Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
For 30 years the Virlas family has been operating Miette Hot Springs Bungalows, east of Jasper, never thinking a global pandemic would affect their business.
But due to limitations created by COVID-19, even though the provincial government gave a go-ahead for opening, they made a heart-wrenching decision to not open at all this year.
"It's really difficult," said Dina Virlas, general manager, "especially that we're a small property, we're seasonal and we're family-owned. It supports four families.
"We're very proud of our property. It's a historical site, has a lot of great history. We want to honour that history, keep that history. It's so unique, it's so far out of town."
Included in the closure is the restaurant, cabins, motel and gift shop.
Virlas said they were at 50 to 60 per cent of bookings before the pandemic was declared in March and down to 20 per cent after.
"We had mass cancellations. It really did hurt," she said.
The cancellations, combined with the need to hire extra staff and train them to be in line with expected COVID-19 protocol, and the fact that the busy season is already in progress, led to the decision.
But thanks to wage subsidies, there is funding for Virlas' position, as well as an assistant manager, restaurant manager and reservation manager. The company also hired a maintenance man out of their own pocket.
Virlas pointed out there are ongoing expenses such as accounting, legal fees and insurance.
Not having Miette Hot Springs Bungalows open is impacting a long line of loyal visitors. The Virlas family has run the bungalows since 1990, but they were built in 1938.
"It's quite a beautiful spot," Virlas said. "People have been coming for years."
She noted the hot springs, owned and operated by Parks Canada, have been open since 1935.
Despite this year's closure though, the Virlas family is looking ahead.
"It's going to be a fabulous year next year - a stellar year," Virlas said.
As far as this year's visitors go, Virlas said, "They're on our waiting lists. They've tentatively booked dates. They want their certain spot, at a certain time."
Miette Road remains closed to vehicles and the Miette Hot Springs themselves are currently closed to limit the spread of COVID-19, with no estimated opening date.
