Local co-op takes over ownership of Kugluktuk hotel
Former Coppermine Inn hotel is now Coppermine Inns North
Kugluktuk Co-op Ltd. is the new owner of the Coppermine Inns North in Kugluktuk. (Photo courtesy of Arctic Co-op Ltd.)
Kugluktuk Co-op Ltd. has taken over as the new owner of the Coppermine Inn hotel in Kugluktuk.
The sale became official Aug. 8, and the 14-room hotel has been renamed Coppermine Inns North.
It retains the Coppermine name to recognize its place in the history of the community and for the nearby Coppermine River, said Allison Lennox, Arctic Co-op Ltd.’s manager of hospitality services, in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.
Arctic Co-op Ltd. is an umbrella organization for locally-owned co-ops across the North. A representative for the Kugluktuk Co-op was not available for comment Thursday.
Lennox said the co-op was approached by the original owners of the business, who had operated it for several decades and were looking to retire.
“I mean, we’re just really excited to bring such a well-established property into the Inns North family because Inns North does have a pretty good recognition across the Arctic and it’s become kind of a reliable name,” said Lennox.
There are more than a dozen Inns North hotels or affiliated hotels across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, according to the Inns North website.
For now, the Co-op is easing into the new ownership and taking over the hotel operations. It plans to transition aspects of the Inns North program into the Coppermine Inns North, Lennox explained.
“So eventually we will be looking at doing a bit of a refresh to the guest rooms and the interior of the property, specifically at putting in the Inns North-branded colours and furniture and ensuring that we have our standards for guests to be comfortable and provide a welcoming and warm environment for them,” Lennox said.
Some of the in-room amenities the Co-op plans to include at Coppermine Inns North, which are already in place at the other properties, include soap and shampoo products and in-room coffee machines.
“We’re always really excited when member co-ops are financially able to add another business unit to their member co-operative,” she said. “It really strengthens that member co-op, which returns all of the revenue back to the community.”
Over the years the hotel has welcomed guests including hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky, TV personality Mr. Dressup (Ernie Coombs) and singer Susan Aglukark.
Tragically, the Co-op, Whale Cove’s only grocery store, was lost to a fire last night. Firefighters are still on the scene, working diligently to manage the situation. Our thoughts are with the community during this challenging time.
I hope the Co-op can run the Hotel as well as the Horns did
Congrats to the local Co-op and a very happy retirement to Irene and Kerry!
Stayed there many times. Great spot that starts at the front door and continues through out. Enjoy your retirement.
Congratulations on your retirement and for running the Inn for the last 40 years!!
It’s a sad day for the Coppermine Inn. Kerry and Irene created one of the warmest, most welcoming establishments in Nunavut. The inn offered great food, a clean and comfortable stay, and the genuine care of a family-run business.
Unfortunately, with Inns North taking over, there’s a real concern that this lovely hotel will suffer the same fate as their other properties, where short-term operators, selected by ACL, often lack commitment to maintaining quality.
I’m grateful for the many times I had the chance to stay there, but it’s disheartening to think it won’t be the same under the new ownership.
hopefully the locals in Kugluktuk can reserve rooms while it’s under Inns North, Rankin Inlet Inns North and & Siniktarvik don’t even allow locals to reserve rooms.
I don’t know about Nanuq Lodge and Katimavik Suites, but I find it ridiculous that’s even a policy
It is quite a common policy in many places. I tried to rent a hotel room in Burnaby once while the apartment that I rented was being fixed for water damage and re-painted. Got turned down at 2 or 3 places because I was ‘local’ before I found a sleazy hot-sheet place that would take me for a couple of weeks.
I’ve since learned that local guests are often far more trouble than tourists, that they will bring in their friends, etc. This is not just a Nunavut thing, but seems to be common many places.
The Horns are amazing people, and the Coppermine has been one of my absolute favourite places to stay across Nunavut because of their hospitality and the great food.
I wish them the best of luck in retirement!