Tremblant in 2002 and developed it into an international airport featuring the world’s only loghouse terminal. On the Web: www.mtia.ca/en ANSWER EASY SUDOKU PAGE 8

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ANSWER MEDIUM SUDOKU PAGE 8

PLANNER | April 2010 |www.theplanner.ca

Winston Churchill: A true hero We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. Winston Churchill t’s often hard to find a hero, especially these days. But I think most people would know one if they saw one. Or heard one. The above quote was Winston Churchill at his finest; he was trying to inspire the British people as Prime Minister in 1940 against Hitler and the Third Reich which was terrorizing Europe during WW II. He is largely credited with boosting morale to such a degree that the British did indeed keep fighting and eventually won the War along with their allied partners. It’s hard to imagine a man like Churchill today who could inspire with words alone. Indeed, more than 300,000 people filed past his coffin in Hyde Park in 1965 to pay their respects and the queen, five other monarchs and 15 heads of state attended his funeral. In his 90 years, he had spent 65 as a member of parliament, 31 as a minister and nearly nine as prime minister. He had fought in or was present at 15 battles, been awarded 14 campaign medals, published nearly 10 million words and painted over 500 canvasses (more than most professional writers or painters did in their lifetimes). Among his many awards and memberships: He was a Nobel Prizeman, a fellow of the Royal Society, a university chancellor, a recipient of several honourary degrees, a Royal Academician and many others. He was also a big game hunter and loved champagne. Churchill led a full life and was very successful, and we can all learn from his extraordinary life in the following four ways. 1. Always Aim high 2. There is no substitute for hard work. 3. Never allow mistakes, disaster, accidents, illnesses unpopularity or criticism to get you down 4. Don’t waste time on the meanness of life: Recrimination, shifting the blame onto others, malice, revenge seeking, dirty tricks, spreading rumours, and so on. Churchill would pick his battles, fight hard and then move on to the next contest. It is one major reason for his success. There is nothing more exhausting than hatred and malice is bad for the judgment. So while it might be impossible to be as great as Churchill was, we would certainly all do well to emulate his philosophy of living.