Big move coming for Larga Edmonton

This article was updated June 21 at 11:50 a.m.

Larga Edmonton is moving to a new building outside the city that’s close to the airport and can accommodate around three times as many people as the current site.

“This is a great opportunity for us,” said Larga Ltd. president Casey Adlem in an interview.

The boarding facility is for Nunavut and Northwest Territories residents who travel to Edmonton for medical care. It is run by Larga Ltd., of which Kitikmeot Corp. and Nunasi Corp. are among the owners.

Adlem said that of the 90 to 120 people who come each night to Larga Edmonton, usually 50 to 70 per cent are from Nunavut.

However, the current facility in central Edmonton only has room for 56 guests and has been at capacity for more than a decade, forcing staff to find alternate hotel rooms for the overflow.

“We’ve known for years that it would be ideal to have everyone under one roof,” Adlem said.

The Larga Ltd. board has been looking for a new location for at least five or six years.

The new facility will be located at the former Stars Inn at 8332 Sparrow Cres. in Leduc, Alta. With 115 rooms, it will be able to house around triple the number of people who can stay under one roof at the current Larga Edmonton.

Each room will have its own bathroom, with guests not expected to have to share a room with anyone they do not know.

The new site was originally built in 2016, according to John Stevenson, interim president and chief executive officer of Nunasi Corporation.

“Finding this hotel and being able to purchase it really worked out well for us,” he said.

Neither Stevenson nor Adlem would disclose the cost.

Adlem said she hopes to have everyone moved into the new Larga Edmonton site over the next three to four weeks.

The move comes alongside upgrades at other medical boarding facilities that serve Inuit.

John Stevenson, interim president of Nunasi Corp., told Nunatsiaq News that purchasing the hotel to turn into the new boarding home for Larga Edmonton has worked well. (Photo by David Lochead)

Larga Baffin in Ottawa has plans to build a new facility and Kivalliq Inuit Centre in Winnipeg has found a new home.

In getting a bigger building, Larga Edmonton will also be further from the city — approximately 30 kilometres south of Edmonton.

Adlem said while there have been many positive comments regarding the move, some people have been concerned about moving away from central Edmonton.

She said she understands those concerns since Larga Baffin has been at its current site for about 20 years.

However, Adlem emphasized the new location is near the Edmonton International Airport.

She said it will also offer opportunities for non-medical activities, such as going to the movies, outdoor children’s areas, an outlet mall and a Costco store.

Stevenson added that a new hospital is being built near the new Larga Edmonton location as well, although he is unsure when it will be ready.

Hiring and training new staff will also be needed for the new Larga Edmonton facility, Adlem said. Currently, seven or eight new hires are still needed.

The Government of Nunavut supports Larga Edmonton’s move, said Chris Nolan, acting assistant deputy minister of programs and standards with the Department of Health.

“Every opportunity to improve and evolve support services for patients and families on medical travel helps improve the travel experience and journey,” he said.

Representatives for the Kitikmeot Corp. did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Correction: This article was updated to reflect that Larga Ltd. does not operate Larga Baffin.