When Pope Francis Million Ste Visits Anne At the end of this month, the village of Alberta Beach It is expected to increase from 1,000 people to 100,000 throughout the week.
Due to which he is busy in preparing the village and preparing for the influx of businessmen.
Cheryl Demere-Ellis is used to booking Alberta Beach Inn & Suites during the annual pilgrimage to Lac Stay. Anne.
Alexis Nakota The Sioux people call it Lake Wakamane – or ‘Lake of God’ – and it is said that the holy water has healing powers.
“We’ve had many returning guests over the past five years, so I’m ready for them to bring me presents of Bannock and I bake them cookies,” the inn’s manager told Global News.
However, this year is even more busy. DeMaere-Ellis estimates she’s getting 40 phone calls a day from people looking for a room across North America.
All 22 rooms of the inn are booked and another 120 people are on waiting list. Even the places Demere-Ellis is sending people to are turning them away.
“Oneway Inn & Suites is now booked from my cancellation and [Alberta Beach] Hotel is booked. A lot is going well, maybe people are booking in Edmonton now,” Demere-Ellis speculates.
All those visitors will need to eat somewhere that’s keeping Kim Jakodnik busy.
She is the owner of Mama in the Kitchen, a local restaurant in Alberta Beach. Already, she’s pitching additional people.
“My staff is all family to me anyway, but there are extra biological kids coming in and helping with grandchildren and stuff,” Jakodnik explained.
Stocking up on food will also be important, but Jakodnik’s husband expects to make frequent trips to Edmonton for supplies, even though most of the area’s highways will be at least partially closed.
“He has no choice,” Jakodnik said of the visits.
“We only have limited space to store supplies. And being so busy, we probably have to make a trip every couple of days. ,
Still, it’s worth it for the restaurant owner who never thought he’d get an opportunity like this again.
“I was in an all-girls drum and trumpet band program in Alberta. I started when I was six and was in it for about ten years, and we had a tour of Europe in 1977.”
On that tour, Jakodnik and his bandmates met with Pope Paul VI along with other dignitaries.
Huge crowds, road closures and heavy security expected for Pope Francis’ visit to Alberta
Now that Pope Francis is visiting his community, Jakodnik sees opportunity knocking twice.
“I want to go and really see a second Pope, but of course I also have to be here for my staff.”
Free tickets are required to visit the shrine where the Pope will be visiting and whose supplies are expected to be short.
Instead, some appear to be simply happy to be near the lake on which the Pope is expected to bless.
The Alberta Beach Inn & Suites is fully booked for the entire week following Pope’s visit.
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