B.C.91裸聊视频檚 We Wai Kai First Nation broke ground on the first Indigenous-owned Starbucks licenced-store in Canada on March 20.

The ceremony was held on the site of the new store in the Quinsam Crossing development in Campbell River.

We Wai Kai members and Starbucks Canada representatives met at the site to begin the construction process. A traditional blessing was held, led by Namgis Chief Wedlidi Speck. We Wai Kai chief Ronnie Chickite spoke about the importance of this partnership and the economic benefit it will have for the We Wai Kai people.

91裸聊视频淔or us to have self-determination, we need to get into these partnerships and Starbucks is to us was right at the top of the list,91裸聊视频� Chickite said.91裸聊视频� Economically this is a big boost to our Nation. We just we did a feasibility study and just looking at the that it made total sense for us to get into this partnership.91裸聊视频�

The store is the first of its kind in Canada. Starbucks Canada vice-president of operations and business development Shannon Leisz said that reconciliation is important to the company, and that she hoped this would be the first of many similar partnerships across Canada.

91裸聊视频淲e believe that there91裸聊视频檚 an important role for businesses to play in reconciliation,91裸聊视频� Leisz said. 91裸聊视频淭his type of collaboration is important and a really good first step. What we91裸聊视频檙e hopeful for is that this is the first of many. We shouldn91裸聊视频檛 stop here. There91裸聊视频檚 more economic developmentthat can happen.91裸聊视频�

For the We Wai Kai, opening a Starbucks at this spot just made sense.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know why nobody else really pursued (opening a Starbucks) as Nations, but for us, we just knew we needed to take a shot and we were grateful that they said yes,91裸聊视频� Chickite said. 91裸聊视频淲e drive downtown 91裸聊视频� lots of us are business people 91裸聊视频� and looked at all the other establishments and and even just the current Starbucks location. I mean, it91裸聊视频檚 lined up all the door. So we felt like here the perfect opportunity.91裸聊视频�

Though it can be difficult to predict when construction projects are complete, Leisz said the goal is to open the store by fall of this year.

91裸聊视频淲e just can91裸聊视频檛 wait to have the building up and start getting customers,91裸聊视频� Chickite said.

RELATED:

marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
Like us on and follow us on