-
Land for the hotel is purchased
Land is purchased to construct Hotel Macdonald. Two other hotels on the site were demolished to make way for the new Grand Trunk Pacific Railway hotel. -
Construction begins
Construction begins on the hotel, built and furnished for around $2,250,000, the equivalent of around $35 million today. -
Hotel Macdonald opens
Hotel Macdonald, named after Canada's first prime minister, is seen 1915. It was opened on July 5, 1915. -
Grand Trunk Pacific Railways defaults on federal government loans
Grand Trunk Pacific Railways defaults on federal government loans, company becomes nationalized on March 7, before coming under the control of Canadian National Railways (CN) in 1920. -
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stay at Hotel Macdonald
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stay at Hotel Macdonald. Well-wishers gathered below main balcony hoping to see the royals cause Edmonton’s first traffic jam. -
Hotel Macdonald upgrade
A four-year, $10,000 upgrade to the Hotel Macdonald completed. -
American soldiers stationed at Hotel Macdonald
American soldiers stationed in Edmonton during World War II stay in Hotel Macdonald’s Wedgewood Room between 1942 and 1946. -
An addition is constructed
A 16-storey, 300 bedroom addition is constructed, but the architectural style is not in keeping with the hotel’s Chateau style and locals nickname it ‘the Mac and the box it came in.’ -
Rooms upgraded
Upgrades to rooms improved plumbing and brought air conditioning. -
American soldiers again stationed at the hotel
American soldiers again stationed at Hotel Macdonald for construction of Distant Early Warning (DEW) line, part of a system of radar stations. -
Hotel Macdonald shuttered
Hotel Macdonald closes its doors after falling into disrepair. -
Hotel Macdonald designated a Municipal Heritage Resource
City of Edmonton designates Hotel Macdonald a Municipal Heritage Resource, the first designation of its kind in the city, to save historic hotel from destruction. -
Commitment to restoring Hotel Macdonald
Canadian Pacific Hotels purchases CN hotels, commits to restoring Hotel Macdonald. -
Hotel Macdonald is reopened
After extensive restoration at a cost $28 million, Hotel Macdonald is reopened to the public. -
Rolling Stones visit
Rolling Stones stay at the Hotel MacDonald. -
Bono's in town
Bono, front man for U2, stays at the Hotel Macdonald. -
Gerald Ford stays at the Hotel Macdonald
Former President of the United States Gerald Ford stays at the Hotel Macdonald. -
Canadian Pacific Hotels merges with Fairmont Hotels
Canadian Pacific Hotels merges with Fairmont Hotels, creating Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, the largest luxury hotel management company in North America. -
Chevy Chase drops by
Chevy Chase stays at the Hotel Macdonald. -
Hotel Macdonald officially renamed
Hotel Macdonald officially renamed the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. -
Bruce Springsteen visits
Bruce Springsteen stays at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. -
It's Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II stays at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, blocking two floors of the hotel for security reasons. -
Hotel Macdonald sold again
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and a U.S. investment firm buy Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc. in an all cash $3.98-billion US deal, purchasing all 87 Fairmont Hotels worldwide, including Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. -
Bill Clinton
Former US president Bill Clinton stays at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. -
Paul McCartney visits
Paul McCartney stays at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald -
Oprah Winfrey sleeps over
Oprah Winfrey stays at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald -
Pink!
Pink stays at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald -
Justin Timberlake dances in
Justin Timberlake stays at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. -
Boardroom rededicated
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald boardroom rededicated to honour former Edmonton Mayor Terry Cavanagh, who helped save the hotel from destruction by helping designate it as Edmonton’s first municipal heritage resource. -
100 years old!
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald turns 100.
