Work will begin as soon as June this year on a $25-million new hotel and commercial mixed-use development in Dryden.
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation has become the newest owner of a Studio 6 Extended Stay Suites franchise that will be developed on a nine-acre site on the north side of Highway 11/17 adjacent to the major shopping and accommodation hub in Dryden.
There is a span of 20 kilometres between the city and reserve.
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation Chief Clayton Wetelainen said the site, which has already been re-zoned as highway-commercial, is undergoing an environmental assessment by the developer, Rideout Bay Developments. The site is a repurposed former residential dwelling and recreational vehicle park.
“It will be an investment opportunity and we will be getting a return on that,” Wetelainen said. “We see that there’s a demand for hotels and there’s short supply right now.
Wetelainen said they are expecting more projects to develop in the area in the near future, particularly in mining and transmission line infrastructure. They are watching two mining projects that have the potential to open soon.
He noted that they are part owner of the Wataynikaneyap Power transmission system, which is a development that is expected to come their way in 2025.
“The tourism industry is coming back from the pandemic so it just makes sense (to build this hotel) because it’s a much-needed investment,” the chief said, adding extended-stay suites are more inclined to be used by guests including construction people who need longer-term accommodations.
“Something that’s not spoken about much is all the businesses that come from our neighbours to the north,” he said.
“That’s one of the overlooked drivers in the economy is the Indigenous business and we know it’s growing at a fast pace so we’re just trying to prepare ourselves and we welcome that”
Roger Nesbitt, chief administrative officer with the City of Dryden, called the initiative a “very positive development.”
“Wabigoon Lake is a neighbouring community to Dryden and it’s nice to see their community making investments in our community,” Nesbitt said. “For Dryden, commercial lodging is definitely needed within the community. So, the fact that Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation is investing and developing in that area, is very good for the (Dryden) community. It’s very good for tourism and for the local businesses so that they house their transient temporary workforce that’s needed within the community.”
Nesbitt added that Rideout Bay Developments is no stranger to Dryden and have acquired some other properties within the community. They also have hotels in Sioux Lookout and Hornepayne.
The hotel will feature 70 suites, a park atmosphere with extensive green space in the back of the hotel and what Wetelainen called “desperately needed convention space.”
The construction is slated to take one year to complete.
Wetelainen says the funding of the project is mostly private funding from Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation along with a combination of government loans and grants for which they have applied. Funding approval for a feasibility study is in the final approval stages.
