Macdonald Estates

The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, often simply called "The Mac," is a historic luxury hotel in the eastern part of downtown Edmonton in the Canadian province of Alberta. The building stands on 100 Street NW, south of Jasper Avenue, and offers impressive views of the North Saskatchewan River valley. The architectural landmark was designed by the Canadian firm Ross and MacFarlane, which was also responsible for many other important hotels in Canada. It was built between 1911 and 1915 on behalf of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company, which opened the hotel on July 5, 1915. The hotel is named after Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister.

Stylistically, the building takes its cue from French Renaissance châteaux and is considered one of the country's great railway hotels. The facade is clad in Indiana limestone and is defined by balconies, corbels, and a copper roof adorned with turrets, chimneys, and pinnacles. The hotel received a special distinction in 1984, when the limestone facade, the copper roof, and the interiors of five rooms, including the Empire Ballroom and the Confederation Lounge, were designated a municipal historic resource. This designation protected these features from demolition or significant alteration.

After the Grand Trunk Pacific went bankrupt in 1919, Canadian National Hotels took over operations. Over the decades, the building underwent various renovations, including the addition of a modern wing in the 1950s, which was torn down again in 1986 to restore the original building. In 1988, Canadian National sold the hotel to Canadian Pacific Hotels, which carried out a comprehensive renovation and reopened the hotel in May 1991. Today the hotel is operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. You can stay in one of its 198 rooms and suites, some of which are named after famous guests such as King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, or Winston Churchill. Other highlights include event spaces such as the Empire Ballroom with its exposed bas-reliefs, as well as the squash courts and the restaurant The Harvest Room.