The city of Sudbury, Ontario is an ideal location to host meetings and conferences. Not only because of the logistical ease (the Greater Sudbury Airport offers daily flights to and from Toronto) and scale of the destination (it’s the largest city in Northern Ontario), but also because of the high level of service that visiting groups can expect here.
“We’re close to Toronto, our airport is accessible,” says Kelly Bonnell, Major Events Development Officer for the City of Greater Sudbury. “But what’s great is when you host a meeting or event here, we really go above and beyond to work with planners to make it special.”
“We have great relationships with the venue and the local tourism department," says Bonnell. "We also have unique venues that you won’t find anywhere else.”
To that last point, besides the high level of service that groups can expect here, Bonnell stresses that Greater Sudbury offers a number of top-quality venues that make it particularly appealing for groups of all kinds. Here are several venues in the area that are great for a range of events.
The first sites any event planner coming to Sudbury is likely to consider are Science North and Dynamic Earth. This pair of science centers (the largest and eighth largest in the country, respectively) offer a vast range of interactive experiences and a portfolio of event spaces available for private rental.
Science North’s spaces include an IMAX theatre, the more intimate exhibit boardroom, and the fourth-floor event space, where guests can explore interactive offerings such as the Racetrack and Bio Lab before or after dinner. The Discovery Theatre, with tiered seating inspired by 18th-century medical teaching theatres, offers terrific views of the action in the center of the space. It can fit up to 120 attendees.
If waterfront views are a priority, this destination also offers a patio area (200-person capacity), a third-floor reception area (250-person capacity) and the Ramsey Room (125-person capacity), each of which offer stunning views of Ramsey Lake.
But one of the most popular spaces at this location is the Vale Cavern, a cave blasted into solid rock. The man-made cavern creates a unique and intimate vibe and gives attendees an only-in-Sudbury experience. It also pairs perfectly with an event on one of the main floors of Science North. The venue fits 300 people theatre style and 220 for a banquet setup.
“So you can experience the science center with just your group, and then go to the cavern and have an amazing meal in the cave,” says Bonnell.
Bonnell describes one recent conference for the Travel Media Association of Canada. A number of stations were set up, providing attendees with hands-on experiences of the science center before they headed to the cocktail reception.
“That’s an experience you’re not going to get anywhere else,” says Bonnell.
Home to Sudbury’s famed Big Nickel, Dynamic Earth is a must-visit destination for groups here. It also has a range of event spaces perfect for meetings, including its spacious lobby. Other impressive spaces are the 125-capacity Epiroc Theatre and the 2,000-square-foot MacLean Engineering Gallery.
It also has a natural rock venue of its own in the Vale Chasm. Located seven stories below ground, and accessible via a giant glass elevator, this 30-person-capacity alcove is like a secret subterranean hideaway.
Another place of learning that doubles as a great event venue is Laurentian University, which offers more than 12,000 square feet of event space. Among the significant meeting locations is the downtown McEwen School of Architecture, which includes a number of spaces that can be booked for private gatherings, as well as the on-campus Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, featuring a striking round room design as well as areas designated specifically for smudging ceremonies. “The Cliff Fielding Research Innovation and Engineering Building can hold private events, as well,” says Bonnell.
She also points to Place des Arts, a centre for celebrating arts of all types, and a gathering place for Francophones in the region. It includes a number of rentable spaces, such as the 299-seat Grand Salle performance hall and the flexible Studio Desjardins rehearsal space that can be rearranged to fit events of all types. The venue also includes smaller gathering options such as the 50-capacity Zone and 40-capacity Bistro.
“Place des Arts is a beautifully done space so it's great for events,” says Bonnell.
Another option for planners is the Northern Water Sports Centre, set on the shore of Ramsey Lake and dedicated to aquatic activities. This innovative space includes a licensed terrace, a large boardroom, a viewing gallery, and offices.
“It’s run through the city and you can bring your own catering,” says Bonnell. “It’s right along Ramsey Lake with windows all along the wall so you have so many great views of the lake—it’s absolutely beautiful.”
In addition to Sudbury’s science centers, it is also home to conferencing hotels ready for large groups. For example, Holiday Inn Sudbury offers more than 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including large banquet halls, intimate boardrooms and a sun-soaked solarium.
“They can do hotel rooms [at Holiday Inn], and there are other hotels close by if there is overflow,” says Bonnell, pointing to a large organization hosting its first North American conference in Sudbury. “They’re holding their everyday sessions at the hotel, and then for their evening events they’re going to Science North.”
Bonnell adds that while Sudbury offers plenty of great event spaces, it’s what it offers after or between sessions that really sets it apart.
“Whether your group is looking for entertainment or leisure experiences, we’ve got all of that here in Sudbury,” says Bonnell.
