The visitor centre in Air Ronge is closed during one of the busiest times for tourism in the area. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

staffing issues

Air Ronge visitor centre closes six months after reopening

Jul 24, 2024 | 11:27 AM

The Lac La Ronge Visitor Centre has closed its doors to the public once again.

“At this time, our manager is on sick leave,” said La Ronge Coun. Ryan Veteri, who also sits on the Woodlands and Waterways Regional Development Corporation board.

“She does have a doctor’s note excusing her from work. We are waiting to see what we hear from her. There’s not enough money to hire somebody else. We did apply for a student grant this year, we were denied so that left that out. The board has talked about volunteers, but we’re not quite there yet so that’s where we are with it.”

The visitor centre reopened in January following an eight-month closure. The corporation was in debt approximately $69,000, but was subsequently bailed out by Air Ronge and La Ronge.

The visitor centre is kept afloat with yearly contributions of $25,000 each from of those three partners. Those contributions haven’t increased since 2009.

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“My concern has been there hasn’t been that consultation with the partners coming to this table. Some of this discussion could have happened and some of the people at this table would have said ‘yes, we can’t operate a place like that without at least some part-time staff to call on,’ and now we are in a situation where we don’t have anybody to draw on,” La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski told Veteri at a regular town council meeting on Tuesday.

“That’s the reason we bailed it and supported that is because we want it to operate, and you can’t operate on a shoestring budget. If you needed more money to hire another position, I don’t think it would have been unreasonable to say we need an extra $10,000.”

Veteri told council since the tri-communities had bailed the corporation out of debt, the board was reluctant to ask the councils for more money. He also said he completely understands the public’s frustration with the centre being temporarily closed again.

General manager Breanna Parbst was hired by the board in August 2023. Veteri is hopeful the centre will reopen by the end of 2024.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com