Lac La Ronge Indian Band leadership and Keethanow Group of Businesses management came together for a sod turning ceremony on Tuesday. (Image Credit: Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

development

New LLRIB gas bar to feature Chester’s Chicken

Mar 10, 2026 | 2:51 PM

Keethanow Group of Businesses, which is operated by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB), will open a new gas station by the end of 2026.  

“We found our current gas bar doesn’t fit the need anymore,” said Keethanow General Manager Dennis Caplette.  

“It was quite a bit smaller than what we are currently looking at, so we felt the expansion was necessary and we start doing the research about bringing it town, so it’s been five years in the making.” 

Construction of the new 8,000 square-foot building will begin in two weeks and is expected to be finished as early as November. It will be affiliated with Centex with petroleum products being provided from them. The new business will likely be called the LLRIB Travel Centre.  

The store will feature five pumps and a canopy to protect customers and staff from rain and snow. It will also include a Chester’s Chicken and an area for local artisans to sell arts and crafts. Other services planned for the gas stations are still in the works. 

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“Our staff compliment will increase quite a bit, so we’ll probably be running somewhere between 25 to 30 staff in total. It will be something that contributes to the band employment as well,” Caplette noted. 

LLRIB Chief Tammy Cook-Searson explained she is proud of the work accomplished by Keethanow, as well as councillors on the new development.  

“We see the need and we are always so busy at the current Keethanow Gas Bar right now,” she added.  

“The councillors started this work with Keethanow Group of Businesses management about five years ago, and started a partnership with Centex by working with them just to come up with more gas pumps [and] a bigger confectionary area.” 

The new gas bar will be located along Highway 2 at the former location of Henry’s Place.  

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com