Cree Village Ecolodge emerges from ice jam disaster

By Katherine McIntyre

MOOSE FACTORY ISLAND, ON—Even though it was closed for a year due to the  devastating effects of a 2008 ice jam, occupancy is now up at the Cree Village Ecolodge.

With one foot in the future of tourism and the other back in the history of the Moose Cree, Randy Kakpasheisit of the MoCreebec Council First Nation originally spearheaded the development of Cree Village Ecolodge on the banks of the Moose River on Moose Factory Island. 

He planned to target the eco-tourist with an environmentally friendly lodge that would combine Cree values and their love of the land with their unique history.


Architecturally designed, by Clive Levitt of Toronto, this award winning northern lodge is built to withstand a temperature of minus 40 degrees.

Its cathedral like great room, lined in cedar and framed by giant pine poles with a view of the ever-changing Moose River has become the focal point. Besides its eco friendly structure, sustainable materials such as wool carpeting and blankets, organic cotton sheets and towels, slatted birch blinds, natural ventilation, ceiling fans, low level fluorescent bulbs, whimsical lampshades of recycled steel are used. From the kitchen, free trade coffee is served.

Greg Williams, the lodge manager, commented, “Our occupancy was up every year. We had more tourists from Europe and more business people staying overnight on the island. Then disaster struck.”

He related how an ice jam on the Moose River broke up at midnight on April 24, 2008. The backed up water exploded into the lodge, flooded the basement, the furnace, the electrical system, carpets and tiled floors and the painted surfaces.

“I would rather have a fire — you can assess the damage. When water seeps into the foundation it creates all kinds of unknown problems. We were closed for nearly a year to rebuild. To keep our eco designation in the International Tourism Society,” he added, “we searched out new floor material for the great room. Ceramic was no longer a recognized eco product; we used granite. We moved the furnace to a small building beside the lodge. Then we dealt with the foundation.”

“But,” Williams added, “Our worst problem was finding new staff. Almost everyone had other jobs or left the industry.” His only answer - to hire and retrain servers, cleaners and administrative assistants from Moose Factory’s small local population.

The lodge reopened in spring 2009, with a high-end chef, and had one of its best seasons ever. Plans are under way to start a culinary program with a mainland community college during the shoulder season. “We have the chef and the accommodation. The students will have the chance to work in a real kitchen. Running a lodge up here is more than a job; it is a sense of accomplishment and a connection to the island,” added Williams.