The G7 leaders meet in a picturesque setting in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Upon his arrival in Canada for the G7 summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was greeted by a man wearing a feathered headdress. The reason: The conference venue, Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains, lies in the traditional habitation of indigenous peoples. The Canadian hosts pointedly emphasized this, emphasizing that the indigenous peoples have lived in the region "since time immemorial." Therefore, representatives of the First Nations—a collective term for various indigenous peoples—were present when the heads of state and government landed at Calgary Airport.

Kananaskis is located in the province of Alberta, about an hour's drive from Calgary, in a popular recreational and vacation area with picturesque mountains. It has very few residents—the 2021 census lists a population of 156. The area is known for its spectacular natural scenery and wildlife, such as bears and cougars. Meerkats and deer can even be seen on the grounds of the G7 press center in the resort town of Banff, about 40 kilometers northwest of the summit site as the crow flies.

The G7 heads of state and government are meeting at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. The hotel hosted a summit of the group of states in 2002 – back then it was still called the G8, and Russian President Vladimir Putin was also at the table. His country was granted full membership at the time. "What we saw back then as an opportunity for peace has, as we all know, turned out to be a great illusion," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, looking back.

The Summit Hotel was originally built for the 1988 Winter Olympics. The games were hosted in Calgary, but some competitions were also held in Canmore, northwest of Kananaskis.