A monumental day for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc as the band celebrated the launch of what will eventually become the future Tk’emlúps grocery store.

In a statement, the band says it will bring fresh food and groceries closer to home while also creating jobs and maximizing local development.

“This grocery store has been a priority for development identified by our membership. This project will further strengthen our economy,” Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir said. “It will be a source of pride as leadership is fully implementing a community driven opportunity. The grocery store will benefit not only our membership but all our friends who reside on the TteS as well as those who will travel here to support our Band owned grocery store.

“At TteS, we are truly excited to be supporting business development as we look at steps to help rebuild post COVID. We are fully open for business!”

Casimir says like many other First Nations, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc was driven to explore sustainable opportunities to create jobs, to facilitate food security, and to maximize the positive effects of local development.

The 22,000 sq. foot grocery store will be the first step in advancing the commercial portion of Lot 164 within the Chief Louis Centre. It will be located directly across the road from the existing Petro Canada on Highway 5 and Shuswap Road.

Initial survey work is scheduled to begin in early May with design coming after that. VisionQuest Advisors – which has planned, constructed, and launched several First Nation owned grocery stores – will be managing the project through to the launch.

“We are pleased to be working with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc on this exciting Project,” Jay Savage, the Principal of VisionQuest said. “We look forward to working with community members who will help shape the Grocery Store and to create opportunities for local skills development and participation.”

The band estimates that there could be as many as 50 full, part-time, and seasonal employees during the first year of operations, increasing to as many as 100 by year five.

The total project will cost about $13.2 million with the store slated to open in spring 2023 after a 14 month construction phase.