Long-standing employees recount tales of working for MPL

As celebrations for Mountain Park Lodges’ 40th anniversary get underway this month, long-time employees Keith McKenney and Mike Wetmore look back on what it’s been like to work for the hotel chain for a quarter of a century.

Both McKenney and Wetmore came to town in the early 80s as teenagers, and though they both left again, Jasper’s boomerang effect drew them back in. Back then the company, which now owns several Jasper properties, consisted of just the Lobstick Lodge, and things were a little different.

“I remember in November we had days when nobody would check in,” Wetmore said. “You could blow a cannon down the hall.” 

Wetmore, who is now the company’s financial controller, was hired as an accountant, and McKenney started off running the maintenance department before eventually becoming chief engineer. They’ve been working for MPL for 26 and 24 years respectively. 

Friday nights back then were always spent at the Atha-B, where the men would order a table of draughts. “It was five glasses for a dollar, can you imagine?” McKenney said. 

For the rest of the weekend, they would be off experiencing the park – biking, hiking, climbing, you name it. “I was never half as crazy as he was,” Wetmore said.

Looking back, moving to town was a great decision for both men, who are both originally from Moncton, NB, though they didn’t know each other until they got to Jasper. “It’s a fun place to be a young person, to be out on your own, away from your family,” McKenney said, adding the people can make the difference. “There’s an open attitude here, no pre-conceived notions.”

Wetmore agreed. “There are such wonderful things to do here, I brought up my family, two kids here,” he said. “Jasper’s a great community. We know all our neighbours.”

Working for and sticking with MPL was a good move as well, as the company’s family-like attitude made the men feel right at home. “In the early years it was like a family… it still is,” McKenney said. 

“We’re a big company but not a huge corporate entity,” Wetmore added. “Every year we cycle staff, that’s Jasper, but more and more people are staying with us. There is a sense of family.” 

Being on the MPL team as it acquired more properties kept everyone’s job interesting, McKenna said. “We had ongoing, new challenges that just were great, solid challenges that kept us occupied,” he said. 

Wetmore said some accounting jobs can be mundane. “But I get the opportunity to buy hotels and be involved in the purchase,” he said. “That’s exciting stuff.”

Another change they’ve watched the hotel chain go through is the introduction of new forms of electronic communication. “Years ago people talked more and had better conversations,” Wetmore said. “There was less pressure. Now I get back to my office and there are a million emails waiting for me.”

As for whether Jasper will remain the destination that drew people to the Rockies 40 years ago, both men are sure it will. “The sky is not falling in, the mountains are still here and people will always want to come,” McKenney said. 

When they do, Wetmore insists the MPL properties are great places to stay. “We’ve got a group of people who really enjoy what they do,” he said. “It spills over to our clients.”