Raif Fleihan sits outside of the Airport Inn Lakeside with black Crocs, a lanyard that says, sa国际传媒渘o one home!sa国际传媒� and a Panasonic landline with the word sa国际传媒渏ackasssa国际传媒� in digital lettering.
He drinks a green drink sa国际传媒� not black enough to be coffee and not light enough to be a cocktail sa国际传媒� and opens up a red pack; theresa国际传媒檚 only a couple of smokes left.
Fleihan looks territorial by nature. After years of owning and selling businesses, trying to make it in a foreign country that he migrated to as a young man and defending himself and his motel, his face exudes hostility when a stranger roams onto the property.
Generally speaking, the label of the Airport Inn has been disgusting, dirty, uninhabitable; that itsa国际传媒檚 a stain amongst the pristine backdrop of Lake Country as drivers charge into Winfield off Highway 97.
Coffee will be offered to people that Fleihan likes. If he likes you, he will talk to you.
He might offer you a smoke but it depends on how many he has left in his pack. Hesa国际传媒檚 been told before that he is rude.
sa国际传媒淚 have one friend of mine, seven-foot-tall, bald-headed,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 met him by accident in sa国际传媒�71. I cook for him.sa国际传媒�
Sometimes he gets a little bit off-topic.
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Fleihan is from a town about 20 minutes away from Beirut in Lebanon. He moved to Canada with his brother when he was in his 20s.
He developed a hard-working mentality and over the years, he owned and sold a number of businesses before attaining what is now known as the Airport Inn.
In 2017, the motel was shut down for health and safety purposes and Fleihan was denied a business license for the property.
Mayor James Baker said Lake Countrysa国际传媒檚 fines arensa国际传媒檛 enough to keep businesses like the Airport Inn accountable so now the district has a motion brewing that could board up the building.
It has yet to reach councilsa国际传媒檚 desk, according to Karen Miller, the communications officer for the District of Lake Country.
sa国际传媒淲e have to be concerned about public safety,sa国际传媒� Mayor Baker said.
The motel is currently undergoing renovations for infrastructure the district has deemed unsanitary or faulty.
Fleihan said his business only does monthly rentals now. This way, he thinks, no one can blame him for staying in a gungy motel suite they booked online.
According to Baker, there were talks about the province acquiring the land, but BC Housing claimed they donsa国际传媒檛 recall any such plans.
Although, that is how the property is being treated now. With the monthly rental structure, Fleihan runs a supportive housing service for people with low income.
Often, he said, he doesnsa国际传媒檛 even charge people rent and he just gets them to help out with the property.
sa国际传媒淭he people who work and serve every day, they cansa国际传媒檛 afford to have a $20-million home.sa国际传媒�
He leans when he comes to a conclusory statement, such as this one. sa国际传媒淭he poor people cansa国际传媒檛 figure out how to fit in.sa国际传媒�
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Fleihan sa国际传媒� whether he identifies as someone who can fit in or not sa国际传媒� sticks up for the marginalized, according to one resident who has laundry to do.
Two sa国际传媒渄arlingssa国际传媒� are spoken. One from Fleihan to the tenant, who was dressed in pyjamas and a ponytail on her day off, and one from the tenant for Fleihan.
She walks from her unit up to the main reception at the head of the property.
Her name is Stacie Brinkman and she asks her landlord for a smoke, but he only has one left.
She said thatsa国际传媒檚 OK, she might have one in her room. He gives her his last one anyways.
sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檙e so good to me,sa国际传媒� she responds.
She said Fleihan is misunderstood by the public and so is the business.
sa国际传媒淓veryone in here is one big happy family,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not a perfect place, but itsa国际传媒檚 not disgusting. Itsa国际传媒檚 not a run-down place sa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 my fsa国际传媒搆ing home.sa国际传媒�
Brinkman said she would probably be living on the streets if it werensa国际传媒檛 for Fleihan. Itsa国际传媒檚 something she is very grateful for.
sa国际传媒淗e cares for people.sa国际传媒�
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BC Housing does not refer people to the inn but has said that often times, other affordable, supportive or emergency shelters might if they are fully occupied.
sa国际传媒淔or years, investments in affordable and supportive housing did not keep up with community needs and many people have been left with nowhere to go,sa国际传媒� said Tracy Wells, senior communications advisor for BC Housing.
sa国际传媒淚n limited circumstances, housing providers may refer clients to an appropriate hotel on a temporary basis.sa国际传媒�
The motel, whose infamy rose from its reputation as a bargain inn, is often the recipient of people who may not have many other options to go.
Fleihan said he doesnsa国际传媒檛 really know how many people stay at the motel; it changes every day.
sa国际传媒淵ou donsa国际传媒檛 need a license; they can keep that garbage.sa国际传媒�
His approach to business is more ad hoc and people-centric rather than being about formalities and regulations.
The inside reception area is filled with antiques, drapes, a piano and a functioning TV that has a sizable black mark on the screen sa国际传媒� it looks as if something or someone punched it.
Fleihan doesnsa国际传媒檛 care because he watches the news on that TV.
He said he doesnsa国际传媒檛 like the Lake Country Calendar very much, either.
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There are pictures with him and a political hero of his, former B.C. premier Bill Bennett, who he said he had a very strong relationship with and was the only politician hesa国际传媒檚 ever really liked.
They line the wooden desk that is also strewn with old receipts, mail and letters.
He damns computers and doesnsa国际传媒檛 bother to use them anymore.
Red packages are shielded behind the cupboard of a metal encasement. It is his stash of cigarettes.
At the same moment, another man who helps Fleihan with the property brings cheese and crackers.
If this happens, Fleihan would like if you eat the crackers.
Good hospitality is important to him.
