Sweet aroma of success

On April 5, the doors of the new Tim Horton’s in Sioux Lookout opened to the public. The business is owned and operated by Lac Seul First Nation and the proprietors are Tabatha Jourdain and Les Carpenter. Geoff Shields caught up with Jourdain during a lull in an otherwise very hectic pace of the business and asked her about how things have been progressing since they opened.
Wawatay (WWT): Whose idea was it initially to open a Tim Horton’s in Sioux Lookout?
Tabatha Jourdain (TJ): I believe it was Lac Seul First Nation who looked into the possibility of getting a Tim Horton’s and pursued it. They actually wanted to create employment opportunities for the area.
WWT: What prompted you both to take up the managerial position?
TJ: We were interested in working with Lac Seul First Nation they wanted a couple to partner with them. It was posted in the Band office and we applied for it.
WWT: I understand you went for training; what qualifications did you need to manage the business?
TJ: We had to learn the in-house training; the production; management of running a restaurant. We had some courses in human resources, maximizing the profitability training. Les and I both went through seven weeks of training and had to have First Aid/CPR Course before we left for the training. When we arrived at the training centre we studied and watched many training videos, and we had an actual “in restaurant experience” while doing production of the baking and on the floor at Tim Horton’s busiest restaurants in Oakville Ontario.
WWT: A lot of the staff seem to be still going through the learning process - are you satisfied with their progress?
TJ: Lot of them, yes but majority of them have progressed quite well and there are some that are still coming on that are new and a thirst for learning. We also had a challenge with baking production. The first few days after the trainers left, they needed to pick up the pace, learn to maximize ovens to prepare products faster and to have a complete showcase by 6:00 a.m.
WWT: Since opening how has the reception been from the local community?
TJ: We’ve had some good days and bad days, most of all it’s been good. We’ve had a few angry customers and we’ve been dealing with that in trying to make them happy.
WWT: The official opening is May 14th, are you planning anything special for the event?
TJ: Yes, we are ordering a special cake and we’re going to have a ribbon cutting ceremony and some dignitaries are going to be here; the Mayor of Sioux Lookout; Chief and Council of Lac Seul First Nations, economic development officer Chris Angeconeb and not sure who else.