Your home away from home
in the heart of the Turtle Mountains
Where you’ll be welcomed like family
The Canadian Wilderness Inn group is a family-founded brand with two locations in Boissevain and Killarney, Manitoba. Here, you’ll find everything you need to make your stay an enjoyable one.
From the very beginning, we have been dedicated to ensuring that our motels reflect the natural beauty and adventure of life in Manitoba’s Turtle Mountains.
Founder Irvin Goodon, an avid nature enthusiast, wanted to bring his love of nature to others by weaving a wildlife theme through the motel. Close to the attractions of the Turtle Mountain Provincial Park and International Peace Garden, choose from one or more of the many activities in southwestern Manitoba.
As a family-owned and operated organization, we hope your stay with us also makes you feel like you’re part of our family.
“Because this motel is a human institution, we hope that God will grant you peace and rest while you’re under our roof. May this motel be your second home.”
What sets us apart
Family owned & operated
The only post frame motels built in Canada
Wilderness theme woven throughout motels including animals, murals and furniture
Antler chandeliers crafted by founder Irvin Goodon
Manitoba Indigenous Tourism Association and Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada members
Member of Canada Select Accommodation Rating Program with a 3.5 star rating
Conveniently located in Boissevain and Killarney
Meet the Team
Family for us isn’t just about the last name that founded the CWI group. In more than one way, we feel that our family extends to our fantastic employees and guests.
Will Goodon, Co-owner
“Guided by family values and innovation since our founding in 2004, we attribute our long-term success to a strong culture and talented employees who live our values.”
Cheri Hammond, General Manager
“We invite you to sit back and relax, or take in the sights and sounds of our beautiful area. Make memories that last!”
Tammy Pugh, Killarney Manager
“Welcome to your home away from home. It is my hope that you kick your feet up, laugh loudly and make memories.”
A little more about Irvin Goodon
From humble beginnings, to a legacy of firsts, Irvin lived his mantra everyday: "Make your own tracks." He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, passionate about the land, an innovative businessman, published author, craftsman, preserver of history and builder of community.
Irvin was born to Métis parents in the Turtle Mountains of Manitoba in March 1933, just as spring thaw was bringing the promise of new life. He was raised in a small, traditional, Métis dirt-floor home, along with his five brothers and two sisters.
He left school in grade seven when he realized he could earn money on his trapline to contribute to the family household. Before long, Irvin was harvesting and selling fence posts to local farmers, then starting a feedlot cleaning operation and his own sawmill. Known as the "Pioneer of Post Frame," Irvin changed the design of farm buildings in Canada by bringing post-frame construction to the country in 1963. He was renowned across the industry for his ability to accurately perform the complex mathematical calculation of board feet in his head at lightning speed - a critical skill for lumber buying. Under his leadership, the company grew to become one of the largest in Canada. His name dotted the landscape from Manitoba to BC and into the midwestern USA. But most importantly, Irvin created opportunities for others in the community to thrive and earn a healthy living for their families.
Over the years, Irvin went on to build a western store, a convenience store, gas bar and a large farming operation. Irvin always had a passion for people, community and hospitality, and when he saw a need for motels in the southwestern Manitoba region, he launched the Canadian Wilderness Inn group. In 2005, Irvin became one of the first laureates of the Aboriginal Business Hall of Fame. For this great honour he was thankful to God, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, and his family for believing in him. Irvin was humbled to receive several other awards for his businesses and contributions to the community throughout the years.
Whether making tracks on foot, horseback, canoe, or snowmobile, Irvin was most at home in the natural environment of the Turtle Mountains. His freezer was always stocked with wild game and his potlucks were the stuff of legends. Friends and hunters would come from miles abroad to feast together on wild delicacies, then share the mic to tell stories of their own, often to much laughter. To continue sharing his passion of nature with others, Irvin built the Goodon Wildlife Museum in Boissevain, Manitoba.
In recent years, when others would be slowing down in retirement, the artisan came out in Irvin. Antler chandeliers designed and crafted by him are found in homes across Western Canada. He authored three books including his autobiography Climbing One Pole at a Time, From Rabbit to Grizzly, stories of his hunting and trapping experiences, and Not Your Average Métis, a testimony of his life. Irvin also nurtured a large, bountiful garden, and tapped many a tree for its prized maple syrup. To the end of his days, Irvin remained proud of his Métis heritage.
Irvin passed on December 28, 2021 and is missed greatly by his family, many friends and people whose lives he had touched throughout his journey.
