B.C.B次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淔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,B次元官网网址� Chickite said.B次元官网网址� 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.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淲e believe that thereB次元官网网址檚 an important role for businesses to play in reconciliation,B次元官网网址� Leisz said. B次元官网网址淭his type of collaboration is important and a really good first step. What weB次元官网网址檙e hopeful for is that this is the first of many. We shouldnB次元官网网址檛 stop here. ThereB次元官网网址檚 more economic developmentthat can happen.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 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,B次元官网网址� Chickite said. B次元官网网址淲e drive downtown B次元官网网址� lots of us are business people B次元官网网址� and looked at all the other establishments and and even just the current Starbucks location. I mean, itB次元官网网址檚 lined up all the door. So we felt like here the perfect opportunity.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淲e just canB次元官网网址檛 wait to have the building up and start getting customers,B次元官网网址� Chickite said.

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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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