Raif Fleihan sits outside of the Airport Inn Lakeside with black Crocs, a lanyard that says, 含羞草研究社渘o one home!含羞草研究社� and a Panasonic landline with the word 含羞草研究社渏ackass含羞草研究社� in digital lettering.
He drinks a green drink 含羞草研究社� not black enough to be coffee and not light enough to be a cocktail 含羞草研究社� and opens up a red pack; there含羞草研究社檚 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 it含羞草研究社檚 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. He含羞草研究社檚 been told before that he is rude.
含羞草研究社淚 have one friend of mine, seven-foot-tall, bald-headed,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 met him by accident in 含羞草研究社�71. I cook for him.含羞草研究社�
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 Country含羞草研究社檚 fines aren含羞草研究社檛 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 council含羞草研究社檚 desk, according to Karen Miller, the communications officer for the District of Lake Country.
含羞草研究社淲e have to be concerned about public safety,含羞草研究社� 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 don含羞草研究社檛 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 doesn含羞草研究社檛 even charge people rent and he just gets them to help out with the property.
含羞草研究社淭he people who work and serve every day, they can含羞草研究社檛 afford to have a $20-million home.含羞草研究社�
He leans when he comes to a conclusory statement, such as this one. 含羞草研究社淭he poor people can含羞草研究社檛 figure out how to fit in.含羞草研究社�
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Fleihan 含羞草研究社� whether he identifies as someone who can fit in or not 含羞草研究社� sticks up for the marginalized, according to one resident who has laundry to do.
Two 含羞草研究社渄arlings含羞草研究社� 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 that含羞草研究社檚 OK, she might have one in her room. He gives her his last one anyways.
含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e so good to me,含羞草研究社� she responds.
She said Fleihan is misunderstood by the public and so is the business.
含羞草研究社淓veryone in here is one big happy family,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not a perfect place, but it含羞草研究社檚 not disgusting. It含羞草研究社檚 not a run-down place 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 my f含羞草研究社搆ing home.含羞草研究社�
Brinkman said she would probably be living on the streets if it weren含羞草研究社檛 for Fleihan. It含羞草研究社檚 something she is very grateful for.
含羞草研究社淗e cares for people.含羞草研究社�
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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.
含羞草研究社淔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,含羞草研究社� said Tracy Wells, senior communications advisor for BC Housing.
含羞草研究社淚n limited circumstances, housing providers may refer clients to an appropriate hotel on a temporary basis.含羞草研究社�
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 doesn含羞草研究社檛 really know how many people stay at the motel; it changes every day.
含羞草研究社淵ou don含羞草研究社檛 need a license; they can keep that garbage.含羞草研究社�
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 含羞草研究社� it looks as if something or someone punched it.
Fleihan doesn含羞草研究社檛 care because he watches the news on that TV.
He said he doesn含羞草研究社檛 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 he含羞草研究社檚 ever really liked.
They line the wooden desk that is also strewn with old receipts, mail and letters.
He damns computers and doesn含羞草研究社檛 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.
