An ecotourism business based in Thorne has received $99,325 from the federal government to expand their offerings.
Chalets Prunella, which currently operates four a-frame luxury chalets on a secluded 75-acre property, received the funds through a new program announced at the beginning of August for economically vulnerable MRCs in Quebec.
Catherine Lemay, who co-owns the business with her sister Nancy, said the money will help them build three additional cabins and a thermal therapy area which will include a plunge pool, platforms with hammocks, a relaxation building with saunas inside, a fireplace and an outdoor shower.
The construction of the new cabins is already in progress, and Lemay said they should be fully built before the season is over. The thermal therapy area won’t be ready until next year.
Lemay is hoping that the money will help them bring in more business. She said most of their customers come from cities outside the region, like Toronto and Montreal, and she is hoping to increase the number of guests they can host at one time.
Lemay said the trend of cabin or chalet tourism started to take off during the pandemic and has grown from there.
“We’re seeing a lot of young families, city slickers and/or couples seeking romantic getaways. That’s a huge chunk of our business,” she said. “People are looking for ways to escape the city, away from the usual stresses, to chill out.”
She said Chalets Prunella partners with local businesses to offer their guests a uniquely Pontiac experience.
They use local wood for the cabins, hire contractors local to the Pontiac, and give gifts to their guests including Bristol honey, Pine Lodge maple syrup, and products from La Fée des Bois Apothecary in Greermount.
Chalets Prunella has already been expanding its offerings. Just a few months ago, the sisters opened an outdoor pavilion where they can host small weddings, holding their first one just a few weeks ago.
Lemay said her business’ biggest challenge is the maintenance and cleaning of the cottages. With only a few employees and a quick turnaround time, it makes it hard to clean everything in time for the next guests.
In particular, laundry is a logistical issue. She said the closest commercial laundromat is in Renfrew, which is almost a two-hour round-trip voyage. They have tried linen services, but they have not been to her liking.
They are also in the process of building a laundry facility on the property, which will double as a welcome building for their customers.
The money Chalets Prunella received is a loan, not a grant, and pays for a maximum of 50 per cent of costs associated with the project. Once the project is finished, they will have a period of time to repay the amount.
Lemay said even though it’s a loan, it’s giving them the freedom to expand their offerings where they might not have before.
She said currently she and her sister are re-investing any profit they make back into the business, and that she is hoping the loan will allow them to begin making money down the line.
“My sister and I haven’t made a cent on this thing [ . . . ] It’s hard on our families to be doing this. All the money we are making we’re re-investing.”
“We think that once we have the seven cabins and the multifunctional building plus the thermal therapy, then we can breathe a little bit [ . . . ] at least generate a little bit of revenue for ourselves.”
