Cook up team-building strategies at retreat.

• Author: Carter, Brianne
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: CONFERENCE, CONVENTION AND EVENT PLANNING

Richard Lafleur is a northerner who tried living elsewhere, but kept being drawn back to his roots. After working a variety of seasonal jobs, he decided to open a year-round resort in the North six years ago, and he hasn't stopped to look back.

Lafleur is part owner of Cedar Meadows Resort in Timmins. The 29-room resort, which opened in February 2000, is situated on 275 acres of land located five minutes from downtown Timmins.

"Being from the North, I wanted to be in the North," Lafleur says. "I saw a need for what we have here. The hotel is built on the outskirts; it's not on the main drag with everything else."

The resort offers a variety of facilities for different events, including weddings, corporate meetings and a dining room with an executive chef. Four months ago, management started looking at the idea of adding team-building exercises for small businesses and companies to their list of services.

"In the big city, team-building is really popular," Lafleur explains. "Around here, I guess they thought about doing it, but I don't really know anybody that does it. To do it, we started with what we're good at, and we're good in the kitchen."

Businesses can send employees to the resort for corporate cooking classes, which require team members to work together in the kitchen to prepare their own meal.

"Working in the kitchen, you have to work as a team," Lafleur says. "Everybody's got to work together. The timing is important too; everything's got to be ready at a certain time, otherwise you don't eat."

Lafleur is also looking at adding the "Survivor" game to the resort's...