For a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, you could take your cue from Hollywood. Filmmakers have deemed places all over Eastern Ontario to be suitably dreamy locations to shoot romantic TV movies.
Almonte, which I covered in last month’s column, is well known as a Hallmark movie mecca. Here are two other communities that have played Smalltown U.S.A. in recent rom-coms — along with tips on where you can try to replicate the magic.
Hot Frosty warms things up in Brockville
When a snowman came to hunky life on TV screens this past Christmas season, the city of Brockville — about 115 kilometres southwest of Ottawa — went a bit viral.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
From world-class to worrisome: The challenges facing Ottawa transit
This has been an incredible year for news. There are many contenders for Ottawa newsmaker of the year: Michael Andlauer’s Senators ownership and a new arena at LeBreton Flats; Tobi
Ontario SMEs gain access to cutting-edge cybersecurity training
uOttawa Professor Guy-Vincent Jourdan says he initially never would have guessed a year ago he’d be concocting simulated social media feeds and made-up news broadcasts. But that was before becoming
The movie Hot Frosty stars Mean Girls actress Lacey Chabert as a young widow and Dustin Milligan of Schitt’s Creek as the titular former snowman. In the week of its release, it was the No. 1 movie on Netflix, which promoted the flick to almost 20 million subscribers across Canada and millions more around the world. The movie’s opening shot is an aerial view of downtown Brockville’s picturesque Court House Square and Court House Avenue.
As soon as the film’s trailer hit social media, Google searches on terms such as “Where was Hot Frosty filmed?” started spiking, says Lyndsay Bigley, digital marketing officer with Brockville Tourism. And once the movie was released, “We definitely saw a lot of people sharing when they were visiting Court House Square (and) checking out the filming locations.”
Several downtown streets were closed for three weeks in spring 2024 for filming, but Bigley says residents took that in stride. In fact, crowds gathered to watch as the area was transformed with Christmas lights and fake snow. And the cast and crew kept local restaurants and hotels humming during a traditionally quiet time of year.
Carleton Place has seen the spotlight
Carleton Place, just beyond Ottawa’s western border, has welcomed more than a dozen rom-com film shoots over the past decade. Rachael Heleniak, tourism coordinator with the Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce, agrees that movie-makers are money-makers.
“Hosting film crews in Carleton Place not only invigorates local businesses through the spending of cast and crew, but also draws tourists eager to explore the charming settings featured in films,” she writes in an email. “The direct economic impact is significant.”
Among the many holiday rom-coms filmed at least partly in Carleton Place in recent years are The Rooftop Christmas Tree, Maps and Mistletoe, and My Grown-Up Christmas.
Create your own Valentine’s romance
If you’re hoping to plan a romantic getaway this winter (it doesn’t have to be on Valentine’s Day!), here are some suggestions.
In Brockville:
- Book a cooking class for two at Sweet Ofelia’s Café or Maison Maitland in nearby Maitland. (The latter also has villas for overnight guests.)
- Linger over P.E.I. mussels or curried quinoa at the Buell Street Bistro.
- For something more casual, raise a pint at the Keystorm Pub, a Hot Frosty filming location.
- Catch a movie or performance at the Brockville Arts Centre, where scenes from Romance With a Twist were shot.
In Carleton Place:
- Enjoy a four-course Valentine’s dinner at Stonefields Estate on the outskirts of town. (The Feb. 14 event is sold out, but the Feb. 15 dinner still has spots available.)
- Pop into the Carleton Place Town Hall, built in 1897, which has been used as a set in multiple movies.
- Dine at Black Tartan Kitchen. Chef/owner Ian Carswell worked in a Finnish Michelin-starred restaurant, a French vineyard, and the National Gallery of Canada before opening this cozy spot.
- Stay at The Grand Hotel, a glamorously restored building featured in at least half a dozen rom-coms.
Award-winning Ottawa travel writer Laura Byrne Paquet shares her sightseeing tips for Eastern Ontario and beyond on her website, Ottawa Road Trips.
