If the thought of having another off-site meeting in a hotel boardroom isn’t inspiring you, how about holding the event in a tropical greenhouse or a heritage mansion? Those are just two of the unusual meeting venues available within a one-hour drive of downtown Ottawa.
The “greenhouse” is much bigger than the small shed you may have in your backyard. Aquatopia Water Garden Conservatory in Carp, in Ottawa’s rural west end, opened almost a decade ago as a combined plant nursery and showroom for the owners’ pond- and pool-building business. Then, one day, a visitor asked to book a wedding in the space, which can accommodate up to 150 guests. A very popular sideline was born that soon became a major component of the business. Today, Aquatopia employs a full-time chef and kitchen team.
Weddings dominate the space in summer, but corporate events of all sorts are booked for much of the rest of the year, says Amanda Baker, Aquatopia’s sales and promotional events coordinator.
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The venue provides a projector and a drop-down AV screen for after-dark meetings, as well as TVs for daytime meetings, when light pours into the greenhouse. A green “ivy wall” is a popular backdrop for photographs. The earthy, relaxing scents of plants pervade the space. And fans, a large roof opening and side windows keep air circulating on warm days.
“With all the greenery in the space and that airflow it really feels like you’re outside, even though you’re inside,” Baker says.
Along with the main greenhouse, the venue includes a café/bar that is a popular venue for cocktail receptions and conference break-out sessions.
Aquatopia draws corporate clients from southern Ontario, Montreal and the United States, as well as the Ottawa region. One event planner from Montreal booked the venue for an elaborate “Pirates of the Caribbean”-themed gathering, which came as a complete surprise to the attendees when they arrived by bus. Everything from costumes to a treasure hunt was provided on site.
At the other end of the size spectrum is Maple & Rose in Merrickville, about 50 minutes southwest of Ottawa. The venue comprises two buildings: a restored Victorian mansion that can accommodate up to 16 overnight guests; and a modern, 1,200-square-foot outbuilding with a fireplace, a washroom, a kitchenette, an 86-inch TV, tables and living room-style seating. Groups can book the lounge, the house or both for strategic planning meetings, content creation days, corporate retreats and similar events, as well as weddings, family reunions and other private celebrations.
Clients can arrange their own meals and activities but most choose what Maple & Rose general manager Kate Folk laughingly calls the “all-hands-on-deck” option, leaving it to the property’s staff to do everything from brewing morning coffee to washing the dinner dishes. Local bakeries and chefs provide snacks and meals. The venue can also set up teambuilding activities in the village, such as jewelry-making or kayaking.
“Where else can you stay in a 180-year-old Victorian home and then go glass-blowing the next day?” asks Folk. She enjoys seeing guests use the home’s surroundings as a break from sometimes intense meetings — taking a breather on the wraparound porch, for instance, or strolling to the nearby Rideau Canal.
The formula seems to be working. One Ottawa organization has booked the all-inclusive option at least a dozen times since the venue opened in June 2023. Like Aquatopia, Maple & Rose attracts clients from a wide geographic area, including repeat customers who drive from Guelph.
Both Folk and Baker note that their spaces appeal to companies looking to inspire their people with one-of-a-kind surroundings. Says Baker, “I think the world, as we see it, is changing. People want different experiences.”
Award-winning Ottawa travel writer Laura Byrne Paquet shares her sightseeing tips for Eastern Ontario and beyond on her website, Ottawa Road Trips.
