I think both locations have their pros and cons.
The biggest problem for Le Chantecler is the accessibility of the location. It's not too hard for Montrealers to get there, if they have a car (which is definitely not the case of all chess players). However, for all the Canadians coming by bus, train or plane, it is really hard to get there.
Also, I think what a lot of people didn't like is the 9 rounds in 5 days. I personally don't mind, as it means less hotel costs, but I'm also much younger than the typical chess player...
Honestly, I like being in the center of a town for a chess tournament, and I think people enjoyed it for Montreal's CO and CYCC. Le Chantecler looks like a nice resort, but 5 or 6 days may be a bit too much.
On the other hand, Quebec City is further from Montreal, and would most likely attract fewer players from here. So, the 200 players goal might be really hard to reach.
In any case, I think both could be great tournaments, but I'm not sure if they could break even, especially because of the "competition" with the Quebec Open, which offers great conditions, but has a huge deficit.
That said, if I could get vacations I would try to play in the tournament, no matter the location.
We have been talking with Larry for some time about a possible Quebec based tournament. There may be CMA involvement in the 2015 Canadian Open but it won't be in Quebec (as noted elsewhere the polling on the French Chesstalk site was largely negative). Hal Bond and I discussed some options today on Skype and we will follow up on them. We will let the governors and public know as soon as we have something definite.
I will seriously consider resigning if the CFC governors agree to a Canadian open in august.
Obviously this organization will have shown it cares nothing for chess in Hamilton.
So why should I have anything to do with it?
Is there a chess tournament in Hamilton in August? I can't find anything, and so perhaps potential organizers could not either...
To my mind this is the single most important item at this meeting emphasized by the fact that it is now February.
Indeed. I don't think its reasonable to claim an entire month of the summer unless you are holding tournaments on every weekend. In the latter case they should be posted on the CFC coming tournaments section if you want them to be taken into consideration by other organizers. Two weekends in July are taken by the Quebec Open bolstered by the francophonie tournament. We will be squeezing the Canadian Closed between the CYCC and Quebec Open. Our options are becoming more limited by the day.
Garvin, can you please explain why holding the Canadian Open in August is not a viable option ? Because of the limited time period for holding the Canadian Open, I think an explanation is warranted.
The Canadian Open and Closed have been organized together a few times when the Closed was a RR of 16 players.
Hamilton has been working for some time to get one of its tournaments going in August. We are also in a rental situation where the only weekends available are for the month of August.
We had another tournament in winter which its looking increasingly like we wont be doing for awhile, because of local issues. So I guess I'm frustrated with the situation. (The chess situation in Hamilton that is.)
However I have decided if Larry decides to do a tournament from the 18th or 19th to the 23rd I will try to work around it, and I'll give my support to him. I just ask we decide this asap so I can see if its feasible for Hamilton to have a tournament earlier in August.
So to summarize, I do truly wish we would keep the Canadian Open in July, however, Ill support it if its in August.