Gambler gas bar seen as step toward economic reconciliation

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This article was published 24/06/2022 (1225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The first phase of Brandon’s first urban reserve was officially unveiled to the public Friday.

The Western Nations gas bar on 18th Street North had a soft launch in March and has been pumping fuel since then, but dignitaries came out for a ribbon-cutting and barbecue now that the weather has warmed up.

Ground broke on the site, which is owned by Gambler First Nation, in 2019. A conceptual drawing released at the time showed the gas bar as being just one aspect planned for the urban reserve on top of offices and retail spaces, a restaurant and a hotel.

Western Nations is a brand of stations under the umbrella of Federated Co-operatives Ltd. that partners with Indigenous communities. This station, which Gambler is operating in partnership with Heritage Co-op, is the fourth under the brand in Canada and the first in Manitoba.

It’s the second First Nations-run gas station in the Brandon area after the Waywayseecappo First Nation gas bar north of the city in the RM of Elton on Highway 10.

On a stage set up in front of the station’s convenience store, dignitaries such as Chief David LeDoux, Mayor Rick Chrest, FCL chief executive officer Heather Ryan, Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk, Assembly of First Nations Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, delivered remarks on the meaning of this development for Gambler, Brandon and the process of economic reconciliation.

The mayor recalled how five or six years ago, Gambler came to the city with an idea for developing the property but needed a municipal services agreement — an urban reserve — to get it off the ground. Chrest said the city’s significant interest surprised the nation’s lawyer, who said there are usually bigger hurdles in launching a project like this.

In an interview with the Sun, Chrest said other First Nations have reached out to Brandon since the partnership with Gambler was announced to inquire about making arrangements of their own.

In his remarks, Piwniuk congratulated Gambler’s contributions to Manitoba’s economy, not just for the gas station but also for the community’s involvement in a new potash mine being developed near Russell.

“I come from Treaty 2 territory and in 1871, my grandfather Chief Richard Woodhouse signed the original treaty,” Woodhouse said.

“We still have the original treaty medal today and it shows our people and the newcomers equally on this medallion that was given to us from the Crown. This is what treaty is and this is what treaty means: that we’re all standing here together, working here together and creating jobs together because we all need each other.”

LeDoux thanked all the parties involved for not putting up any roadblocks or causing any issues during the creation of the gas station.

“I drove around Brandon last night and I just can’t believe how beautiful a community this is,” he said. “It certainly suits the environment that we want to work in and work with the people in Brandon … if people support us here, the more we can do for the community.”

The chief was not made available for comments after the opening ceremony, but Heritage Co-op’s business-to-business operations manager Barry Cooper was authorized to speak on their behalf.

Cooper was proud to see the grand opening arrive after receiving an email in April 2018 inquiring about a partnership between Gambler and Heritage Co-op.

“When we started, we said we were in a partnership with Gambler and we would both benefit from the operation and we both could grow and be stronger for it,” Cooper said. “To me, that’s what economic reconciliation is all about.”

In the early stages of the partnership, Cooper said LeDoux told him he was building the station for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and not himself.

“This is about future generations, this is about supporting their community and giving them opportunities for further growth,” Cooper said. “There’s a tremendous source of pride in having a facility that’s as well-maintained and as modern and as nice as the operation. Secondly, it will create a steady stream of income for years to come.”

According to him, First Nations groups from across Western Canada have been reaching out to ask about the arrangement in Brandon to learn more.

Though the gas station is owned by Gambler First Nation and people with status cards can present them to access their benefits, the business is open to the general public.

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