B.C.sa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淔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,sa国际传媒� Chickite said.sa国际传媒� 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.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淲e believe that theresa国际传媒檚 an important role for businesses to play in reconciliation,sa国际传媒� Leisz said. sa国际传媒淭his type of collaboration is important and a really good first step. What wesa国际传媒檙e hopeful for is that this is the first of many. We shouldnsa国际传媒檛 stop here. Theresa国际传媒檚 more economic developmentthat can happen.sa国际传媒�

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

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 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,sa国际传媒� Chickite said. sa国际传媒淲e drive downtown sa国际传媒� lots of us are business people sa国际传媒� and looked at all the other establishments and and even just the current Starbucks location. I mean, itsa国际传媒檚 lined up all the door. So we felt like here the perfect opportunity.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淲e just cansa国际传媒檛 wait to have the building up and start getting customers,sa国际传媒� Chickite said.

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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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