This waterfront city offers a host of venues and activities for your next conference.

Virgil Knapp

10 Excellent Event and Meeting Venues in Thunder Bay, Ontario

With scenic venues well-equipped to make you and the team comfortable—and lots to enjoy after the work is done—the largest city on Lake Superior is a perfect hub for conferences and corporate gatherings.

This waterfront city offers a host of venues and activities for your next conference.

By Alex Palmer Alex Palmer is a New York Times bestselling author who writes about travel, culture, and history.

July 18, 2024

The city of Thunder Bay, Ontario may best be known for its impressive natural surroundings, on the shores of Lake Superior and views Sleeping Giant and the Nor’Wester Mountain range. But while visitors will want to make time for hiking, kayaking, power sports and other open-air experiences, this destination is also notable for its range of indoor offerings.

Specifically, meeting planners seeking effective and memorable venues for their gatherings will find no shortage of great options in Thunder Bay. Whether a group needs a traditional ballroom for a general session or an unconventional location for a reception, this scenic destination has conferences covered.

Here are 10 venues in Thunder Bay that are great for groups.

1. Goods & Co.

The Woodside Bar at Goods & Co, Thunder Bay; a bright, fresh-looking room with several long wooden tables with chairs, large potted plants, light wood slats on some walls and light blue tile on others. — Woodside Bar, one of a number of rental options at Goods & Co. // Photo credit Goods & Co.

Located in a former Eaton’s department store, Goods & Co. is a modern market where local restaurateurs, designers, artists and craftspeople offer up their wares. After hours, the market can be booked for private events of up to 380 visitors for receptions, trade shows or educational sessions. During working hours, the coworking space Co.Lab Gallery can be booked for blocks of time, as well — so a group can get some focused work done on a project and then break for lunch at one of the numerous culinary options in the market.

2. Fort William Historical Park

a banquet hall at Fort William Historical Park; several wooden chairs and tables in a large room with rough wooden floors, walls and rafters. There are strings of white lights adorning the rafters and giving soft light to the room. — Fort William Historical Park has unique and varied venue options that make an event memorable.

Located on the banks of the Kaministiquia River, the former fur-trading post of Fort William Historical Park still exudes history and offers a peek into an earlier era of Thunder Bay. But it also offers a range of cutting-edge meeting spaces for groups of 30 to 500 people. These include an amphitheatre and a large outdoor venue, as well as an astronomy centre (complete with a large outdoor fireplace). Visiting groups can tap into the venue’s catering service or even take a historical guided tour in between sessions.

3. Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Gallery space at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery; a large room with white walls lit by pot lights and brown floors. There are several paintings hung on the walls and a round bench-like installation in the centre with a beaver sculpture on it, and pictures cast by projector on the far wall. — The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has several space options for gatherings. // Photo credit Amanda Phillips

Housing more than 1,600 works in its permanent collection (with a focus on works by contemporary Indigenous artists), the Thunder Bay Art Gallery also offers a number of meeting rooms and galleries, available for private rental when schedule allows. But more excitement is on the horizon here, as a new, $50 million venue is currently under construction on the shore at Prince Arthur’s Landing. Set to open in 2026, the Art Waterfront Experience will provide a stunning home to the museum’s works, as well as large exhibition galleries and flexible event spaces for gatherings of all types.

4. Sleeping Giant Brewing Company

Taproom at Sleeping Giant Brewery; a large, brightly-lit and modern looking room with beer brewing equipment on one side, and rows of chairs and people filling the room. — The Sleeping Giant Taproom doubles as a fun meeting space. // Photo credit Tourism Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is home to several craft breweries, and Sleeping Giant is one of the local favourites. Visitors can not only stop by to sample some of their brews, but stay awhile by booking one of several venues on site. Whether looking to host a beer tasting or just get down to business in a unique space, this is a fun option.

5. Best Western Plus Nor'Wester Hotel and Conference Centre

The front entrance to a one story hotel at night. There is a white van in the foreground.

Best Western Plus Nor'Wester Hotel and Conference Centre provides planners with 6 flexible event spaces lined with large windows and lots of natural light for up to 340 people. Two of the rooms even feature amethyst fireplaces—a local Thunder Bay gemstone that's mined nearby. Additional amenities include catering options and audio/visual set up, while on site there's the Cliffhanger Restaurant & Bar with a spacious patio offering mountain views.

6. Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites

The Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel lobby; a huge, elegant room with glowing chandelier, polished marble floor, dark wood trim and stone statues in alcoves near the ceiling. — The historic and elegant Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel. // Photo credit Tourism Thunder Bay

Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites first opened in 1911. While attendees will be impressed by the historic details of the property, they will be equally impressed with the modern event spaces here, including the flexible Provincial Room (able to hold up to 350 people) and Bertrand Court (with a capacity for up to 100 guests). High-speed internet is available across all meeting rooms as well as guest rooms, and visitors will want to make time to dine at Portside Steak and Seafood Restaurant on the property.

7. Delta Hotels By Marriott Thunder Bay

The Delta Marriott, Thunder Bay; a large, stately multi-storey black building with a covered glass walkway at the front. — Choose from one of several excellent space options at the Delta Hotels By Marriott Thunder Bay. // Photo credit Tourism Thunder Bay

On the northwestern shore of Lake Superior, Delta Hotels By Marriott Thunder Bay truly offers waterfront meeting space, with a number of flexible event spaces. These include the more than 5,500-square-foot Superior Ballroom (divisible into four smaller ballrooms), as well as the Cascades and Kakabeka Boardrooms, for smaller gatherings. The Anchor & Ore gastropub on the property provides a great dining option for attendees, as well.

8. Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre

The boardroom at the Victoria Inn Thunder Bay; a polished and modern-looking meeting room with long glass and wood table surrounded by black chairs, a black patterned carpet and brightly lit by pot lights. — The Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre has boardrooms and meeting rooms that can accommodate groups both big and small.

With a three-story waterslide, poolside rooms and a pet-friendly policy, Superior Inn Hotel and Conference Centre is a great option for attendees who are bringing their family. But it’s also got business gatherings of all sizes covered, with 12 meeting rooms able to accommodate groups from eight people to 700.

9. Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre

The lobby of the Valhalla Inn Thunder Bay; an large, impressive looking room with a high-peaked wooden beam ceiling circled by soft lamp light, a lit wooden front desk and polished tiled floors. — The Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre: unique and opulent with a wide range of venue options. // Photo credit Ingrid Misner | Artistic Impressions

Just minutes from the Thunder Bay International Airport, Valhalla Hotel & Conference Centre prides itself on providing “True Northern Hospitality,” with rustic Scandinavian-inspired design and a high level of service. Its event spaces can also accommodate groups of up to 1,000 attendees in memorable locations such as the Fireside Room (which includes a wood-burning fireplace) and expansive ballroom with views of Mount Mckay.

10. Ramada by Wyndham Thunder Bay Airlane Hotel

The exterior of the Ramada Wyndham Thunder Bay; a polished-looking and welcoming building with signs and lobby windows glowing in evening light. — The Ramada by Wyndham Thunder Bay Airlane Hotel has ample spaces for a large number of guests and a team to assist you with your event.

Just two kilometres from the airport (and not much further from many of Thunder Bay’s outdoor attractions including Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park and Mount McKay), Ramada by Wyndham Thunder Bay Airlane Hotel offers groups more than 8,700 square feet of event space able to accommodate up to 500 guests. Its group services team can also assist with everything from A/V equipment to planning a catering menu.

Bonus: Financial Incentives Available for Planners

Convention planners looking to bring their new or expanding corporate event to the city can apply for financial incentives from Tourism Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission through the CEDC Tourism Development Fund.

Plan Your Next Meeting or Event in Thunder Bay, Ontario Today

To learn more about planning your next meeting or event in the city check out Visit Thunder Bay.

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About Alex Palmer

Alex Palmer is a New York Times bestselling author who writes about travel, culture, and history for outlets including Smithsonian, Slate, and National Geographic. Learn more at alexpalmerwrites.com