Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 27, 2007

FORT RESOLUTION - Jeela Larocque ventured into unchartered territory in April when she started a new job.

That's when she began managing J's Bed & Breakfast in Fort Resolution.

Jeela Larocque manages J's Bed & Breakfast in Fort Resolution. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Larocque said she is enjoying her new role.

In particular, she said the best part of the job is being able to work at home.

"You're your own boss," she explained.

Plus, there are many other advantages to working at home, she said "You can get behind and get caught up in one day."

The work involves a multitude of responsibilities - bookkeeping, taking reservations, cooking and housekeeping, to name a few.

"It's a full-time job," Larocque said.

She would like to experience the whole range of duties in operating the bed and breakfast before considering hiring someone to help with some of the work.

J's Bed & Breakfast has five guest rooms located in the basement, below the family residence.

Larocque said most guests are government employees, such as lawyers and accountants, along with other professional people.

In fact, in the several months she has managed the bed and breakfast, she recalled just one tourist staying there. Most tourists stay in tents or with relatives while in Fort Resolution, or drop into the community for just a day.

Guests at the bed and breakfast have their own outside entrance to their rooms, but share a kitchen with the Larocque family.

Having visitors in their home is one of the unique things about operating a bed and breakfast, Larocque said. "You have to get used to that."

She, her husband and their two sons live at the bed and breakfast.

The business was formerly Tucho Bed & Breakfast, which began operation in 1987.

Larocque's Fort Resolution-born husband, George (Snooky) Larocque, purchased the business from a relative so he could return to his hometown.

George Larocque, who is employed by Kingland Ford, is currently working as a welder at the Ekati diamond mine. However, he helps with operating the bed and breakfast whenever he is not at the mine.

Prior to moving to Fort Resolution, the couple lived in Yellowknife and in Hay River.

While in Yellowknife and Hay River, Jeela went to Aurora College for management studies and also earned a certificate in tourism, and that educational background is helping her in her new role managing the bed and breakfast.

The 38-year-old is originally from Pangnirtung, Nunavut.