One of the special aspects of Medstead life is the chance to live in a peaceful rural community, while still having access to all the amenities of a larger location. While the village may only be home to a mere 140 residents, those here have access to an engaging school, a motel/bar, bank, post office, fire department, butcher and more. A major draw for residents, and a large factor in making the town amenable to its populace, is the presence of Medstead Hometown Grocery.
The small store provides all of the standards including housewares, produce and a deli. The business boasts a beautiful bakery, which serves as a sort of coffee shop where locals gather in the mornings. Groups of residents ring in the day with fresh donuts and coffee at the tables in the back, where the bulletin boards offer a decorative collage of current events. Lunch sees many gather for the soups and sandwiches served on an everyday basis.
The store is certainly tied deeply to the roots of the community culture. However, the Wednesday weekly event has been what spreads its reach further, throughout the RM and the greater community area. Hot lunch Wednesday has its meal announced on the store’s Facebook page, and is well known within the village.
Every Wednesday, the store turns into an effective restaurant, where the food is prepared by Diane Blixrud, with cooking help from Jean Paul. The delicious meals run for less than 10 dollars, and cover a wide variety of foods. Average turnout is anywhere from 65 to 80 people, easily over half of the local population. According to Blixrud, the most popular dishes are the chicken, lasagna and Ukrainian meals. Blixrud noted that care is taken to accommodate dietary restrictions, with gluten-free options being offered, stating, “On lasagna day a gluten free lasagna is made.”
Blixrud did note that easily the most popular event is the Chinese food day, where the turnout was just two shy of 100 people. While the Wednesday events are fun, they are also frequently dedicated to causes greater than the community or business. For the annual Telemiracle event, funds of roughly $1,700 were made and donated to the noble cause. Additionally, with the restaurant facility going above and beyond, the locale donated its space and time to support a fundraiser for Chrone’s and Colitis.
The Wednesday food initiative has been running for five years now, and has come to be an iconic Medstead community event. The program breaks for the summer; sadly, June 28 is the final food event before the happening recommences on Sept. 6.
According to Blixrud, “The best part is getting to to see everyone coming in. People come from quite a ways. SaskTel always comes.”
The break for summer does make good sense, as many people branch out from the locality to travel, visit relatives, or otherwise diverge from the area. Nonetheless, when the school year resumes and the weave of the tightly knit community pulls tighter once more, food Wednesday will be there to welcome the autumn together with all the local residents and commuting patrons.
