Sagamok Anishinawbek to upgrade Ritchie Falls Resort

Alan Ozawanimke is the Chief Executive Officer of Sagamok Anishnawbek.
Alan Ozawanimke is the Chief Executive Officer of Sagamok Anishnawbek.

By Leslie Knibbs

Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation received an investment of $500,000 on April 26 this year from Fed Nor; for “business development and growth, job creation as well as Aboriginal cultural tourism in Sagamok.”  Funds are going to upgrades at Ritchie Falls Resort, a property owned and operated by Sagamok Development Corporation (SDC).

After the funding announcement, Alan Ozawanimke, CEO of Sagamok Anishnawbek and the SDC  said, “Sagamok is growing, and more people are working and lending to the local economy.” “We’re not in isolation in Sagamok; we’re becoming active contributors to the local economy in a lot of ways.”  Ozawanimke, with a proven history of getting a job done and boosting his community believes Ritchie Falls Resort, purchased by SDC in 2012, is a huge bonus for all of the local economy, “people are spending money on their way in” when visiting the lodge.

With the additional $500,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, Ozawanimke is excited about finishing the upgrades and improvements being made at the Ritchie Falls Resort north of Massey with a total of $1,000,000 is being invested in the resort.  Funding provided through Fed Nor’s Northern Ontario Development Program will support projects which promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation.

Shortly after the SDC’s purchase of the Ritchie Falls property a fire in November, 2014 destroyed the shower house, the boiler and other infrastructure.  At the time of the purchase, Ozawanimke knew the resort was needed upgrades for it to reach its full potential as a world class destination for hunters and anglers.  Not withstanding that the fire in 2014 had an immediate negative impact on the resort with lost revenue, anticipated upgrades were made a top priority as a result of the devastating fire. When reflecting on the fire, an optimistic Ozawanimke stated,  “I think it was a good thing, really, because it ‘kick started’ the work we identified that we needed to move forward on with that particular business.”

Improvements to the resort include a new shower house, a stand alone furnace with a new boiler and pump and heat distribution system.  Along with infrastructure upgrades and improvements, three new cabins and a 3,000 square foot conference centre will be completed by this summer.  The new building will increase the lodge’s capacity from 60 to at least 80.  According to Ozawanimke, all those involved in the building and upgrades, will “hit the ground running.”  The target date for opening of the new conference centre is late August this year.  Invitations for bids for tenders were sent out this week with a closing date of the third weekend in May.

Ritchie Falls Resort is located north of Massey, with the multi-stage renovation of the hunting and fishing lodge, hydro will also have an increased capacity.  “The off-grid, hydroelectric power system is currently being upgraded by Patrick Mechanical of Sudbury. The generators and turbine are being manufactured and sent from overseas, and the project should be complete this spring,” Ozawanimke said.

Target marketing for this world class hunting and fishing destination includes attending trade shows in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Toronto and Ottawa.  Aside from doing the trade show circuit, an article on the resort with pictures appeared the front page of the largest daily in Beijing, China opening up an interest from Asian clients already according to Ozawanimke.   The resort has been featured on Wild TV’s Canadian Hunter series with a segment on the bear hunt last Fall; plans are in the works for a segment on the wolf hunt and fishing in the area.

One Ontario ATV club ranked the lodge as the number two spot in Ontario for ATV enthusiasts, as mentioned,  the TV series Canadian Hunter filmed a segment on the local bear hunt last year. All of this publicity raises the lodge’s profile as a great destination for hunters and anglers.  This positive recognition combined with direct marketing and sustained market retention from past customers has resulted in the resort being booked to capacity this season.

Chief Paul Eshkakogan of Sagamok  Anishnawbek acknowledged the contribution from Fed Nor saying, “We are thankful for this support from the Government of Canada. This project will allow us to maximize growth opportunities that will benefit the entire community and provide crucial employment to many local residents. It will also help us welcome new visitors and promote Aboriginal culture and education.”

Matthew and Kyla Owl, managers of the resort  are currently returning from  a marketing tour of the U.S., promoting the lodge to its target market —bear hunters, wolf and moose hunting, as well as the area’s excellent fishing.

With all the upgrades and increased attention the resort is receiving, Ozawanimke believes, “the timing is right to consider renaming and rebranding to expand, not just as a hunting and fishing destination, or ATV destination, but an area where you can go to have business sessions with alternative activities associated with that,” he said.

According to Ozawanimke,  Ritchie Falls Resort has already peaked the interest of a B.C. firm wanting to hold training sessions there, while an Ontario-based ecological group has begun talks with SDC in discussing using the lodge as a headquarters for their training programs.  With the increased capacity coupled with a 3,000 square foot conference centre and infrastructure improvements, Ritchie Falls continues to take its place as a premiere destination for those enjoying the outdoors in North Ontario.