Stoughton’s Poplar Tree Inn and Stought’s Eatery are under new ownership, and the new owners are excited to embrace small-town life in Saskatchewan.
Swapneet Kaur Ranike, her husband Bhupinder Pal Singh and their three children—son Sayyam Pal Singh and daughters Kirat Ranike and Gulnar Ranike—came to Canada from India in 2016.
Ranike has a bachelor’s degree in English, which she earned with honours, as well as several degrees and certifications in hospitality and tourism. She said she has been in the restaurant industry since she was 17 years old.
In India, families often live under their parents’ wings, but the couple wanted to strike out on their own. They moved to Toronto, where they opened a business.
The family appreciated Canada’s education system and saw it as an opportunity to leave their comfort zone and try something new.
Over the years, they searched for a business in the west, conducted extensive research and discovered the Poplar Tree Inn and Stought’s Eatery.
Ranike said they looked into Stoughton and saw it had much to offer, including a school, stores and activities for their children.
She enjoys the small-town atmosphere.
“In Toronto, you don’t walk down the street and speak to people,” she said. “Here, it’s much different.”
On Oct. 15 last year the Poplar Tree Inn changed ownership, and on Nov. 5, the family purchased Stought’s Eatery.
The eatery currently has two chefs, but they plan to bring in another from Toronto to introduce even more new ideas.
Most of the menu items at the eatery are made fresh and in-house, including buns, sauces, pizza crusts and more.
The old menu will remain, but they plan to add a side menu with new items for customers to try and provide feedback.
Ranike encourages customers to share their thoughts.
“We cannot fix something if we don’t know it isn’t working,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of customers, saying they are the foundation of their business. The family aims to address any concerns from upset customers promptly. The eatery is open seven days a week.
The Inn, which has 41 rooms, is managed by Mike Assar. The family plans to convert some suites into kitchenettes.
“Not everyone wants to eat out when they’re on the road,” Ranike said.
She wants to offer guests the option to cook their own meals.
Assar, who came to Canada 10 years ago, is committed to ensuring guests have an excellent stay at the Poplar Tree Inn.
Breakfast is included with the motel experience, and drinks are always available.
An indoor swimming pool is also planned for the future, which Ranike believes will be a major attraction for visitors and a hit with children.
While the Ranike family currently remains in Toronto, they plan to move to Stoughton in the future.
Ranike hopes to get involved in the community through fundraising, as she did in Ontario, where she supported the local hospital, pet rescues and community organizations.
Although they are still settling in and establishing routines, Ranike looks forward to meeting the people of the area and providing years of dedicated service.
