Owners

Many of our valued guests saw Pit grow up at Aikens Lake. When his parents Gerry and Lorraine Turenne first became partners in the lodge in 1988, Pit was but a mere 10 years old! He essentially grew up at Aikens, spending each of his summers working every possible job from rookie grunt worker, logger and laborer, and eventually guiding for several years before becoming head guide for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. His fingerprints are everywhere on this peninsula. For nearly two decades, Gerry and Lorraine did an incredible job managing the lodge, the staff, and the resource. They brought it from a small operation to one of the top fly-in destinations in North America by focusing on the service aspect and providing guests with a memorable experience. By being such consummate hosts, they were the ones who created the "Aikens Experience," which means that your time off the water is just as important and enjoyable as your time on it! Pit has learned how to host people and understands the importance of the experience people are seeking. He strives to make sure that the "Aikens Experience" keeps improving year after year.

Julie's first summer at Aikens was in 2000. She worked several years in the kitchen and housekeeping and has a keen eye for detail. Today, Julie oversees both departments and is our key administrator when it comes to scheduling and planning. You can imagine the logistics involved in hosting over 500 guests per summer, while managing a staff of 24+ people and making sure that everyone has flights in and out, enough food for the kitchen to serve delicious meals, all the supplies everyone needs all way down to things you wouldn't think of until you actually run out of it. Her organizational skills are second to none and she is the glue that holds together our little community by making sure that logistics are always taken care of and no one is ever left wanting anything during their stay at Aikens Lake.

Pit and Julie have been managing the lodge full time since 2005, and they are absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity year after year to be able to raise their young family in such an incredible setting. They both spend the entire summer at the lodge, with the children joining them when school is out (and maybe a week or two while school is still in session!) The children (Annika - 2004, Marty - 2006, Natasha - 2009) bring a genuine "family atmosphere" to the lodge. In addition, Pit and Julie thrive in the challenge of providing everyone with that memorable experience they are seeking. They both have the practical knowledge by having worked at Aikens for many seasons, and also have the book smarts to make sure every aspect of your trip is taken care of with professionalism. They use all of this background to make sure that the "Aikens Experience" continues to offer our valued guests an incredibly unique blend of great fishing, unbeatable service, and lasting memories!

In 2014, majority shareholder Christopher Jensen provided Patrick and Janelle with an unexpected but deserved reward for their years of great work and loyalty.... they now own a part of Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge!

Patrick has been working at Aikens since 2000. He started off working on the dock before proving his chops on the lake when he became a guide a few years later. He eventually became our longest tenured head guide, working 5 seasons in that role (2004-2008). He proved himself enough over the years to be offered the opportunity to become the first salaried year-round employee of Aikens, so in 2007 he added the title of "Sales Manager." His knowledge of the fishery, combined with his innate ability to read people and his gift of gab made him a great salesperson right from day 1. He still fulfills that role each winter, and in the summers you can see him in his coveralls taking great pride in keeping the Aikens machine running smoothly both on and off the water.

Janelle began working at Aikens in 2006. She ascended through the ranks working in housekeeping, waitressing, bartending, and even saw spot duty in the kitchen from time to time. Janelle and Patrick served as hosts at GGO for three seasons. Janelle's charm and easy-smile made her a favorite with our guests, and she began working fulltime for Aikens in 2010 as the Guest Relations Manager.

We are proud to have welcomed Patrick and Janelle into the partnership. They are thrilled to own a slice of a place they hold so dear to their hearts - Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge!