Plans are in motion to temporarily replace the fire-stricken Northern Store in Pelican Narrows, but ownership can’t commit to a permanent presence in a community it has served for more than 140 years.
A massive late-April blaze ravaged the First Nations community’s main grocery store, forcing residents to travel to Flin Flon or Prince Albert for many kitchen staples.
Derek Reimer, director of business development for the parent North West Company, said the company is working with the community to open a temporary store in the near future.
“Once we have more details, we’ll release that information as it becomes available in terms of timing and location, but nothing has been finalized as of yet,” he said in a phone interview Monday.
Reimer said North West has also talked to the community about establishing weekly sales from a mobile truck, but again nothing has been confirmed.
He said the company is reviewing the potential of a permanent store, but he could not commit to one since discussions with the local band have not concluded.
Reimer said North West has taken steps to assist Pelican Narrows in the interim, including a donation of about $13,000 worth of groceries that were distributed to those who have a hard time travelling out of town to shop.
The April 28 fire was accidental, Reimer said, destroying the approximately 1,300-sq-ft store and some warehouse space. He did not elaborate on what happened and confirmed reports that no one was injured.
CBC has reported that locals were trying to burn grass around the Northern Store to rob any potential fire of fuel, but it appeared the flames went toward the building instead, setting it ablaze.
The Northern Store evolved from a Hudson Bay Company trading post established in Pelican Narrows in 1874, Reimer said. It became a Northern Store in 1987.
“We have a long history and certainly it’s a community that we have strong ties to and have had a very good relationship with,” he said. “We’ve enjoyed serving them in the past and are hopeful we can get this temporary store launched to be able to serve them [again].”
