SaskTel President Charlene Gavel was in Prince Albert on Monday as the company opened its new concept store in The Yard District. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

New place, new concept

SaskTel unveils new concept store in Prince Albert’s Yard District

Aug 26, 2024 | 12:00 PM

A new design focused on accessibility was unveiled in Prince Albert’s Yard District Monday which will become a model for changes to SaskTel’s retail stores over time.

The Crown corporation jumped on the opportunity to be one of the first businesses to open its doors in the city’s still developing entertainment district, the company said.

“As you look around, you will see that the store is more than a retail spaces, it is a hub designed with our customers in mind,” said company president Charlene Gavel during the grand opening of the new store on August 26.

She said things like non-reflective counter surfaces help people with visual impairment and having counters at varying heights and sit/stand workstations.

Another unique feature is having artwork depicting lakes from the area and the North.

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Northern lakes, such as Dore Lake on the left, are part of the artwork at the new SaskTel concept store in Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

The Prince Albert store will be a blueprint for all future models.

One of the guest speakers was Mayor Greg Dionne, who pointed out that having Crown corporations provide certain things makes for better service and that has continued from the past to the present.

“You can see the advancement and lots of us without our Crowns would not have the service today, especially where we live in Northern Saskatchewan,” he said.

The first business to open in The Yard was The Holiday Inn, which invited the public in just before last Christmas.

In the same strip mall that holds the SaskTel store, a Firehouse Subs sign is up and multiple other businesses are under construction.

“This is one of our newest areas, The Yard District,” said Dionne. He pointed to the work on the nearby twin-pad hockey arena and aquatic centre that will be operated by the City of Prince Albert.

“As you can see, we have our new pool and rinks over there and soon be announcing our new Event Centre,” he said.

While no final decision to go ahead on the 4,500 seat-events centre has been made by council, the second building (also meant to hold the Raiders) has been part of the plan all along. Almost six months ago, the city hired a consultant to lobby the federal government for grant money and the design concept was made ‘shovel-ready’ earlier this year.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com