Treaty groups celebrate the realization of a dream

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The new Wingate Inn, a 106-room hotel located at 18220-100th Ave. in West Edmonton, is open for business. The hotel is 100 per cent owned by treaty groups 6, 7 and 8.

An official opening and blessing of the hotel was held on Jan. 2. The business offers meeting facilities for up to 200 people, an indoor pool, fitness centre, whirlpool and waterpark, deluxe breakfast buffet and shuttle service.

Don Morin, general manager of the Alberta Indian Investment Corporation, which is owned by the three treaty organizations, says that they are presently negotiating with various tenants on having a restaurant and lounge built adjacent to the property.

"From the sod turning ceremony till the opening today, the hardest thing about the whole deal was making sure that it was built on budget and on time. We got what we wanted from when we originally planned it. This is exciting to actually see this dream become a reality," he said.

The $8-million project, managed by Pacrim Hospitality Services, will create 35 full- and part-time jobs.

"A lot of hotels hire hotel management companies. Pacrim has hotel management expertise to assist us. I believe that out of the 35 positions, 85 per cent of them are filled by Aboriginal people and we have a First Nations general manager," he said.

Morin said that there will be First Nation and Aboriginal rates available at the hotel. Guests can show their status or Metis card when checking in.

"We will start at $84 a night if you show your card. That is a pretty decent rate for a nice room. By First Nations people seeing that it is owned by the three bands and staying there, they are actually investing in themselves. They do own a piece of it and the money will stay in the community."

Morin said that the First Nation's bands talked about owning a hotel in Edmonton for decades.

"We know that there are quite a few Aboriginal people who live in Edmonton. We did some research and the research confirmed that there are a lot of hotels that are used by First Nations people in Edmonton and being aware of that for years we realized that we were in a favorable position. So we decided to go after that market," he said.

"Hopefully this is the first step of many. I guess if it works, and I think it will, that this is the beginning for a lot of things. It is coming along. There are quite a few Aboriginal groups booking us right now for conferences and the chiefs are really starting to use us as well," he said.

Grand opening celebrations are scheduled for March.