Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre 7021 Stanley Ave. Niagara Falls ON, L2G 7B7 Canada Tel: 905-356-4113 Fax: 905-356-6733 www.carmelniagara.com
	Mount Carmel rooftops	The front of the old building

Number of guest rooms: 38

Two accessible suites: 217 and 317

If you like to travel, see the sights and do the usual tourist itinerary but also relish simplicity, peace and quiet at day’s end, then Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre may be just the place for you. Formerly a college seminary for boys and obviously not a hotel but does provide hospitality and facilities for individuals and groups of all faiths to pursue their own spiritual or educational programs, participate in workshops and meetings or just enjoy a quiet retreat. It should also be noted this is a smoke-free, adult facility with a relaxed, quiet atmosphere.

When planning a stay here you just call ahead and register your stay as a private retreat not as a hotel guest. Also, let them know you need an accessible suite (they have two) and directions to accessible parking spaces and entrances. All major credit cards are accepted. We’re told that during the summer months they book mostly week-long retreats and some months they are so full they are unable to book any private retreats. When you arrive for a private retreat you’re given a set of keys so you can come and go as you wish.

Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre is a most impressive building dating back to 1894. Comprising four storeys and a basement, which is actually ground level, it houses four chapels, two lounges, four various size dining rooms, a bookstore and a gift shop, all accessible. And you couldn’t ask for a better location. It is surrounded by 12 acres of treed grounds for leisurely walks and benches for quiet contemplation and is set on a high bluff overlooking and within walking or electric whelchair or scooter rolling distance of the falls and other attractions. It might be a bit of a trip if you are using a manual chair as you are above the falls and must go down the hill to get to the falls area. You can, in fact, hear the roar of the rushing Niagara River and falls.

PARKING AND ENTRANCE: Parking is free and we parked on the north side of the building beside the gift shop where there is a ramped entrance. There is also an accessible entrance from the rear parking lot. Steve Bridges, our guide, also noted they would gladly block off more accessible parking spaces with pylons if need be. When you are making reservations, talk to Jean or Joyce and ask exactly what door you should use to accommodate your wheelchair or scooter.

Jean and Joyce are in charge of bookings and look after your needs. Talk to these lovely ladies if you would like explanations of policies and practices around the place.	Steve Bridges looks after hospitality and food and can also help anyone with general information.

ELEVATOR, HALLWAYS AND ROOM ENTRANCES: The elevator is an added feature and is rather small but could accommodate a scooter. The hallways are an incredible 9 feet wide, spotlessly clean, as is the rest of the building, with “Quietness is Appreciated” signs throughout. We visited room 317, which had a nice 34” wide doorway and lower lever handle on the door. An added feature is the transoms over the doors which allow fresh air to flow from outside through the rooms to the hallways. .

BEDROOM: The two accessible suites are carpeted while others have hardwood floors. Room 317 has twin beds, one of which is adjustable and comes with a heat and massage feature. The adjustable bed is set on a platform while the other one is open underneath. There is a 3’ space between the beds. The room also has a dresser/desk and chair with a low section to the left, which could accommodate your luggage. A chair sits in the corner of the room. There is a night table between the beds with a lamp and clock. A second lamp is on the dresser. Both lamps have twist knobs but we were told they could easily be replaced with touch lamps. There is also an overhead light with fan on a dimmer switch. The space from the foot of the bed to the dresser is 64”. The closet has no door and the bar is 56” high. The rooms are heated automatically but you can get extra blankets and pillows if needed. Although the facility is not air conditioned, the windows do open. You will note there are no televisions or telephones in any of the rooms to allow for peace and quiet. The rooms are bare with no pictures or extra furniture but really none is needed. The view is spectacular in winter and summer. The lower lounge has TV, VCR, computer with Internet, pool table and books. Pay phones are located in small private rooms indicated with a picture of a phone on the wall outside.

Dresser, desk, luggage stand opposite twin beds	Twin beds, right one electric, with lamp, night table and alarm clock between.

BATHROOM: There is a low light switch into the bathroom. The bathroom overshadows many we have seen in upscale hotels. It features a huge, lighted, roll-in shower 5’ by 33” with a negligible lip and a pull-down seat. It has a fully functional hand-held shower head, which is adjustable high/low, and a three-cornered thermostatic control. The suspended sink features a push/pull faucet. L-shaped grab bars are positioned around the toilet and a double outlet is low on the wall behind the toilet. There is also a full-width mirror on the wall behind the toilet.

Grab bars, hand-held shower head and seat in roll-in shower	Full width of shower with seat up	Seat up, thermostatically controlled water temp with lever control

Easy to use toilet with L-shaped bar and pedestal sink. There is a long shelf running between the mirror and the tile behind sink and toilet.	Closer details of toilet and grab bars.

OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS: The other accessible suite, 217, is identical but has no electric bed.

For anyone interested, daily masses are held in the third floor chapel. There is also a nice retro furnished lounge on the third floor.

Third floor chapel is smaller and more intimate than huge and beautiful main floor chapel

We were also shown Room 3A, formerly the Bishop’s Suite. This room is huge at 14’ by 20’, sparsely furnished, and has a double bed. The bathroom is small but good for someone who can stand. There are no grab bars but the walls are reachable for balance. The bathroom doorway is 26” wide. There is a 27” by 27” shower with a 6” step but no bathtub. It features a single lever thermostatically controlled faucet. The toilet is 16” high and the pedestal sink with turn knobs is 35 ½” high. The mirror is too high for someone who is seated, but recommendations for change were welcomed.

Large 14' x 20' room	Small bath with step in shower	toilet area - no bars

Taking the elevator to the 4th floor, which features the former boys dormitory, we checked out room 401. This room could easily be made fully accessible. It currently has twin beds in the small bedroom, but features a huge bathroom with an accessible toilet.

Huge room, was boy's dormitory	Toilet with bars in double room	Bath in double room - toilet around corner - step in tub, no h.h. shower but renovations planned

It was interesting to view what was once the boys’ dormitory. This enormous room is lined with small closets and features turrets (quiet rooms) each with five windows. One turret overlooks the beautiful main entrance to the building along with the casino and hotels while another one gives a view of the upper Niagara River. Also featured here is a labyrinth – a walking meditation on holy ground.

View down into ground is small shrine and Niagara river. You are above and south of the falls.	View towards the falls and hotel area	Pictures taken from a matching turret opposite this one.

The basement, or ground level, houses the lower lounge, which is open 24 hours a day with the aforementioned TV/VCR, computer, pool table, etc. It also offers a help-yourself system of coffee and refreshments.

The lower lounge is huge, this is just one corner of it. There is a huge TV, pool table, chairs, couches, etc.

The large, modern, kitchen is also on this level and all food and supplies are ordered over the computer. The lower dining room can accommodate up to 50 people.

Doors to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel	Details of hand-painted floor tiles

MAIN LEVEL: The focal point of the main level is undoubtedly Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel. Accessed by a ramp, the chapel is breathtakingly beautiful with a massive carved statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel rising above the main altar. The ceilings are approximately 75’ high. On the right side of the chapel is a secondary altar dedicated to St. Thérèse, the Carmelite saint. Three tiers of choir stalls line each side of the chapel and the floor consists of hand-painted tiles. The exquisite stained glass windows are gifts from various parishes. Unfortunately, the chapel is so huge and the ceilings so high, the flash from a digital camera simply gets lost in there so we have no pictures of the chapel as such, however, you may drop by as it is open daily to the public 9-4 (fall, winter, spring) and 9-5 (summer) as well as the gift shop. The gift shop is just around the corner from the chapel entrance.

In November 1967 a devastating fire destroyed the north wing along with a part of the chapel roof and ceiling. The north wing was modified and the chapel restored to its present condition.

The gift shop carries many imports from Italy and Portugal including statues, crucifixes, gold jewellery, books, and caters to all religious needs. It’s a favourite place of many Niagara residents to purchase gifts for baptisms, first communions, confirmations, weddings and anniversaries. Gift shop hours are: Summer, Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winter, daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The bookstore, located beside the registration desk, is also open to members of the public and features mostly Roman Catholic resources for those seeking personal growth or a deeper spiritual life.

Main dining room

The main dining room, featuring gleaming hardwood floors, accommodates approximately 100 guests, and at the time of our visit was set up for a Valentine’s Retreat for married couples renewing their vows. All meals in the centre are served buffet style and people traditionally remove their own dishes.

The main floor washroom is considered accessible although there is no opening beneath the sink and no lever handles on faucets, but you could reach if you turn sideways. The area, however, is big enough to turn around on a scooter.

The entire place from ramped parking lot to guest rooms, dining rooms, hallways with floor so clean and shiny they look like water, quiet signs, old dormitories, retired priests, friendly faces, plants, view and chapels brings about a feeling of security, warmth, independence, faith and trust mixed with peace to allow a person a calm, quiet place to stay while walking or rolling the scenic beauty of Niagara Falls. Prices are kept low by asking guests to return their own plates to the collection area thereby cutting down on wait staff. All meals are served buffet style. Help will be provided to anyone who cannot serve themselves. Just ask. Menus are limited but any special dietary needs will be gladly accommodated. Steve Bridges, the head chef is a real professional and very easy to talk to as are all of the staff serving the public. There is no room service. Guests are expected to make thei own beds. Linen is placed in bundle in the hallway when you leave however, if this is not possible, you may speak to Jean or Joyce.

Mount Carmel as a retreat spot brings a unique dimension to Niagara Falls and it might be exactly what you need. For further information about Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre and all it has to offer, log onto their website or write them at the above address for their brochures.

Audited Feb. 2004