Drifters Motel is still open for business. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

overnight stays

Drifters Motel remains ‘very busy’ as pandemic continues

Mar 31, 2020 | 1:02 PM

La Ronge’s Drifters Motel remains open for business to serve those who need an overnight place to stay.

“We’ve been very busy,” Owner Lana Wasylenchuk said. “We still have a lot of work crews coming in. They are still needing places to stay because they’re working here. A lot of them are in trucks, so they are by themselves so they can continue working.”

Wasylenchuk owns the business with her husband Nyle and she said staff have been ensuring the rooms are clean after someone leaves. She noted the Ministry of Health has provided them with a cleaning solution that kills COVID-19 and it is used on most surfaces including the walls.

The rooms are also not being cleaned as often as staff aren’t attending to rooms if customers are staying more than one night. Typically, the rooms would be cleaned every day regardless of the number of nights a customer stays.

“We tell them it’s to protect our staff from being exposed more,” Wasylenchuk said. “What we do is we tell customers if they need something, they should call the front desk and we can replenish their towels or clean the room if they really need.”

Run for Rose

Over 350 participants join Run for Rose fundraiser supporting local hospice

2h ago

Crime

Child death on Shoal Lake Cree Nation investigated as homicide

5h ago

New hire

Mintos hire Dion Antisin as next head coach

22h ago

Customers are also no longer allowed to access the main office as a window has been installed so they can speak with staff. The window is meant to further protect employees.

Wasylenchuk mentioned she’s currently looking in to see if Drifters Motel qualifies for financial assistance from the federal government. Small and medium-sized business could qualify for a 75 per cent subsidy for wages, as well as a $40,000 interest-free loan for one year. If the amount of work crews in town falls, the couple might need to access those programs.

“Overall, everyone seems to be OK,” Wasylenchuk said. “We’re still open for business and, if we can support the community in anyway during this crisis down the road, then that’s something we’d be willing to look at as well.”

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno