Update, October 20, 10:22pm – This article’s headline and some paragraphs have been amended slightly to more clearly specify that Pierre Lepage says his departure is a consequence, and not a cause, of The Lodge’s closure.
The Lodge at Aurora Village, a popular Yellowknife fine dining destination, is to close.
Chef Pierre Lepage, known for a series of culinary ventures in Yellowknife, confirmed to Moose FM that he is leaving his job at The Lodge. Bookings at the restaurant, including Christmas parties and weddings, have been cancelled.
The Lodge had been set to reopen for the season on Friday, November 13, but will no longer do so. It forms part of Aurora Village, a tourist operator for Asian visitors hoping to see the Northern Lights.
Lepage had no comment on the reason behind his departure from the business, other than to suggest the owner had taken the decision to close the restaurant.
Aurora Village owner Don Morin – a former Premier of the NWT – could not be reached. Employees at Aurora Village said Morin was out of town.
“I don’t think it will be back this winter, for sure,” said Aurora Village tour manager Kota Kanamori when asked about The Lodge’s fate. “I’m not sure about the future.”
A number of jobs are believed to be affected. Moose FM understands Aurora Village is planning a shift in operations away from fine dining to a greater focus on tourism.
Parts of Aurora Village’s website relating to The Lodge and events at the restaurant appeared to have been removed when Moose FM tried to access them on Tuesday.
