The Fairmont Palliser is riddled with history and famous guests
The Fairmont Palliser Hotel is one of Calgary’s most iconic and storied landmarks. It’s a luxurious stay that has hosted royalty, actors, and world leaders from every era.
In 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) made its way into Calgary, which at the time was just a trading post. With the help of the railway, Calgary quickly began transforming into an emerging economic hub.
To accommodate tourists who were travelling to the city by train, CPR President William Van Horne decided to create what was then known as The Palliser, named after a local explorer, Captain John Palliser.
The hotel was designed by architect Lawrence Gotch and officially opened in 1914. Originally standing eight floors tall, it was built in Chicago-style architecture and featured a unique E-shaped layout.
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One of the standout features of the hotel was the Crystal Ballroom, now known as the Palliser Room. It was inspired by a Louis XIV-style design, and it was considered one of the most elegant spaces in Canada.
In 1924, The Palliser became one of the first two businesses to be granted a liquor licence following the end of the prohibition in Alberta. In 1929, due to the success of the hotel, they decided to expand, adding an additional three floors to the hotel, and making it the tallest building in Calgary until 1953.
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For decades, The Palliser remained a luxurious social hub that attracted visitors from across Canada and beyond. In 1999, the hotel officially joined the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts chain and was renamed the Fairmont Palliser.
Nearly a century after opening, the hotel underwent around $17.6 million worth of renovations between 2011 and 2014, which included upgrades to the guestrooms, the lobby and entrance, and introducing Fairmont Gold and the Fairmont Gold lounge on the upper floors.
Over the years, the Fairmont Palliser has had its fair share of distinguished guests, from royalty to prime ministers. One of its notable visitors was Prime Minister R.B. Bennett, who stayed multiple times during his term in office at the peak of the Great Depression.
King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, visited in 1939 as part of their Royal Tour of Canada, the same year Helen Keller stayed at the hotel during a visit to the Calgary Stampede. Most iconically, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Phillip, stayed at the hotel in 1993, presenting the hotel with a rare Heraldic Badge.
Famous actors and TV personalities have also reportedly stayed at the hotel, including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, Cary Grant, and Sophia Loren.
If you’re into more local history, we dove into the storied past of Riley Park and its ranching history, Prince’s Island Park, and the oldest theatre in Western Canada.