The Gateway Co-op was officially opened on August 10, almost one full year after the official sod turning for the project took place on August 12, 2019.
"We are excited that this day has finally come and we can showcase this great store to the public," said Brad Chambers, general manager.
The store has many new items with featured display areas.
"It has been a lot of hard work with our employees working long hours to get everything in place. The store will be expanding into hunting, fishing and some boating supplies. The grand opening will take place at the end of September but it will depend on COVID-19 restrictions," Chambers stated. “COVID-19 did not impact the building process but it has affected the availability of being able to get some hardware products from across the border.”
Lyle Olson, president of Gateway Co-op, was also on hand on the first day to offer support for the new store.
"It has been a long time in the making and hard to believe the day we have worked so hard for is finally here," said Olson.
Preeceville Mayor Garth Harris and Terry Dennis, Member of Legislature Assembly (MLA) for Canora-Pelly were also in attendance at the opening.
Each gave their personal congratulations to staff on the new store.
"The conception for the store started back in 2005 when the Town acquired this parcel of property," said Harris. "It was utilized as a housing for local physicians for a brief time before the Federated Gateway Co-op purchased it three years later and in 2012 the Coop put up a Cardlock with intentions of building a new Home Centre, C-Store, lumber store and oil and feed building.
