Although the Jasper property tends more to the tourist trade, the two Northern Alberta resorts are right in the heart of oil and gas country and can accommodate groups of 200 to 250 in seven meeting rooms. Banquet facilities can cater to 500 people. All three resorts are undergoing an upgrade to import more of a Cree influence to the rooms, general manager Michael Cassio says. In Duncan, on Vancouver Island, the Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre is one of the largest facilities, able to accommodate more than 400 participants in a stunning location by the Cowichan River. The main meeting location, Comeakin House, is based on a traditional longhouse and is made entirely of Western red cedar and offers a 400-seat auditorium.
Food includes traditional native dishes, such as salmon barbeque or salmon baked on cedar boards.
The grounds include the world's largest carving house, called the Khenispen, where guests can watch a native artist carve a war canoe, totem pole or mask, or even try their hand at carving themselves. Although there is no accommodation on site, there are a number of nearby hotels. Only 45 minutes north of Victoria and 45 minutes south of Nanaimo, the Quw'utsun' Resort also draws from those busy urban centres, with clients including Royal Bank of Canada, Centra Gas Ontario Inc., British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority and various branches of the provincial government from nearby Victoria. This past year, Dave Clark, a senior forester with Weyerhauser Canada Ltd., arranged a meeting at Quw'utsun' Resort with 30 Japanese clients. The ambience of the place made it such an authentic cultural experience for them.