g7 leaders will get a 'truly albertan experience' says pomeroy kananaskis mountain lodge gm
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the exterior of the pomeroy at kananaskis mountain lodge. the area is set to greet world leaders once again. it last hosted the g8 (now g7) in 2002.
photo courtesy pomeroy kananaski
a host of world leaders will land in calgary this weekend before making themselves at home in one of canada’s prized natural gems for three days of discussion on economic instability, war, political relations and other matters of global importance at the g7 summit.
guests have already begun arriving at the pomeroy kananaskis mountain lodge, according to elizabeth hovey-smith, the lodge’s general manager. for staff who have worked there for years, the next week will look quite different from the average work day.
security is tight for hotel staff hosting g7 leaders
for one, a controlled access zone has been created around the property by the integrated safety and security group, a multi-agency team lead by the rcmp that includes the calgary police service, alberta sheriffs, provincial conservation officers and members of the canadian armed forces.
anyone entering kananaskis country requires accreditation, with different levels of permission afforded to people depending on their roles and requirement to enter certain areas of the lodge, hovey-smith said.
“normally, to get into k-country, all you need is to register your licence plate and pay for your conservation pass,” she said. “but now there are roadblocks.”
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staff are shuttled from the stoney nakoda resort and pass through several security checkpoints. employees who want to hike in the region have to drive outside the zone.
within the lodge, certain spots only allow certain employees, hovey-smith said.
“i’m general manager, but that doesn’t mean i get to go everywhere, because i might not need to,” she said.
“certainly, that’s very different,” she said. “that’s not normal practice for us but very understandable, given the high-level conversations and people that are going to be attending.”
this year’s summit, attended by leaders from canada, u.s., japan, france, germany, italy, france and the european union — as well as invited guests from australia, brazil, india, mexico, south korea, south africa and ukraine — will focus on topics around economic instability and the russia-ukraine crisis.
kananaskis is a global destination
a viewpoint at kananaskis village, site of the 2025 g7 leaders’ summit.
gavin young/postmedia
the lodge is no stranger to hosting events of this political significance; it hosted the g8 summit in 2002, one of three events since the lodge was taken over by the pomeroy group that it has hosted an event that it was completely taken over by a client, according to hovey-smith.
a one-hour drive from calgary, the lodge boasts stunning views of the kananaskis valley, with five restaurants and a nordic spa.
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for rachel ludwig, ceo of tourism kananaskis, the prospect of world leaders visiting the region is encouraging. “we’re actually trying to attract more international visitors to the area because we know they are spending more money and staying longer,” she said.
the region has been seeing growing popularity since 2019, she said, a trend that she hopes “will continue.”
“it’s the mountains that really defines us as an area,” she said. “we’re not only in the mountains but we are with the mountains, and those mountains transform the way we live.”
what world leaders will be eating at the g7 in kananaskis
executive chef sebastien roelly is shown in the kitchen at the pomeroy kananaskis moutain lodge.
rebecca hardcastle/ exp
little has been revealed about the menu to be served to world leaders. according to a spokesperson for the lodge, the cuisine will focus on regional and local ingredients such as premium alberta beef, coast-to-coast seafood and local berries, foraged vegetables, regional cheeses, and nuts and seeds.
at the 2002 summit, food was served buffet-style so foreign dignitaries could pick and choose what they wanted on their plate, and edged away from ethnic specialties that couldn’t be replicated as in their countries of origin.
hovey-smith said the lodge’s aim is to introduce guests to kananaskis.
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“tying in local food and drinks, and highlighting local suppliers and working with local artists . . . introduce the group to a truly albertan experience in the rockies,” she said.
hovey-smith said she couldn’t offer specific details on what it’s like to plan for the g7 summit. but often for events of this size, where the client has occupied the entire property, preparations begin a year out with close to 400 staff involved in planning.
“it’s important that we have a long lead time so we are able to plan business accordingly,” she said.
ahead of g7 summit, staff are ready as guests start arriving
pomeroy kananaskis mountain lodge main lobby.
photo courtesy pomeroy kananaskis moutain lodge
the summit begins sunday and continues until tuesday — and with guests already arriving, hovey-smith said staff are on alert.
“they’ve done quite a bit of training with the team around a number of different expectations to make sure that everyone is able to deliver the level of service that’s expected,” she said, “just as we would with any client.”
but with the official event looming, there is “a lot of nervous anticipation,” she said.
“earlier in the week when the controlled access zone started, there were a lot of questions,” she said. “but now everyone’s kind of settled down and understands how the security processes work and has their pass around their neck all the time. i think the team is feeling really excited.”
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for some employees who aren’t from canada, it may be about getting to see their country leaders up close.
“it’s very exciting for them to see their heads of state being invited to canada,” she said.
hovey-smith says once they move from planning to hosting, it will be the same as any other event. the goal remains the same — “to make sure that people are leaving here with a great experience, and, you know, ready to tell all their friends about the great time they just had in canada,” she said.
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