The Great Canadian Entertainment Venue Thread

[TorontoDrew]

I don't think we have one yet, and I'm really curious to see what venues are out there across this country. They can be big, small, indoors outdoors, permanent or temporary. The only rule I'd like us to stick to is they can't include sporting venues. They must be specifically built for music and entertainment, not multipurpose sporting venues.

I'll start with one of my Toronto Favorites that has recently reopened after some major renovations. (note, no pictures of post renovations below)

Massey Hall
Designed by architect Sidney Badgley, Massey Hall was completed in 1894 at a cost of CA$152,390.75. Construction was financed by Massey, the founder of the Massey Manufacturing (later Massey Ferguson) manufacturing conglomerate. The hall's debut concert was a choral performance of Handel's 'Messiah' on June 14, 1894.

I would highly recommend catching a show here as I can't think of a better music venue in Canada or possibly North America with better acoustics. It's also a relatively small venue that hosts some big names.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51744469081_bee0013cd9_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2mQtVUD)Meet Me At Massey Hall (https://flic.kr/p/2mQtVUD) by Jack Tome (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jack_tome/), on Flickr

source: urbantoronto.ca
https://cdn.skyrisecities.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2013/05/7524/7524-25890.jpg

https://tayloronhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/1894-ont-archives-i00018711.jpg

source: https://www.theglobeandmail.com
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/resizer/KoAX6BKzJ2sRUORdq6S7X-4gCk8=/600x0/filters:quality(80):format(jpeg)/arc-anglerfish-tgam-prod-tgam.s3.amazonaws.com/public/OCJE3BLK45APFNHJFOQOYFY23Q.jpg

https://jamiebradburnwriting.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/20130730policeband.jpg

119858198

[MolsonExport]

I guess the Centre Slush Puppie doesn't fall into this category?
https://icehockey.fandom.com/wiki/Centre_Slush_Puppie

[esquire]

I've never been to Massey Hall, but its longevity is very impressive. There aren't many buildings like that from the 19th century still going strong in Canada today.

[SignalHillHiker]

Too lazy to do more than one, so just my personal favourite - the Longshoremen’s Protective Union Hall. It was built in 1923 on a site that has been a meeting hall since an old church there burned down in 1789. It is a small, intimate venue and gets a lot of the very local, very creative shows. It’s located at the top of the Victoria Street stairs.

https://i.postimg.cc/qvvtgZSN/F0-ACEAE6-92-B8-48-D6-8785-34-E13-FA180-F1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/5yWY09WJ/1-BFC3-A19-F52-D-464-B-B56-D-A9448-CF07068.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/CLNBhVPy/388762-C5-03-E4-4433-8772-3-F583691-BA29.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/JhtP3xDn/9505-E3-D0-8616-4-B4-C-960-E-3-CE79271-F897.jpg

[esquire]

Here is a smaller local venue in Winnipeg, the West End Cultural Centre, that plays an important role in providing a stage for established niche acts, and is also accessible to up and coming acts, local or otherwise.

It's a repurposed church that was expanded around 15 years ago. As you can see, it's a very simple place. But it has an outsized role in the local arts and culture scene.

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b282137f93fd4517582a532/1548367199283-4YN0GJ1YFG6NSNQ42EJY/West-End-Cultural-Centre-ext-1.jpg?format=2500w

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a7297b6fe54ef0eb2b1e442/1649109417352-Q0T04O34AKJCWO3ME5XM/20220331-Matt+Duboff--001.jpg?format=1500w

[niwell]

Massey is great, though given the layout I only really like seeing certain types of artists there. A friend of my wife's was on the architectural team involved in the renos and apparently they put a lot of effort into ensuring the acoustics are top notch.

My other favourite venues in Toronto (just giving streetview links but it's easy to click and see the interiors!):

Opera House, 950 capacity https://goo.gl/maps/hrMCywBiBXA1Gkx8A

Danforth Music Hall, 1500 capacity https://goo.gl/maps/hjVxhdeSwm3WALhG6

Lee's Palace, 450 capacity https://goo.gl/maps/Vo9jktxPcpCrN9629

The Garrison, 350 capacity https://goo.gl/maps/y2bofzYDEkxMizbk9


There's a ton of other venues but these are my favourite. I've seen a lot of great shows at the Phoenix but not a huge fan of the venue itself and especially the security there. Drake's new venue "History" gets an honourable mention as it's still very new - but the sound and layout are top notch. According to friends in the music industry the facilities are great for artists as well.

[TorontoDrew]

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b282137f93fd4517582a532/1548367199283-4YN0GJ1YFG6NSNQ42EJY/West-End-Cultural-Centre-ext-1.jpg?format=2500w

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a7297b6fe54ef0eb2b1e442/1649109417352-Q0T04O34AKJCWO3ME5XM/20220331-Matt+Duboff--001.jpg?format=1500w


I love how playful this looks, it's very Portland Oregon.