Burns Lake’s newest hotel, the Tweedsmuir Hotel - formerly known as Lakeland Hotel - is expected to open in early July 2017.
Skin Tyee First Nation (STFN) purchased the building and announced major renovations and upgrades in 2015. Although the original plan was to open the hotel in the fall of 2016, plans changed after a few setbacks, explained Adele Gooding, STFN’s general manager.
Gooding said hiring will start within the next few weeks.
The new hotel is expected to create approximately 15 jobs once it is open. Positions needed will include cooks, housekeepers, front desk attendants, bartenders, maintenance workers, restaurant manager and general manager. Applications should be submitted to gm@skintyeenation.ca.
The old Lakeland Hotel was once considered people’s favourite breakfast place. The STFN took this into consideration when they planned a new restaurant with a breakfast theme. The new hotel will also have a sports pub and grill with a stage for performances of local musicians.
In addition, Gooding said the new hotel will have the capacity for a pool.
“When we put in a new water main into the building, we went from a two-inch to an eight-inch, so we have the capacity for a pool,” she explained. “It might be too preliminary to say, but we’d like to look at a relationship with the village and the pool society.”
The Lakes District Pool Club has been trying to make the dream of having a pool in Burns Lake a reality for approximately 20 years.
“We’re not giving up,” said Martina Zechendorf, president of the pool club. “We [club members] feel that we have a responsibility to the community to build this pool.”
Over the years, the pool club has accumulated over $50,000 through fundraising and donations. The pool club met in Burns Lake last week and discussed the possibility of partnering with the Tweedsmuir Hotel.
With approximately six members, Zechendorf said the pool club now needs more support.
“We need people who are willing to do some research work and find solutions,” she said.
People interested in supporting the pool club should contact Martina Zechendorf at 250-692-3951.