Little Black Bear first SK Aboriginal community to own Petro-Can, Tim Hortons
- Tiffany Head | June 24, 2015
After years of planning and getting things in motion, the hard work of leadership and community members of Little Black First Nation has finally become a reality through the establishment of two businesses.
Little Black Bear First Nation reserve held its official grand opening and ribbon cutting earlier this week. The band will be the first Aboriginal community to own a Petro-Canada gas station attached with a Tim Hortons franchise in Saskatchewan.
Chief Clarence Bellegarde of Little Black Bear’s Band says the community began a lengthy strategic planning process in 2005-06 to develop a 30-year economic development framework that included land use planning, sound business management, fiscal policies and business exploration.
“One of the goals was to create wealth for the community through a start-up business that was profitable, sustainable, and environmentally responsible, that also resulted in job creation and employment opportunities,” says Bellegarde.
Land claim funds were used to purchase thousands of acres of land, including five acres of commercial development land at the junction of major highway in Fort Qu’Appelle.
RBC had partnered with the band in this development, and the bank has a mission to help Aboriginal communities and businesses prosper.
“Working together, we continue to create economic opportunities that benefit, not only Aboriginal peoples, but also the Canadian economy as a whole. Further, we believe First Nations, Métis and Inuit have an even stronger contribution to make today — and for generations to come — to Canada’s economic development, sustainable growth and national identity,” Dave Mckay, President and CEO, in the 2015RBC Aborginal Partnership Report.
Little Black Bear is located 80 kilometres northeast of Regina. Free coffee will be served all day in the celebration of the grand opening.