The Lunn Hotel, a well-known business in Canora, has been under new ownership since July.
The new owners are Frank and Anna Wu, originally from Hangzhou, China.
While they were still in China, Frank was a math teacher in middle school and Anna was a medical school practitioner.
They originally moved to Canada in 2014 to take advantage of educational opportunities for their son Han, who is presently studying medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, said Frank.
With Han on his own in Saskatoon, his parents began looking for business opportunities.
“We never operated a bar business previously,” said Frank. “We learned a lot of relevant legal knowledge, bar business operation requirements, passed a series of training exams including food safety, bar practitioner business operations and VLT operations. We hope that through our efforts we can provide good service to our customers.”
The couple started by purchasing a small bar in Bruno to gain some experience, before purchasing the larger operation at the Lunn Hotel, he said.
They have worked at making improvements at the Hotel, repairing various facilities, making the business more environmentally friendly, and creating a more comfortable customer environment.
“We updated some of the bar rugs, patched the doors and windows, added free karaoke, and are now updating the second floor rooms,” said Frank. “We are ready to launch room service in early 2019. In order to better provide quality service, we have modified the original drink menu and food menu with our own specialties.
“Anna enjoys cooking, and customers now have the opportunity to try it,” said Frank.
“Her fried noodles, chicken wings, mushroom burgers and hand made dumplings are popular with customers,” he said. “At the beginning of September, well-known Canadian writer Sigmund Brouwer came to Canora to give a lecture and came to our bar for a whole week of dumplings, and thanked us for the dumplings when he left.”
Frank said they are always searching for new ideas to better look after the needs of their customers.
“In order to take care of people with limited mobility, those who cannot enter the bar, and those who are unwilling to go out in the snow and icy weather in winter, we have launched a free delivery service,” he said.
Those who visit the bar at the Lunn Hotel can take advantage of special sports watching events and also enter the first Lunn Hotel Cup Pool competition which will crown the best pool player in Canora, said Frank.
For further information, he encourages interested persons to follow announcements at the bar.
Even though they have only been in Canora for a short time, Frank said he and Anna have thoroughly enjoyed the living and working environment.
“Because of our deficiencies with the English language and limited experience in business, we have many shortcomings in the business development process, but we have the understanding, care, support and help of many people in the town,” he said. “Some people have proposed various suggestions for repairs. Some people have offered us various business activities. Some people have sent us all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowers. We feel the warmth of the big family of Canora.”
When they’re not busy at the Hotel, Frank and Anna enjoy taking advantage of the slower pace of life in and around Canora.
“I like to brew beer and red wine, fishing, growing vegetables and flowers,” he said. “I really like to talk to customers about fishing, making wine and raising flowers. After being in Canada for more than three years, I have slowly started to like football, ice hockey, UFC and other sports events that are not popular in our country. I like the living environment of Canora with the wide open fields, clear air and friendly residents.
“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the friends who have helped us, and we welcome more people to give us more help and advice. We hope to provide more and better quality services through our continuous efforts and study,” concluded Frank.
