Gryphon Gallery: Ross Meredith

April 6, 2023

Alumni

Stuart Brambley, Archivist Stuart Brambley, Archivist photo

Ross Meredith attended Glenlyon Norfolk School (Glenlyon Prepatory) between 1969 and 1977 and graduated from Oak Bay High—remember Glenlyon only went to Grade 10 at this time. He was an excellent singer and loved the many opportunities to act on stage but his greatest quality was being a highly personable, polite, friendly, always smiling schoolboy who could easily hold a conversation about most things. He was absolutely a people person and in what was to become the first step in his career path, he got a job downtown at the Crest Motor Inn—now the site of the Grand Pacific Hotel. “Earl and Warren Gammon went to the school and at prize day on the lawn, I asked Mr. Gammon, owner of Crest, for a job. I started the next day as a busboy!” From here he moved to the Vista 18 as a waiter, and then to the Sherwood Park Inn on the Gorge as an assistant manager.

His charming ways made him a natural hotelier and he quickly climbed the hospitality ladder. Firstly to Saskatoon, to manage a new brew pub/restaurant and then to Banff Springs Hotel in charge of all 12 restaurants. During his time at Banff, Ross went on secondment to spend three months in Dubai to consult/co-lead the opening of the new Fairmont hotel there. Ross’ first general manager position was at the Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire and this is where he hosted his first GNS reunion for Calgary based-alumni. David Auld, who was Ross’ former PE teacher and at that time, the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, arranged these reunions. A short time after he managed the Calgary Westin and then sought warmer climes in Palm Springs at The Renaissance.

In 2014 an exciting management opportunity to return to Canada came along and Ross, like any well-trained Glenlyon boy, put his hand up and said: ”Yes please” and he was offered the General Manager position at the downtown Westin Ottawa. In the last few years, he has weathered the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Truckers for Freedom Movement, taken on the dual managership of the Westin and Delta Hotels by Marriott Ottawa City Centre, and kindly hosted a second GNS reunion during which he met Marius Felix.

Ross shared that his career, which had its roots on the back lawn of Glenlyon, has been very rewarding and he has achieved all he could have dreamed. During the last 25 years, he’s had the privilege of meeting Kings and Presidents, movie stars and famous sports stars, but the best part of what he does: “Is work with a talented and dedicated team of associates who challenge themselves to do their best, and deliver great guest and associate experiences every day!”

A sentiment that he is himself an outstanding example of!