Co-op Manager Rob Carr and LLRIB Coun. Gerald McKenzie stand with a donation made by the company Thursday. (submitted photo/Gerald McKenzie)

By Derek Cornet

home heating

Deal with Co-op Propane beneficial for Grandmother’s Bay: Councillor

Nov 7, 2019 | 4:36 PM

With an estimated 60 per cent of residents in Grandmother’s Bay using propane furnaces for heat, Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Coun. Gerald McKenzie believes it’s important for the community to have a good relationship with its service provider.

For the last three years, McKenzie stated there has been a special agreement between the northern LLRIB reserve and Federated Co-operatives Ltd. He said the two sides struck a deal when the band determined they were the cheapest source of propane for Grandmother’s Bay and they have been receiving unique benefits ever since.

“Every year about this time they donate $5,000 to our cultural activities,” McKenzie said, noting some of the money goes to cultural camps in the spring and fall.

Co-op has been supporting other endeavours in the community like donating ice augers, poker tables and barbecues as prizes for events such as the annual poker rally and fish derby. Students from Nihithow Awasis School are also given free tickets to La Ronge Ice Wolves games from the company.

With the majority of residents using propane for heat, McKenzie mentioned other Grandmother’s Bay residents either have electric furnaces or burn wood.

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“[Co-op] has an excellent team of representatives who manage their propane and the workers who deliver the propane to our community are really helpful,” he said. “They come into the homes and answer questions, and come to the band office and ask if there are any issues when they do come in.”

According to Federated Co-op Manager Rob Carr, giving back to the communities they serve is crucial for the company. He’s also happy with the relationship Grandmother’s Bay was able to make with Co-op and he hopes it continues for years to come.

“Grandmother’s Bay is an important customer for us for sure,” Carr said. “We have a lot of customers throughout the North and Grandmother’s Bay is certainly important.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno