Building bridges between all communities
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/90694
PAGE 22 • NOVEMBER 2012 The 'Double-Double' just got easier THANKS IN PART TO THE HARD WORK AND SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY For residents in Oxford House, ordering a Double Double with a side of Timbits just got a little easier. The remote northern community is now home to a brand new Northern store and in-store Tim Hortons kiosk. "It's been a long time waiting for a new and bigger store to be in the community. We have had extensions added to the old store to ac- commodate the growing community and now with the new store it will be better," says Grand Chief Irvin Sinclair, Keewatin Tribal Council. The Northern store Tim Hortons is the first location by the popular coffee chain to open on a fly-in First Nation in Canada. Grand Chief Sinclair says he was surprised to learn a Double Double would soon be on the menu, adding that it is an excellent addition to the community. For those at Northern Oxford House, the entire project wouldn't be possible without the support of the community. "The Chief and Council were integral in getting this done," says Pat Jacob, General Manager, Northern Stores Inland Region. "And of course we wouldn't be here today, on time and on budget I might add, without the hard work of many members of the Bunibonib- ee First Nation." The community members worked a total of 6111 combined hours – over 764 full-time days of work – to build the new store which includes an additional 12,000 square feet of retail space. Originally built in 1942, the old 14,000 Ray Williamson Congratulations On the Roy A. Phinnemore Award T Ra pe On pr di aw co hi he Roy A. Phinnemore Award is presented to an individual who's ac co construction industry. accomplishments and contributions warrants re recognition on behalf of the co Ray Williamson is the only person in Northwestern Ontario ever to be presented with this distinguished provincial award. It is one of Ontario's construction industries highest safety awards. DOWLAND square foot store was no longer sufficient enough to fulfill the needs of the community – the addition of the new 12,000 square foot sales floor frees up the former space which will be used as a warehouse and service area. This is especially significant given the re- cent changes to the Nutrition North Canada program that took effect on October 1, which included the removal of non-perishable foods from the list such as canned vegetables, pasta and diapers which could be shipped via Winter Road, Sealift or Barge. "This allows us to ship in more products during the Winter Road season – meaning more food staples at lower prices than they would cost if those same items needed to be flown in," explains Jacob. And that means more product on the shelves – welcomed news for the 3,700 on and off-reserve community members. "We have a growing population in the com- munity and need to get more every day prod- ucts on the shelves so the new store will defi- nitely help with that," says Sinclair. The new Northern store and Tim Hortons officially opened its doors on October 29. On behalf of the Board and Staff of We congratulate our client Tim Sweeny Owner of Creeway Aviation Recipient of the 2012 EABLA Aboriginal Small and Medium Enterprises Award!