meet at elmhirst's
Meetings & Conferences
Private cottages, purpose-built meeting spaces, and all-inclusive experiences, just 90 minutes from Toronto and 20 minutes from Peterborough, on the shores of Rice Lake.
Our conference rooms, dining areas and relaxed waterfront setting offer an ideal backdrop for any meeting or occasion. No matter the group, Elmhirst’s Resort and expert coordinators on staff will help to plan and execute the perfect event. We offer individual, couple or small group cottage accommodation; combined with wonderful food, amenities for after hours and a wide range of “Always Free” outdoor activities.
Spaces & Experiences
Meeting Spaces:
- Boardroom
- Enterprise Room
- Heritage Room
- Conservatory
There’s also the incredible experiences we offer:
- Indoor & outdoor pools
- Boat rentals for fishing or exploring
- Walking and biking trails
- Workout Studio
- Vacation Air sightseeing charters
- Golf 18 holes next door at Bellmere Winds
- Trans Canada Trail and riding stables nearby
- Wild Blue Yonder Pub & Patio
- Hearthside Dining Room
- Extensive VQA Cellar featuring Canadian wines
- The Spa @ Elmhirst’s
- And much more
Spaces
Meeting Spaces:
- Boardroom
- Enterprise Room
- Heritage Room
- Conservatory
Cottages
Skip the hotel rooms, stay together in private lakefront cottages.
Your team stays in fully equipped, multi-bedroom cottages, each with:
• Private decks and lake views
• Comfortable living spaces
• Fireplaces and full kitchens
• Room to gather, relax, and connect
It’s a more natural way to build relationships and extend conversations beyond the meeting room.
At A Glance
- Location: Rice Lake, Kawarthas
- Distance from Toronto: ~90 minutes
- Distance from Ottawa: ~2 hours
- Ideal Group Size: 10–130 guests
- Accommodations: Private, multi-bedroom lakefront cottages
- Meeting Spaces: Indoor + waterfront options
- Dining: On-site, farm-to-table inspired
- Activities: Seasonal + team-building experiences
- Best For: Leadership retreats, team offsites, day meetings, strategic planning sessions, annual meetings, team building, connection-focused getaways
Team experiences
Spark creativity, innovation and productivity in your team with an interactive and fun meeting experience. Elmhirst’s offers a variety of experiences to suit any group.
These incredible experiences will more than meet your expectations. Add them to any meeting or event.
- Farm to table culinary experiences
- The Spa@Elmhirst’s
- Power boat rentals
- Vacation Air Adventures
- Trans Canada Trail
- Indoor and Outdoor Pools
- Escape the Maze – Outdoor adventure game
- Horse Drawn Wagon / Sleigh Ride
- Yoga
MEETING SPACES
Elmhirst’s Resort offers four distinct meeting spaces to suit groups of any size. The Enterprise Room accommodates up to 130 delegates and is ideal for larger conferences and meetings. The Heritage Room seats up to 120 guests and is well-suited for presentations, dining, or group workshops. For smaller gatherings, the Conservatory and the Boardroom offer intimate settings for breakout sessions and executive meetings. All spaces feature AV equipment, natural light, and views of the surrounding landscape.
- Natural light and lake views
- Flexible layouts for your agenda
- AV equipment and Wi-Fi
- Easy access to outdoor breakout areas
Productive offsites
This isn’t a hotel conference floor.
At Elmhirst’s, your team gathers in dedicated meeting spaces, then steps outside to the lake, a dock, or a fireside patio. You get the structure you need, with the atmosphere people actually enjoy being in.
- Meet in a bright, comfortable space with AV and support
- Break out onto the waterfront for fresh air and perspective
- End the day with dinner, a bonfire, or a quiet moment on the dock
It’s a better rhythm for better thinking.
EVENT COORDINATOR
A Simple, Seamless Planning Process
- You’ll have support every step of the way.
- Help building your agenda
- Coordination of meals and activities
- Setup of meeting spaces and materials
- A single point of contact throughout your stay
No piecing things together. No guesswork.
dining
Food That Brings It All Together
- Great off-sites don’t end when the meeting does.
- Chef-prepared meals featuring local ingredients
- Seasonal and custom menus
- Everything is on-site, so your team can stay focused and fully present.
Dining at Elmhirst’s Resort is a culinary experience that enhances any meeting or event. With options ranging from the fine dining ambiance of the Hearthside Dining Room to the relaxed atmosphere of the Wild Blue Yonder Pub & Patio, our menus showcase locally sourced ingredients, including Elmhirst’s Own farm-raised meats and fresh produce.
Experiences and Amenities
At A Glance
- Location: Rice Lake, Kawarthas
- Distance from Toronto: ~90 minutes
- Distance from Ottawa: ~2 hours
- Ideal Group Size: 10–130 guests
- Accommodations: Private, multi-bedroom lakefront cottages
- Meeting Spaces: Indoor + waterfront options
- Dining: On-site, farm-to-table inspired
- Activities: Seasonal + team-building experiences
- Best For: Leadership retreats, team offsites, day meetings, strategic planning sessions, annual meetings, team building, connection-focused getaways
Team experiences
- Farm to table culinary experiences
- The Spa@Elmhirst’s
- Power boat rentals
- Vacation Air Adventures
- Trans Canada Trail
- Indoor and Outdoor Pools
- Escape the Maze – Outdoor adventure game
- Horse Drawn Wagon / Sleigh Ride
- Yoga
meeting spaces
Elmhirst’s Resort offers four distinct meeting spaces to suit groups of any size. The Enterprise Room accommodates up to 130 delegates and is ideal for larger conferences and meetings. The Heritage Room seats up to 120 guests and is well-suited for presentations, dining, or group workshops. For smaller gatherings, the Conservatory and the Boardroom offer intimate settings for breakout sessions and executive meetings. All spaces feature AV equipment, natural light, and views of the surrounding landscape.
- Natural light and lake views
- Flexible layouts for your agenda
- AV equipment and Wi-Fi
- Easy access to outdoor breakout areas
Productive Offsites
This isn’t a hotel conference floor.
At Elmhirst’s, your team gathers in dedicated meeting spaces, then steps outside to the lake, a dock, or a fireside patio. You get the structure you need, with the atmosphere people actually enjoy being in.
- Meet in a bright, comfortable space with AV and support
- Break out onto the waterfront for fresh air and perspective
- End the day with dinner, a bonfire, or a quiet moment on the dock
It’s a better rhythm for better thinking.
event coordinator
A Simple, Seamless Planning Process
- You’ll have support every step of the way.
- Help building your agenda
- Coordination of meals and activities
- Setup of meeting spaces and materials
- A single point of contact throughout your stay
No piecing things together. No guesswork.
Dining
Food That Brings It All Together
- Great off-sites don’t end when the meeting does.
- Chef-prepared meals featuring local ingredients
- Seasonal and custom menus
- Everything is on-site, so your team can stay focused and fully present.
Dining at Elmhirst’s Resort is a culinary experience that enhances any meeting or event. With options ranging from the fine dining ambiance of the Hearthside Dining Room to the relaxed atmosphere of the Wild Blue Yonder Pub & Patio, our menus showcase locally sourced ingredients, including Elmhirst’s Own farm-raised meats and fresh produce.
elmhirst’s Conferences
Get In Touch
No Request is too great and no detail too small. We are also here to assist you before your stay begins.
FAQ’s
Why choose Elmhirst's Resort for a corporate meeting, retreat or Conference?
Elmhirst’s Resort offers a complete corporate retreat experience just 90 minutes from Toronto and approximately 2 hours from Ottawa, significantly closer than many of Ontario’s most well-known resort destinations, without sacrificing the lakeside setting or quality of experience.
Unlike venues that focus primarily on leisure, Elmhirst’s is purpose-built for both work and relaxation. Dedicated meeting rooms, AV equipment, a professional event coordinator, farm-to-table catering, a full-service spa, and on-site waterfront cottage accommodation are all in one location, eliminating the need to coordinate hotels, venues, and catering separately.
For groups looking for a productive, memorable off-site that doesn’t require a half-day of travel, Elmhirst’s offers exceptional value and a genuinely unique Canadian setting on 240 acres along the shores of Rice Lake.
What types of meeting spaces are available at Elmhirst's
Elmhirst’s Resort offers four dedicated meeting spaces to suit groups of any size.
The Enterprise Room accommodates up to 130 delegates and is ideal for larger conferences, plenary sessions, and dining.
The Heritage Room seats up to 120 guests and works well for presentations and group workshops.
For smaller gatherings, the Conservatory and the Boardroom offer intimate settings for breakout sessions and executive meetings.
All four spaces feature AV equipment, Wi-Fi, natural light, and views of the surrounding landscape. Outside, our 200-acre property offers a range of breakout areas, including a waterfront patio, a garden space next to the Conservatory, a firepit gathering area, and the working farm and barn, giving groups plenty of room to step away from the meeting room and reset.
Can conference groups stay onsite?
Yes. Conference and retreat groups stay in our 30 private waterfront cottages on the shores of Rice Lake, rather than standard hotel rooms.
Each cottage offers multiple bedrooms, a full kitchen, a fireplace, and a private deck with lake views, giving teams space to gather, relax, and continue conversations beyond the meeting room.
It’s a more natural way to build connections during an offsite, and it means your entire group stays together on the same property.
What dining options are available for corporate events?
Dining at Elmhirst’s is fully customizable for your event.
Groups can choose from chef-prepared menus served in the Hearthside Dining Room for upscale evenings, the Wild Blue Yonder Pub & Patio for relaxed lunches and casual dinners, or private catered meals brought directly to your meeting space.
Menus feature locally sourced ingredients, including Elmhirst’s Own farm-raised meats and produce grown on our property. Coffee breaks, working lunches, plated dinners, and themed event meals can all be arranged through your event coordinator.
what team building activities are available for conference groups?
Elmhirst’s offers a wide range of on-site experiences that double as team-building activities, all easily added to your conference package.
Options include Escape the Maze outdoor adventure game, Vacation Air sightseeing charters, hikes, indoor and outdoor pool access, group yoga sessions, horse-drawn wagon or sleigh rides, farm-to-table culinary experiences, wine tastings from our VQA cellar, and treatments at The Spa @ Elmhirst’s.
Seasonal activities like boating, fishing, and winter sports round out the options, helping your team connect beyond the boardroom.
