More than 60 community members joined Líl̓wat Business Group staff and elected officials to celebrate the grand opening of the Hitching Post Motel with a land blessing and luncheon on Monday, April 7. The 12-unit motel, purchased earlier this year by LBG, marks the organization’s entry into the tourism sector.

Qaqawam Chris Wells, Sík Sík Joshua, and Án̓wasúlmec Brett Wallace opened the afternoon in a good way with singing and drumming, followed by speeches, a prayer from Elder Priscilla Ritchie, and a land blessing ceremony that included smudging the motel.

Kúkwpi7 Gélpcal Ashley Jospeh and Kúkwpi7 Skalúlmecw Dean Nelson shared their joy about the new acquisition that now makes LBG the largest land owner in Mount Currie.

“I’m just happy seeing our people operating our motel on our land,” said Kúkwpi7 Skalúlmecw.

Qaqawam spoke to the role that the hotel had played in the community and the “shenanigans” it had hosted over the years, igniting the knowing laughter of many. “We all have stories here,” he said. “Some we don’t want to tell.”

LBG Holding’s president, Lhpatq Maxine Bruce, expressed great pride in the motel coming under the LBG banner. The longtime president also shared that one of her favourite shenanigan was surreptitiously using the motel’s long decommissioned pool. LBG CEO Tsekonámus Rosemary Stager joked that swimming in that pool was probably the reason neither she nor Lhpatq had gotten COVID.

The motel will be managed through LBG’s Retail Operations. Retail Operations GM Graham Turner spoke to the opportunity that the motel presented before introducing Manager Melanie Montgomery. Visibly moved, the new manager, who previously operated a nine-bedroom B&B in Niagara on the Lake in Ontario, spoke of the incredible people she had met during her first month on the job and the great team she has assembled ensure the motel’s success.

“It’s been amazing. People have come up to me to introduce themselves and share their stories,” said Montgomery. “I have felt so welcomed.”

The new GM has introduced a few Indigenous branding elements to the rooms including Salish designed bed throws and local art on the walls. In the coming months more branding elements will be added to the Hitching Post as it prepares for a busy summer season.

Food for the motel opening, which included soup and bannock, was provided by Tsípun Supermarket Catering.