Ottawa Southway converts
Popular hotel among Nunavummiut changing to retirement residence at end of year
Karen K. Ho and Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Monday, June 22, 2015
NUNAVUT
An Ottawa hotel popular with Nunavummiut is renovating to become a luxury retirement residence.
The Southway Inn in 1967 when it had 23 rooms. The Ottawa airport hotel, popular with Nunavummiut, recently announced it was converting to a retirement residence. - photo courtesy of Southway Hotel
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The 57-year-old family-owned Southway Hotel will become a place for seniors at the end of this year. The hotel had built up a reputation for accommodating the needs of Nunavummiut in the capital for medical reasons or vacations by helping refrigerate country food and storing luggage for longer periods while they were travelling in the south.
Third-generation owner Fred Zlepnig told Nunavut News/North that the decision to convert the hotel was simply a business opportunity after recognizing his parents, Bill and Louisa, now in their 80s, were slowing down themselves having taken over the business from the previous generation, Peter and Theresia.
"They finally said it's about time," he said.
As a result, the hotel's 170 rooms will become 115 one and two-bedroom suites through a $6 million renovation.
In a telephone interview with Fred, his brother Stephen and Stephen's son Adam, the three members of the Zlepnigs acknowledged the property's long-standing reputation with Nunavummiut.
"People from Nunavut have been coming to Southway for over 20 years," Stephen said, citing the family's experience of being approached by First Air to participate in a trade show in Iqaluit.
"My parents jumped at the opportunity."
Since the announcement on June 9, Nunavut clients have already sent letters about the news to Ottawa.
"Every one has made the hairs on my arms stand up," Steve said.
"It's stuff we've evolved to do for people," Fred said. "Trying to get fresh food up North or keeping them in the freezer until the day they leave."
The company is still taking steps to store Nunavummiut's favourite items.
"It wasn't difficult to do and we still like doing it."
In addition to visits to Iqaluit and special accommodations inside the hotel, Jo-Anne Saikaley Sparkes, the hotel's director of sales and marketing, also emphasized that the second-generation of Zlepnigs in charge of the hotel regularly donated items like bedding to the people of Nunavut, especially whenever the property underwent renovations.
Management staff assured News/North that storage facilities and other services will still be available for the time being, while renovations are underway.
The hotel will be operating with a smaller number of rooms, 76, until the end of the year during renovations.
