The Chateau Laurier hotel has for years hosted a Christmas tree event. Local companies make a donation to the Children's Hospital Of Eastern Ontario, and trees get decorated with their names in the lobby and corridors of the ground floor of the luxury hotel. You can imagine it's a popular event locally, and ideal for the photographer.
Along with the Christmas trees, these halls include a wealth of photographs of the hotel's history. The Chateau opened in 1912. Its official opening date in April of that year was postponed for a few weeks. Charles Melville Hays, the railroad baron who had been behind its creation, had been coming back from Europe with his family and a substantial amount of furnishings bought on the continent.
They were sailing on the Titanic.
Hays of course died in that calamity; it's been suggested that his ghost haunts the hotel. There are other ghost stories connected to the Chateau.
Many others have been here over the years. This photograph of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip dates to when she was still the Crown Princess, and the Royals were paying a visit. Here they are accompanied by Vincent Massey, the Governor-General at the time.
More of those Christmas trees. I'll carry on here tomorrow.
A special place!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteFascinating as usual, especially the history of the Chateau. Love a good ghost story.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteBeautiful Christmas trees display. The history of the hotel will be interesting.
ReplyDeleteVery much so.
DeleteIt's a great tradition and an interesting way to raise funds for the children's hospital.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.
DeleteThe decorations are cute.
ReplyDeleteThey are.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThe trees do look beautiful! Take care, have a great day and week ahead!
Thank you.
DeleteWonderful event, for a noble cause too!
ReplyDeleteThat it is.
Delete...these are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI love the trees! Look forward to seeing more!
ReplyDeleteMore tomorrow.
DeleteFortunately, our own decorations are a lot easier and cheaper.
ReplyDeleteThis place goes all out.
DeleteThese trees look beautiful, William.
ReplyDeleteThey do.
DeleteThe trees are beautiful to see
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteI love seeing all these trees.
ReplyDeleteMore to come.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteI did not know he was on the Titanic.
The most prominent Canadian example, I'd say.
DeleteHaunting, I believe he is there.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful trees
It fits the place.
DeleteSo many Xmas trees there in this place!
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot.
Deletethey were very pastel, no reds. Was there a theme that they had to follow?
ReplyDeleteNo, just marking a quarter century of the event happening.
DeleteLovely event and beautiful Xmas trees and photos ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thank you.
DeleteVery interesting and another lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteBeautiful Christmas trees ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
They are.
DeleteBeautiful captures of a lovely venue.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Delete