Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 19/05) - An award-winning Yellowknife business has been recognized again for successfully blending community involvement and economic performance.

L'Heritage Restaurant/Le Frolic Bistro Bar is nominated for the third national francophone business awards, Lauriers de la PME.

The restaurant and bar, co-owned by Pierre Lepage and Julia Tate, was nominated by the Conseil de developpement economique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest in the tourism category.

They are the only NWT business up for the award, to be announced in Ottawa on Oct. 22.

"It's always nice to have the recognition," Lepage said.

Thirty francophone businesses across the country have been nominated in four categories.

The award is based 70 per cent on economic performance and 30 per cent on social commitment, something Lepage and Tate know about.

"We can't just take all the time - it is important to give back a bit also," he said.

Many people would say the pair give more than "a bit."

They organize many events throughout the year that bring people to the restaurant, including people from outside Yellowknife, said Sylvie Francour, director of communications and tourism with the nominating organization.

These events, such as Bastille Day, often celebrate francophone culture while raising money for community groups such as the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation.

"Pierre and Julia are also very involved in the tourism industry," she said. "L'Heritage is almost part of a package. If you go to Yellowknife, you go there."

The Northern cuisine they serve, which includes Arctic char, bison and caribou, also makes them a strong component of the tourism industry, she said.

After four years with a two-star rating in the Where to Eat in Canada guide, the restaurant received the guide's highest ranking of three stars this year.

It is one of only 26 across the country and the only restaurant in the three territories to be awarded three stars.

National recognition from the guide book and awards not only feels good, it is important for the restaurant, Lepage said.

Many customers are out-of-town business people and hear about L'Heritage and Le Frolic before they even arrive in town, he said.