Tundra Inn renovations highlight Churchill’s ‘growth potential’

Frontiers North Adventures has completed a major renovation and expansion of the Tundra Inn in Churchill, modernizing one of the northern Manitoba community’s best-known hotels.

The project added 21 new guest rooms and expanded common areas, bringing the total room count to 44. (The net increase was 13 guest rooms, after an aging section of the building containing eight rooms was demolished.)

Lisa-Joy Gunter, president and co-owner of Frontiers North Adventures, said the project was driven by a desire to improve the guest experience and invest in the community.

“It really just needed an update,” Gunter said on Tuesday.

The privately financed renovation was more than a decade in the making, with the company first commissioning plans in 2014 before settling on the design completed this year.

The project replaced one wing of the hotel and included a redesigned lobby, new gathering spaces and updated guest amenities.

Gunter said the expansion was primarily intended to help Frontiers North better accommodate its own guided tour groups rather than respond to broader demand for accommodations in Churchill. “We have 13 new rooms, and that’s really to fulfil the needs of our Frontiers North business model to host our groups,” she said.

Frontiers North operates multi-day guided trips in Churchill focused on polar bears, beluga whales and northern lights viewing.

Gunter said the additional space will allow the company to more easily host multiple tour groups at the same time, although Frontiers North will continue to partner with other hotels in Churchill to accommodate guests.

Guests not part of the tour groups can stay at the hotel.

“Congratulations to the Frontiers North Team for their confidence and investment in Churchill through renovations to the Tundra Inn,” Angela Cassie, interim president and CEO of Travel Manitoba, said in a statement.

“Increased capacity to host visitors in stunning accommodations is a key element to realizing the growth potential of tourism in Churchill.”

Cassie said Churchill is coming off a particularly busy beluga season and is seeing strong potential for growth in its northern lights season, which runs from January to March.

“We know that Churchill is a bucket list destination for visitors from across Canada and around the world,” she said, adding visitors are looking for the “incredible adventures and authentic Indigenous tourism experiences” the community located some 1,000 kilometres north of Winnipeg is known for.

“Elevated hotel and dining offerings help take it to the next level.”

Completing a major construction project in Churchill presented unique logistical challenges because of the community’s remote location.

Frontiers North used a prefabricated construction model: floors, walls and ceilings were assembled in southern Manitoba before being shipped north by rail. Bathroom units were built in Winnipeg and transported to Churchill fully finished before being installed.

Gunter said the approach reduced construction time and helped limit the amount of material that needed to be transported into the community.

She added the company made an effort to source materials locally when possible, including placing plywood orders through Churchill’s hardware store.

“We want to continue to reinvest in our infrastructure and the community,” she said. “Another thing is contributing to employment, having meaningful work year-round for people. A new hotel and restaurant provides opportunities for people to work in tourism and to be at home.”

The company is already planning a second phase of work that will focus on renovating the hotel’s remaining older wing, which contains 24 rooms.

zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca