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Elks Club gets makeover More than $1 million invested in renovations
Lyndsay Herman
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, July 10, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Anyone walking downtown recently would have seen work underway on the exterior of the Elks Lodge building, but renovation magic has already transformed the Elks' historic upstairs hall into a contemporary bar and restaurant.
Longtime Elks Club bartender Tom Lupton staffs the bar in the newly-renovated building on 49 Street. - Lyndsay Herman/NNSL photo |
The building, located on 49 Street, is home to the charitable organization Yellowknife Elks Lodge #314 and the organization's semi-exclusive Elks Club.
The club, which had previously hosted activities in the lower level of the building, is now located on the main level to take advantage of the windows and increased space.
"It's something members have talked about for over 20 years," said Ben Russo, general manager of Yellowknife Elks Lodge No. 314 and the Elks Club. "Finally at our annual general meeting, the club executive decided we needed a decision. No more talking about it."
The decision kicked off construction of a brand new kitchen and bar, a finished ceiling, new lighting, relocated offices, and updated decor, all in the building's main floor.
There are 130 seats in the club and a stage designed to accommodate everything from live music to DJs to meat raffles.
Smaller-scale construction is also planned for the build- ing's exterior and the interior of the first floor.
The club will be open to the public for lunches and brunches. Lunches started Tuesday and the first brunch will be Saturday. However, at 2 p.m. it returns to a members-only venue.
Access to the club is just one benefit to being an Elks Lodge member, Russo explained. The club's social activities may be an initial attraction, but what keeps more than 275 members dedicated to the charitable organization is the sense of community and the opportunity to help make a difference in Yellowknife.
"One of the benefits to being an Elks member is you contribute to the community service that we do. Members allow us to survive," Russo said. "You contribute to the city just by being a member."
The Yellowknife Elks Lodge #314 sponsors the Yellowknife Air Cadets and works with Habitat for Humanity, in addition to offering financial aid to a variety of social causes and scholarships for students with strong scholastic backgrounds and leadership qualities attending an accredited Canadian post-secondary educational institution.
The organization, in partnership with the Yellowknife Ski Club, built the ski club's chalet in the late 1990s, and ran it until the club could take over administrative responsibilities.
Previously, the main floor was an open hall with kitchen facilities. Where the Elks Lodge offices were located wasn't designed for use beyond isolated events and wasn't kept staffed by the lodge.
Now the space looks foremost like a pub and boasts a full menu cooked in a commercial kitchen. Preparing the fare are the team of Linda Fry and Tammy Barnes.
The building, located on 49 Street, was built in 1948 and has served some important functions since then, Russo said.
In addition to hosting weddings and craft sales, the hall has served as the NWT legislative assembly and when Stanton Hospital burned down in 1966 it was Yellowknife's hospital for six months until the new one was built.
"The hall has had a lot of use," said Russo.
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