The Bearspaw First Nation celebrated the beginnings of the construction of a gas bar and retail centre Oct. 19 at the Bearspaw Youth Centre in the townsite of Morley.
The sod-turning ceremony was attended by various chiefs, councillors and elders from the Bearspaw and Chiniki bands; members of XPS Contracting, who will build the facilities, and other Morley community members were also present.
A carwash, convenience store, gas bar and retail space are all part of the plans for the Bearspaw band-led construction.
“We’re in negotiations to be a Subway franchise,” said Bearspaw Nation CEO, Rob Shotclose. “We will also have a convenience store and gas bar.”
Shotclose said the construction will take between six and seven months and that the Bearspaw Nation aims to have the facility opened by late spring.
“We aim to make profit and to provide a (business) model for the rest of the nation.”
He also said this will provide employment opportunities for Nation members.
The project is an undertaking by the Bearspaw First Nation Development Corporation.
The afternoon event began with a traditional pipe ceremony, followed by the sod-turning, speeches given by various members from the Bearspaw and Chiniki bands and lunch served inside the Bearspaw Youth Centre.
