Trynna Dion and Michael Champ have been a big part of the local business scene.
As co-owners of the Historic Red Barn Pub and Grill—better known as the Charlie Lake Pub—they’ve built lasting connections in the community spanning 35 years.
Dion admits it will be “a little emotional” when they serve their last call this week. Their journey began in the early ’90s, running a restaurant from a temporary setup in what’s now the pub’s parking lot, and they’ve been operating businesses ever since.
The duo announced this month in an emotional Facebook post that they had sold the establishment. With her final night behind the bar set for Tuesday, June 30, Dion spoke with Energeticcity.ca about the decision to let go of the business.
“We actually built the pub,” Dion recalled. “It took a year to complete, with WL Construction as the primary builder. There used to be an iconic red barn in our parking lot, and we worked out of it while building the pub.”
The pub opened on Remembrance Day in 1998. At the same time, while running the historic Red Barn, they also owned a restaurant called Micci’s. In the 1990s, they started Micci’s and also operated Tea Bag Annie’s in Fort St. John, showing their range in the hospitality industry.
Despite their impressive portfolio, Dion admitted longevity hasn’t been easy, citing staff shortages and times when they used Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) to hire foreign workers. Over the years, they’ve hosted music festivals, farmers’ markets, comedy shows, and much more.
With new owners stepping in, Dion and Champ will stay on for about a month to help with the transition. Dion said long-time patrons have always supported them and hopes that will continue as they move on from a brand they worked hard to build.
“It’s been a privilege to serve the community for so long,” Dion said. “Our patrons have stood by us from our days in town to when we moved out to Charlie Lake, and their loyalty has meant the world.”
Now, with retirement and travel on the horizon, Dion expects it will be an emotional farewell as she serves customers one last time as an owner. “I would imagine it will be bittersweet,” she said.
-with files from Ed Hitchins - Peace Region & energeticcity.ca
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