The North West Company celebrated the opening of a new Northern store in Shamattawa on May 18.
The store replaces one that was destroyed in a fire in 2016, though a temporary store has been operating in the interim.
The new 8,320-square-foot store was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting, cake, giveaways and contests to win prizes including a 50-inch LED TV.
The new store includes a full-serve hot deli offering prepared meal options and more baby products and general merchandise, particularly home electronics.
“We are thrilled to introduce the new store to Shamattawa,” said North West Company vice-president of sales and operations Michael Beaulieu in a May 18 press release. “We are pleased to partner with the Shamattawa First Nation on the new store and would like to thank the chief and council for their support.”
The new facility will also have more signs, aisle wayfinders and shelf labels in Cree and the company expects that it will increase the number of staff to 24. In 2017, the company says, the temporary Northern store made an $847,000 economic contribution to the remote community.
“I appreciate the quick response of the North West Company in dealing with the fire at the previous Northern store,” said Shamattawa First Nation Chief Jeff Napoakesik. “Now that the new store has been constructed, I am looking forward to the expanded services the store will offer to the community.”
The North West Company will make a $1,000 donation to the children’s breakfast program at the Kisemattawa Kiskinwahamakew Kamik School.
North West operates retail stores in Canada, Alaska, the South Pacific and Caribbean and says it employs more than 3,000 Indigenous employees with an annual payroll of $65 million in Canada.
