East Village Suites

The rooms are great, but I couldn’t get a peaceful sleep. It’s on a busy street by traffic lights, so diesel trucks and Harleys will keep you awake. There are no blackout curtains for night shift guests. Cleaning is twice a week, but if you’re on nights, your room won’t get cleaned. The cleaners will still wake you while working noisily and chatting in the rest of the suite. I raised this with the front desk, but they couldn’t offer a solution. For a quieter stay, choose the downtown location by the river.

The units are nice, and the location is perfect for working in the area. The theater is right across the street, with Banquet pub and bowling nearby, East Village pub a minute away, and convenience stores and other food shops in the same spot. It’s an excellent place to stay while working nearby. I stayed for over a year with my company in the new Empire building, though the construction and systems had plenty of issues. The furnace didn’t seem to work right, the heat and AC thermostat never switched properly, and the AC water valve wouldn’t open by itself. I had to open it manually to get cold water through the unit. There’s also little soundproofing, so you can hear people talking in the hallway and upstairs. Maintenance takes a while to switch the AC chiller and heat between summer and winter modes.

The front desk staff are friendly and helpful, and the building’s heating and cooling work very well when the HVAC system is functioning, which is usually the case. I stay here for work, though the condos are only okay and the build quality isn’t great. The furniture is cheap and breaks with ordinary daily use. Rooms are cleaned twice a week, but the cleaners seem rushed. Rags and supplies are often left behind, and shampoo, conditioner, and bathroom tissue aren’t refilled consistently. Maintenance often mixes bulb colors, so rooms can have both warm yellow and cool white lighting, from 2200K-2700K to 4900K-6500K. Mornings can be loud because the condo is beside a busy Tim Hortons, and east facing rooms hear the backup alarms. The underground parkade is among the dustiest I’ve parked in. It has a fan system, but I don’t think it filters the air, since vehicles get covered in thick dust after a few days.

The suites are beautiful, spacious, clean, and nicely furnished, with comfy beds and big balconies. Restaurants, grocery stores, and Shoppers Drug Mart are all within walking distance. The staff are sweet and welcoming. This was my first time in Fort Mac, and I’m so impressed. I’d choose this over a hotel any day. Thanks, EV Suites :) I hope I can come back soon!