• Dakota Dunes Resort is opening Canada’s first Indigenous-themed thermal spa that weaves the cultural interpretation and storytelling of the Whitecap Dakota Nation into thermotherapy-focused wellness design. CULTURE SEEKERS • Remai Modern is a showcase for the city’s arts scene with local and international modern and contemporary art, including 405 Picasso linocuts. • Festival culture runs deep: SaskJazz, Nuit Blanche XYE, Saskatoon Folkfest and Rock the River are among the signature events. COOL ACCOMMODATIONS • Independent and family owned, The James Hotel offers a modern luxury boutique experience. • The historic Delta Bessborough begins a full renovation this year as it joins the Autograph Collection. CONVENTION CREDS • Over 800,000 sq. ft. of convention space, including TCU Place (104,000 sq. ft.) • 5,100 guestrooms in the destination • Airport news: John G. Diefenbaker International Airport has redesigned and expanded its Arrivals Hall. Experience It Like a Local: FOODIES • At the entrance to Gatineau Park, Square Old Chelsea is a foodie hot spot, from the 151-year-old Chelsea Pub to the Distillerie du Square. • Self-guided gourmet routes highlight local products and producers, from pastry shops to farms and makers across the region. HISTORY BUFFS • Manoir Papineau National Historic Site explores the 1850 manor house of Louis- Joseph Papineau, a key figure in Canadian political history. • The Mackenzie King Estate offers a heritage- rich blend of gardens, ruins, trails and museum moments within Gatineau Park. NATURE + WELLNESS • At 361 square kilometres, Gatineau Park is the National Capital Region’s largest green space for biking, skiing and boating. • Nordik Spa Village Chelsea features an all- season thermal experience, spa treatments and field-to-table dining. CULTURE SEEKERS • Wakefield Village pairs boutiques, cafés and galleries with its iconic covered bridge in a walkable, story-driven setting. • Downtown Gatineau’s built heritage includes Place Aubry and early 20th-century architectural influences, including “matchstick houses”—narrow wooden homes built during Gatineau’s industrial boom. COOL ACCOMMODATIONS • Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel & Casino blends gaming, entertainment and meetings; its convention centre is undergoing a $50-million expansion that will double space to more than 100,000 sq. ft. • Off the beaten path, Kenauk Nature is a private nature reserve offering luxurious eco- friendly chalets and serene lakes. CONVENTION CREDS • 123,000 sq. ft. of conference space offered by Outaouais Tourism members • 2,900 guestrooms in the region • Hotel news: Wyndham Gatineau-Ottawa & Conference Centre recently opened. OUTAOUAIS A GATEWAY TO NATURE AND WELLNESS Outaouais, PQ, positions bleisure as a two-stage economic strategy. “The way that we see bleisure in our region is that it takes two shapes in two stages. First, we want to attract business events to our region, and secondly, we work on various small incentives,” says Geneviève Latulippe, CEO, Outaouais Tourism. The pitch is deliberately multi-faceted and anchored in proximity. “Bleisure is really important for our region and businesses… it’s part of Outaouais Tourism’s strategic orientation to first, extend the length of stay for business tourists, and convert business tourists into leisure tourists,” Latulippe explains. “We don’t just showcase our conference rooms and meeting facilities. We present Outaouais as a must-see destination where gourmet cuisine, outdoor, cultural, wellness and more come together.” Outaouais is only five minutes from Ottawa and its international airport, and the region collaborates with Ottawa Tourism to promote the broader capital-region experience. In 2025, Québec granted $1.5 million to Outaouais Tourism to support business tourism growth. This new funding enables more on-site engagement initiatives, including a forthcoming Show Your Badge program designed to add value and encourage local spending and extended stays. PHOTO: TOURISM SASKATCHEWAN PHOTO: TOURISM SASKATCHEWAN/ CHRIS HENDRICKSON PHOTOGRAPHY Wakefield Village Remai Modern Black Fox Farm Square Old Chelsea Spring 2026 | Ignitemag.ca | 61
