Lac La Ronge Indian Band leadership were in attendance at the grand opening of the new Sucker River Community Store. (Devin Daniel Bernatchez/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

Grand opening

Sucker River Community Store triples existing retail capacity

Feb 18, 2021 | 5:00 PM

Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are now more easily available in Sucker River after a new store opened last week.

“We didn’t have a big grand opening due to the COVID guidelines, we just invited a few people from chief and council, Elders and some community members,” said Lac La Ronge Indian Band Coun. Devin Bernatchez. “We’re probably tripling our capacity, so what this does is gives us a lot more buying power and we can bring in a lot more products into our community.”

The Sucker River Community Store will be open seven days a week and includes an expanded stock of products compared to the existing store. The existing store will operate until May when fuel and tobacco products is expected to transfer to the new store as well.

Bernatchez also wanted to give credit to former Coun. Kenny Ratt who advocated for the new location. The building is being paid off through revenue generated by the lease of agricultural lands to farmers and Bernatchez said Ratt was an important part of securing some of those funds.

“The profits all go back to community initiatives,” he said. “Our rebate helps our Elders, so at the end of it, the return and the dividend goes back to the community, which is a plus for everybody.”

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Bernatchez also mentioned the new store is within walking distance to most residents on the reserve, which has a population of approximately 430 people. He noted it’s where he will be doing most of his shopping now instead of going to nearby stores in La Ronge.

The location will be open seven days per week. (Devin Daniel Bernatchez/Facebook)

The store, which is part of Keethanow Group of Businesses, was originally supposed to be opened last year, but experienced setbacks due to the pandemic and other issues.

The store hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno