Chalet offered public tours of the factory. These included a tour of the public spaces of the factory as well as glass blowing and etching demonstrations (not on the working factory floor) by one of the Chalet artists. Tours were typically conducted by Mavis Clark, Irma Tedesco, Bruna Guttman, Laura Fuga or Gina Daniele - long time employee and/or family members who worked in the office, shipping and showrooms. Most often Chalet owners and Maestri Luigi Tedesco and Sergio Pagnin demonstrated the art of glassblowing. However, upon occasion, Angelo Tedesco or another artist would take this role.
Chalet factory visits became a major Cornwall tourist attraction. A highlight for bus tours. There was signage for the factory in the city, on Hwy #2 and inside the Ontario government run tourism centre on Brookdale Avenue.
And of course, purchases at the factory after your tour were possible!
Tour sign in the parking lot of the Chalet factory. Photograph from the archives of the Cornwall Community Museum.
From the May 6, 1972 edition of the Toronto Star. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and part of Torstar's Daily News Brands division.
From the June 22, 1967 edition of the Woodlawn Observer. This newspaper was published in Chicago, Illinois.
From the October 3, 1964 edition of the Ottawa Citizen which is under the banner of the Postmedia Network.
A group of teachers touring the factory on November 11, 1962. Demonstration being done by Chalet founder and owner Maestro Luigi Tedesco.. From the archives of the Cornwall Community Museum.
Chalet artist Gino Bottaro with tour leader Mavis Clark (in background at right). Gino came to Canada from Murano in 1963 and blew glass at Chalet until 1974. From the archives of the Cornwall Community Museum.
December 18, 1971. Note the directional signage for the Chalet factory on the pole at left. From the archives of the Cornwall Community Museum.
February 19, 1972. The Ontario Ministry of Tourism centre at 9803 Brookdale Avenue. See signage promoting Chalet at right. From the archives of the Cornwall Community Museum. .
Close up of signage at the tourism centre.