Waskesiu Trading Company cut the ribbon on a new building May 18. (submitted photo)

By Brent Bosker/CKOM

Ribbon cutting

Same business, new building for Waskesiu grocer

May 18, 2019 | 5:00 PM

The Waskesiu Trading Company has been a staple in the resort village north of Prince Albert for almost three decades.

On Saturday, the local grocer celebrated the opening of a new lakefront building.

“We finally just had to decide to do it, and here we are” said co-owner David Archer.

Archer said the new store will be very similar to the old one next door, but with more space and variety. Even the layout of the popular bakery was kept the same.

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“We knew it worked. We wanted to make sure to at least continue exactly what we were doing, if not make it better.”

The townsite located in Prince Albert National Park hasn’t been a hub for new construction. In fact, Archer said the village sees a new business pop up roughly every five years.

“Waskesiu definitely needs an on-going redevelopment plan,” he said. “We’re going to try and be part of that. We’ve got other lots in town that are in need as well.”

Archer said businesses count on the summer months to make their money. To spur more development, he said the business community needs to do a better job selling Waskesiu as an all-season destination.

“I think its just about letting people know its a good place, not only in summer when kids are out of school. It’s a good place to be in, May and September,” he said.

Currently, very few businesses stay open during the fall and winter months. Archer said he would consider staying open longer if the demand is there.