Steven,
I suggest that you visit Palatine Roses at www.palatineroses.com, click on the link to their Rose List, and then search the database using the word "vase". This will produce a list of roses whose cut blooms have a long "vase life" - although it also includes roses whose hips have a long vase life, so you'll need to read the description of each. (Like you, Palatine is located in Canada.)
In my opinion, hybrid teas and grandifloras make some of the best cut flowers because of their long, straight(er) stems, but they are not necessarily the easiest roses to grow, so you may be at cross purposes where that's concerned. There are many shrub roses and floribundas that are probably easier to grow. Although they typically don't have the long straight stems of hybrid teas and grandifloras, there are many varieties that show up on my dining room table every summer.
Regardless of what rose you choose to display, a few tips for achieving longer vase life include the following: (1) After cutting the rose, immediately put it into water to prevent air from entering the stem. I carry a bucket of water with me when I cut flowers for display. (2) After gathering the roses and cutting them to the right length for display, place them in a vase with hot water rather than cool water. (3) Mix in a little bloom extender, like Schultz Rose & Flower Preservative, or any other commercially available product from your local nursery or florist. It will extend the vase life of the blooms, and will help to keep the water clear. (4) Change the water if it gets murky or cloudy.
Enjoy your blooms!
P.S. Zuzu put me onto Opening Night a couple of years ago, and it is indeed a great rose for the garden.
