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A wing and a prayer

Frustrated by lack of aircraft

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (July 03/02) - When Boris Kotelewetz bought the Baker Lake Lodge some 28 years ago, his idea was to contribute to the development of the local economy.

He'd already been living in Baker Lake for six years and when the opportunity presented itself in 1974, Kotelewetz jumped at the chance to buy the lodge.

"I enjoy people and I like to tell people about the North and this was an opportunity to do that," said Kotelewetz. "I saw a lot of future in that."

He quickly turned the five-cabin lodge into a bigger facility and instead of a stopover facility for tourists on their way to other venues, Kotelewetz began to build his own clientele.

Already known to North American fishers and hunters for the amazing harvesting and scenery to be had, Kotelewetz has also added avid canoeists to his guest list and is building up his ecotourism business.

"We have traditional life programs where people live in iglus for three days and dress in caribou skins. It's a living-museum type of thing -- they live like Inuit and feel what it was like to live that way," said Kotelewetz.

When current renovations are complete, the lodge will be able to accommodate up to 15 people in the cabins, at least four families in the new loft suites and a several more in the three remaining rooms and apartments.

He estimated an average of 300 people stay at the lodge during the year.

But after nearly 30 years in the business, Kotelewetz still faces the same problems: not enough supporting infrastructure.

He said the biggest obstacle facing the lodge -- and the tourism industry in general -- is a lack of aircraft in the area.

Because of the type of terrain and the locations people want to access, Kotelewetz said he needs the services of a Twin Otter aircraft. None are available in the Kivalliq so he charters one from Yellowknife, a venture that costs $14,000 just to reach Baker Lake. Guests wanting to be dropped off have to cover that expense plus the cost of being flown to their destination.

"If we had an airplane here, we could do so much more," said Kotelewetz.

"If we didn't have to contend with that (the cost of the charter), it becomes more attractive and opens up tourism. Air transportation is precluding the development of tourism," he said. "The only way to get to these places is to fly."

Kotelewetz could avoid the cost of chartering if he bought his own Twin Otter -- at a cost of at least $1.5 million US, as well as operation and maintenance costs.

He said he'd like to see the territorial government develop the much-needed infrastructure, but in the meantime he's formulating his own solution -- one he's keeping to himself for now.

Kotelewetz also pointed to a lack of community-based infrastructure. He said tourists wanted to purchase local arts and crafts when stopping in the community, but are unable to do so.

"People are crying to buy these things, but there is so little available," he said. "This industry could employ a lot more people."