ASSINIBOIA - Geoff Anderson is the new general manager for the Southland Co-op.
“I graduated from Iqaluit, Nunavut,” said Anderson. “I had my first job when I was 15 years old, working at a Hudson’s Bay Department Store. If you were willing to work hard, there were no shortages of jobs in the Arctic.”
Geoff’s early work experiences were diverse, from fueling planes to serving in fine-dining establishments and they were shaped in a land where community was vital for survival. Caring for neighbours took on a whole new meaning: “I remember groceries being delivered by dog-sled.”
That emphasis on serving your own community left its mark on Geoff. “I’m passionate about people. I feel my leadership skills and abilities will help the long-term sustainability of Co-op and the communities we serve. I like and believe in the board vision – building relationships while sustaining our communities.”
“After high school I followed in my grandfather’s footsteps. He was a meat-cutter when he was younger and it was something I was fascinated with. I took a retail meat-cutting program from SIAST and worked on and off in the meat industry for 18 years.”
Geoff managed the meat department first at Carrot River and then at Humboldt. “Somebody believed in me and thought I could fill a larger role. I took some training and went on to manage Davidson and Shaunavon Co-ops for three years each. Then I got the opportunity to work for Federated Co-op as Retail Advisor to give operational advice to general managers and governance advice for elected officials.”
Geoff has been the GM at Moose Jaw Co-op since 2019, and became the GM for Assiniboia’s Southland Co-op in May in 2022. “I like to come down as often as I can to support our team there. It’s an honour to work for them. It’s about making a positive impact on other people’s lives and that’s what drives me to come to work every day.”
“I have a wonderfully supportive wife and daughter. My wife works in finance for the auto industry and our daughter Charlie is enjoying her first year of high school. I couldn’t be more proud of them, and I’m so thankful for their support.”
Canada is seeing a shortage of qualified workers across every sector. Southland Co-op is facing the same challenge with recruitment and retention. “We’ve struggled to find qualified labour across the industry.” But Geoff and his team are facing the crisis with a long-term, people-focused strategy.
“The target we need to look at first is employee engagement. We want to make sure that our managers all have the skills to support their staff and to take an active interest in their careers. Our goal is to come alongside and encourage them so they can be productive team members. We also invest in them to develop their leadership skills.”
“It all starts with us - how we treat each other at work. People should like coming to work and being part of a fun working environment. That atmosphere flows all the way from the GM to the team member that’s serving our customers.”
Co-op is into agriculture, food, and fuel. “We are expanding our footprint into agriculture, and are looking at crop science and crop inputs as another way of serving our producers, especially at this time when small towns are struggling. By strengthening our partnerships in agriculture, we also help other businesses flourish, from farm to fork.”
From the Arctic to Assiniboia, Geoff is passionate about communities that work together to thrive. “I’ve always felt that this is the right business model for sustainability.
‘Our profits are your profits.’ Through our equity and cash back program and our community philanthropy, we’re able to support our members and keep the money in the towns we serve. We plan to keep them alive and well for our grandkids to enjoy. We’re not going to let our communities die.”
