Sad to say that Jean Paquette is leaving town. Jean, or John as he was known to English speakers, was the food and beverage Manager at the Explorer Hotel and he’s moving to Calgary.
We are sad to see him go because he was an excellent manager. Jean is a prime example of someone who really goes above and beyond to connect with people and values what they do. He treated people the way he wanted to be treated.
Jean was responsible for managing everything at Trader’s Grill and the bar/lounge, like staffing, banquets, and hotel equipment including for housekeeping. He was the front of the house and he also assisted at banquets, when needed.
Jean moved here in 2017 from Toronto, where he was in the restaurant and hotel business. A head hunter contacted him and he was hired right after being interviewed. A month later he moved to Yellowknife and soon his husband Luis got a job here as a manager at Canadian Tire, so they drove up together from Toronto.
After a period of adjustment, Jean and Luis came to love Yellowknife. He enjoyed working at the Explorer and adored the staff. He said, “During Covid, Yellowknife was the best place to be. We felt safe.”
Jean’s replacement is the former assistant food and beverage manager from the Frobisher Inn.
People sad to see him go
We are regular customers and we are sad to see him go. I spoke to a few other regular customers and they wish he wasn’t leaving as well, but life goes on.
Jean said the hardest part about leaving is that he loves the staff and he will really miss them. It’s apparent they love him too, and one member said “He’s the coolest boss.” Another said, “He’s part of our family. He’s like our dad and we really respect him.” Truly awesome.
Another staff member said, “We will truly miss him. He really manages people well. He trusts us and is not on us all the time. He guides us along the goals of the hotel. During Covid, he worked with us including with isolating people. Whenever there is not enough staff, he steps in.”
Jean will miss the staff as well. He said, “I really appreciate the staff. I’ve been lucky to have a very good team. They are excellent, competent, reliable and some have been here for 10 years. I will miss them dearly and will stay in contact.”
He said there were no problems working at the Explorer, except for a few bad apples that were hard to get rid of, like anywhere else.
Notable clients
When I asked him about notable clients, Jean said they tended to Prime Minister Trudeau a couple of times. He also said members of the British family Princess Kate and Prince William stayed there, and Hilary Swank was there for about a week last year, while filming the Alaska Daily series.
He said Prince Charles did not stay at the Explorer when he came to town, so he must have left the same day he was in Yellowknife.
Jean came from a background in the hotel and restaurant industry. He wanted the best training so he went to a Swiss hotel management school. He has worked at Four Seasons Hotels in Ottawa, Montreal and the West Indies.
He also worked at a luxury hotel in Turks and Caicos for three years as well as at the Shore Club in Miami. He also spent time at Toronto Intercontinental Hotel and at a couple of restaurant jobs in Toronto while helping a friend open a bakery. He then came to the Explorer for 7.5 years. That’s an impressive resume.
We bid you farewell and say, “So long, Jean. Thank you for providing us with excellent service. We will miss you.”