The blaze on April 29th that would go on to claim the building that housed Quality Inn and Suites and Smitty’s Restaurant and Lounge has significantly affected the lives of staff and the community.
Angelina Fehr, the owner/general manager of Smitty's, says that as the event was unfolding, it was difficult to tell how severe the situation was.
“Everything happened so quickly. I am grateful that it happened over our shift change, so we had five managers that were present and were able to take control of the situation as quickly as possible," she says.
Fehr, along with the quick action of her managers to evacuate the building, helped ensure that no one was hurt in the fire.
Even so, the event was a heartbreaking occurrence for the 48 staff members who worked at Smitty’s and the Winkler community in general.
Out in six minutes
For Fehr and the crew, the time from noticing that something was off to gathering in the parking lot at the muster point was a short six minutes.
After those six minutes, the lives of Fehr and her staff were altered forever as they watched their beloved workplace succumb to the fire.
Fehr, who is described as “caring deeply for her employees” by staff member Johanna, says she felt the need to protect the seven staff members with her in that moment.
“We were having a shift change, so there were a couple that were just coming and there were a couple that were just leaving,” she says.
'You don’t realize how important they are’
After everyone was safely out of the building and the flames began to appear, it was time for the first responders to arrive.
Fehr is exceedingly grateful to the group that arrived to tackle the disheartening scene.
“You don't realize how important they are until you're in a position where you are so vulnerable and you don't know what to do, and they come in and they can just take over and they can gain control so quickly,” she says.
“They were amazing. Even [as] we were just struggling mentally with what was happening, they were absolutely wonderful.”
Fehr is thankful for the first responders who helped with the fire at Smitty’s: the Winkler Police, the Morden Police, the Winkler Fire Department, and Morden Fire & Rescue.
“I am in awe that this is something that they would willingly do — to put themselves in those kinds of positions for other people. It’s absolutely amazing, so I found myself in awe a few times because of that,” she says.
The impact on staff
Anyone who has seen the charred wreckage left over after the fire can likely imagine the sorrow that accompanies such an occurrence, but for the staff at Smitty’s, the misfortune is profound.
“We felt the loss of community,” says Candace, a staff member. “[Insurance] will definitely help pay for the loss of building, equipment, inventory, but for over 50 people, ... our loss is emotional.”
“We didn’t just make friends. We made best friends with Angie being one of them,” adds another staff member from the lounge.
“To my coworkers: you made every shift feel like a team effort, and more importantly, like home. No matter who was scheduled, I always looked forward to coming in. Thank you for the laughs, the support, and the memories.”
-Aiden Friesen, Marketing & Events Coordinator
The legacy that Fehr created with her staff is one of going above and beyond to provide support and build community. She says that among her part-time staff are nine graduates, some of whom have been at the establishment since it opened in 2022, and one of the employees just celebrated her 16th birthday.
Altogether, it paints a picture of a vibrant community suddenly shattered by the events on April 29th.
“Angie and the Smitty’s team created an atmosphere where work felt like home. She understood the need for work/life balance and yet we all just became our own family. Through ups and downs, highs and lows, we always persevered.”
-Anonymous comment from a staff member of Smitty’s
“It's been a little bit difficult to reach out to everybody right now because I think everybody's just trying to figure out what is next, and how to process this, but slowly but surely, we’ve all been able to communicate,” says Fehr.
The owner/general manager says that all her staff are “wonderful people” and that if she had to do it all over again, she would choose the same path.
'It was definitely a lot more than just a place to have breakfast’
Beyond the staff that the fire has greatly impacted, the community known to frequent the establishment has also experienced a loss.
“Everybody knew we were always full on a Sunday morning, but throughout the week, we had our regulars. We had people who came in for breakfast every morning. We had our regulars that were friends with our other regulars because they got to know each other being in our space,” says Fehr, adding that it was the same for evenings.
“It was definitely a lot more than just a place to come and have breakfast. My staff have thrown out the word family so, so much that after a little while, you have to hear it. I do think that we were a big family.”
'In an instant, I don’t know when I’ll see them again’
Fehr says that one of the things that Smitty’s offered to the community was bringing entertainment to the city, including karaoke, trivia nights, and live music.
“We really took pride in trying to bring something new to the community that you couldn't get anywhere else, so shout out to all the people that came out for our events and all the people that took part in our events. We couldn't have done it without them. For that, I’m grateful.”
Another difficult part of weathering the fire's aftermath is the sudden loss of familiar faces.
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For Fehr, it’s the hardest part.
“That's the part where I struggle the most — you get to see these people every day, they just become a part of your life, and just in an instant, I don't know when I'll see them again,” she says. “I will only see them now in passing. I won't see them on the regular. I'm heartbroken that I don't get to see these wonderful people every day.”
Fehr is thankful to her customers and regulars “for their support” and for coming in often enough to be a regular part of her life.
“Not even just my life. It was all of us. It was everybody. It was all our staff,” she says, adding that she hopes her regulars say hello when they come across her in the community.
What’s next?
In the wake of the fire, one question that remains is what will happen next.
“Right now, we don’t know,” says Fehr. “The investigation is still going on. We still don't have final answers, but in the meantime, it's not looking promising for the next probably year or two.”
Fehr says that although she’s not 100% sure what the future brings, she is open to the possibility of starting fresh.
“I really do hope that I can come back and serve the community again, and if the opportunity presents itself, I will definitely do it, but for right now, this was quite the devastating loss and we're unsure of the next steps,” she says.
In the end, it’s not as much about the structure itself as it is about those, from staff members to regulars, who considered Smitty’s their solace, connection to the community, or home away from home.
“It’s a building, and things are things, but the people — that’s what made it great,” says Fehr.
With files from Connie Bailey