15 Things You Never Knew About the Glenerin Inn in Mississauga

Published November 13, 2018 at 7:04 pm

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When people think of Mississauga, they don’t necessarily think of picturesque and historical boutique hotels that offer quaint and beautiful guest rooms, luscious grounds, exquisite dining and luxurious spa services. 

But, if they knew a little bit more about Mississauga’s memorable and unique Glenerin Inn, they would. 

The Glenerin Inn, which fittingly bills itself as an elegant retreat in a historic urban setting, is set back from the bustle of the city in a quiet and serene area off of The Collegeway in Sawmill Valley. While many people know that the boutique inn is a popular wedding, dining and spa venue, not everyone knows just how historical–and one-of-a-kind–it is. 

So, without further adieu, here are 15 things you didn’t know about one of Mississauga’s most luxurious–and beautiful–boutique hotels. 


15) It’s Almost 100 Years Old

The Glenerin Inn might be one of the city’s most historical properties, having been built in 1927 by Watson Evans, a lawyer and financier from Toronto. Evans’ main residence was in the Rosedale area of Toronto, and Glenerin was used primarily as a summer residence with 30 rooms


14) It Wasn’t Always a Hotel

The Inn has changed hands many times and has served both as a private residence, a respite home for employees of Simpsons, a school and much more.


13) It Was Frequented by the Who’s Who of Toronto

When it was owned by Evans, the family spent Christmases, Easters and summers at the home. It was also the site of balls and parties that the family threw for their Toronto society friends.


12) It Was Once a School

In 1940, it became an educational institution. That year, the St. Hilda’s residential girls’ school in Whitby, England arrived in Canada. The sisters had founded the school in 1915 during the bombing of the northeast coast during WWI, so it is not surprising that staff and parents feared a repeat of those events once France fell in 1940. In early 1940, the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete who ran St. Hilda learned that the army would soon claim the property for defense purposes. The sisters found accommodation for the senior school and decided to send the junior school (ages 7-14) to Canada. They eventually settled at the inn.


11) It Helped Students During WWII

The students arrived in Montreal on July 4, 1940 and discovered their lodgings in Toronto were only temporary. Worse, England had frozen the export of money for the duration of the war (it was supposed to provide funding for schools accepting English students). The school boarded the night train for Toronto and arrived the next day with no money and no place to stay.

The predicament reached the ears of Archbishop Owen of Toronto and he found the girls summer lodging at the Ladies College in Whitby. Trinity College got involved by sending letters out to their alumni asking for assistance and provided the necessary funding (to be paid back by St. Hilda’s at the end of the war). Mrs. Evans was a graduate of Trinity College and was in failing health and unable to use the Glenerin Lodge. She wrote from her bed in Toronto General Hospital, “If the Sisters of St. Hilda’s feel that our house in Erindale can meet their needs, they are very welcome to the use of it as long as the war may last.” Thus, the house which had been designed for 12 people readied itself to receive eight staff members and 90 children for the duration of the war.


10) It Was Home to a Locally Legendary Beekeeper

In 1943, at the encouragement of the girls, caretaker John Sproule (who lived in the home with his family) began beekeeping on the property. Sproule is a beekeeper to this day and maintains a store on Mississauga Road, just north of Burnhamthorpe. The beekeeping developed into 500 hives and Sproule became bee inspector for the Ontario government.


9) It Was a Refuge for Department Store Employees

In 1945, the land was purchased by Robert Simpson Company as a rest home for its employees. Nurses and staff were provided to look after members recovering from serious illnesses until ready they were ready to go back to work. There were facilities for tennis, lawn bowling, badminton, swimming and croquet, as well as a damned-up spring water fishpond. It was the first staff rest home to be established by any firm in Canada


8) No Suite is the Same

The inn offers 30 unique guest rooms and suites, with interiors that feel both cozy and historic. Guests can enjoy grand stone fireplaces, exposed ceiling beams, 1940s stained glass, and oversized paned windows.   


7) It’s Great For Meetings

The inn offers 5,500 sq. ft. of meeting space, boasting conference rooms that can accommodate groups of 10 to 150 guests. The inn also offers five intimate spaces suitable for meetings, private dinners, and cocktail receptions. All of the spaces offer natural light, complimentary wireless internet and four out of five rooms open up onto outdoor patio space.


6) It’s Perfect For an Elegant Meal

When it comes to dining, the Glenerin Inn truly has it all. It offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, as well as a number of special features. Guests looking to dine at the inn can also enjoy a special Table D’hôte menu, a lounge menu and a special Sunday Family Dinner. As far as special occasions go, the inn offers Sunday brunch, as well as special brunch and dinners for all the holidays from Christmas to Mother’s Day.


5) The Food is Exquisite–and Delicious

The inn’s chef, Roomie Karai, has been with the Inn for almost 20 years–and some of his team has been at the Inn even longer. Karai and his team prepare a number of high-quality, elegant dishes, including French toast, Belgian waffles, pork tenderloin medallions, grilled New York steak, rack of lamb, eggplant ricotta cannelloni, pan seared Kalopore Springs trout and more.


4) It Boasts a Renowned Spa

If you want to treat yourself, the spa offers a variety of relaxation and rejuvenation services. It is small and intimate and offers attention to detail like no other, offering guests such luxurious services as massage treatments, body treatments, facials, manicures, pedicures, hair and makeup services, hair removal services and more. The spa also offers treatments exclusively for male customers.


3) It’s Perfect for Weddings

If you want to get married at one of Mississauga’s most scenic properties, you can do at the inn. In fact, the venue is perfect for a traditional evening wedding or a formal luncheon affair. If you do marry at the inn, you’ll get to enjoy a stunning reception room, manicured grounds that will help create the perfect photos, delicious menu options and more. 


2) It’s Perfect For Any Special Event

The inn isn’t just perfect for a wedding or Mother’s Day brunch–it also offers beautiful rooms for wedding showers, baby showers and celebrations of life.


1) It Has Incredible Packages   

The size of the inn ensures that you and your group, whether you’re celebrating a bridal shower or girl’s weekend, will receive customized service with exceptional attention to detail. The inn is known for offering a variety of packages geared towards everyone from spa enthusiasts to wine lovers that always include an overnight stay.  

The inn also offers several spa packages with accommodations as an option. Some specific packages worth looking into? Room packages, wedding packages, meeting packages, spa packages and, of course, a Golf Package. The inn also offers Sunday Brunch and a truly unique Mystics Night (which features mystics, mediums and magic).

The Glenerin Inn is also perfect for absolutely any guest, as it offers jazz nights on its gorgeous patio and elegant couples retreats.  It’s also hosted paint nights and wellness events, ensuring that there’s something for every interest and demographic.


Bonus: It’s Perfect for the Holidays

If you feel festive, you don’t want to miss out on what the inn has to offer. The inn is the epitome of the holidays as the festive season approaches, offering four elegant fireplaces and gorgeous holiday decor. So if you’re looking for a place to host a formal holiday party (or even just enjoy a gorgeous dinner), you might want to make a reservation.

For more information, click here.


  1. The Glenerin Inn & Spa
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