
The Delta Bessborough hotel is a three star, ten-story hotel located in downtown Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The hotel is a historical landmark in Saskatoon and is known for its beautiful, castle-like appearance. In fact, when the hotel was built during the Great Depression, in the 1930's, it was intentionally designed to resemble a Bavarian castle.[1] The Delta Bessborough prides itself on their ability to restore the historical ambiance of the hotel by retaining its elegance and many of its original features. The hotel attempts to keep the original decor and artwork surrounding the floors, walls and ceilings as much as they can. For example, the original marble, winding staircases with gold banisters still remain in its original form, and it is one of the many historical features that makes this hotel so classical and estabilished.
"The Bessborough Hotel" was given its name by Sir Vere Brabazon Ponsonby, the 9th Earl of Bessborough and the 14th Governor General of Canada. The hotel was built by the Canadian National Railway from 1928 to 1932 and is designed in the same Château-style as many of Canada's other railway hotels. Canadian Pacific Hotels purchased Canadian National Hotels in 1982. The Bessborough was placed under CP Hotels' subsidiary Delta Hotels during the 1990s. In 1999, CP Hotels and Delta Hotels were placed under Fairmont Hotel and Resorts.
After the Canadian Pacific Railway built a railway hotel in Regina in 1926, the Saskatoon business community lobbied Canadian National Railway to build one in Saskatoon.
On December 31, 1928 Sir Henry Thorton, President of the Canadian National Railway, announced that they would build a similar hotel in Saskatoon. The hotel was designed by Archibald-Schofield of Montreal. In February, 1930, the excavation of the site began utilizing a steam thawer and gasoline excavator.
Materials used in construction were of Canadian origin including Tyndall stone from Manitoba, brick from Claybank, Saskatchewan, and tiles from Estevan, Saskatchewan
On May 30, 1931, Walter Pratt, General Manager of Hotels, Sleeping and Dining Cars of the Canadian National Railway announced that Sir Vere Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough and Governor General of Canada had given consent for the hotel to be formally named “The Bessborough”, the hotel was under construction from 1928 to 1932. The Earl and Countess visited the hotel under construction in 1932.
Construction was completed in 1932 but due to difficult financial times the hotel failed to open until Horace N. Stovin became the first official registered guest on December 10, 1935.
In 1972, Donald, Dick, and Marc Baltzan purchased the Bessborough. It came under the control of Canadian Pacific Hotels during the 1980s and part of the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts during the 1990s.
It was acquired by the Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust in 1998 and in 1999, that a $9,000,000 restoration of the Bessborough Hotel would be completed, returning many of its historical features.
The North Saskatchewan has been designated a Canadian Heritage River in 1989, for its importance in opening up western Canada. The longest east to west river in all of Canada.
In history it was the facilitated travel, and was used for exploration, trade, and settlement from 1807.
I have been here many of times as my father used to have an office in this "castle". It's not a typical modern day hotel, it's one of many that span across Canada. From Quebec to British Colombia.
This particular shot reminds me a lot of Chateau Frontenac In Québec City.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fairmont.com/frontenac
Yes I think in history they started there in Quebec Mimi, I will go look as there is another friend named Lise that had a tremendous picture she once sent me. I will go look now.
ReplyDeleteYes that is the one it is magnificient the Chateau Frontenac, they all were developed during harsh economic times and thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me to some buildings in Holand.. all we have different perception ;) any how I like your pictures,,
ReplyDeleteMilica (sorry if I misspelled your name)....I love photography as you know I am sure but at the same time in time I am going to get a much better camera as I can't get some of the conceptuals that I wish to take. That is ironic in what you are mentioning as after World War II - Canada was regarded very high by people from Holland. I think that due to Canadian soldiers back then in history were the only ones dispatched to Holland. So there may be some significance in the reason for this.
ReplyDeletepity the poor pioneers....this is a good reminder of what former generations and those who opened up Canada, had to put up with to survive
ReplyDeleteYes I did not have the time to really look at what this monument was about as it was the end of my picture taking day of Saturday. But it's does illustrate that...or represent that.
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