Wollaston Lake Arena To Be New Community Store

Wollaston Lake Arena To Be New Community Store

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 13:19

 

 

The residents of Wollaston Lake have come up with a plan to deal with the sudden loss of their only grocery store and postal outlet.

 

Fire destroyed both facilities this past Saturday.

 

Band spokesperson Rosalie Tsannie-Burseth says the band will use insurance money to rebuild the store. But in the meantime, a temporary store will be set up at an arena.

 

All of the community’s mail will be directed there, as well.

 

Tsannie-Burseth says the old store had just received a shipment of fresh produce the day of the fire. She says it will be another three or four days before a new order of fresh produce comes in by air, since the ice road to the remote community is now closed.

 

Tsannie-Burseth says people on social assistance will definitely feel a crunch over the next few days.

 

However, she says her community’s reliance on game and fish will help it pull through.

 

Tsannie-Burseth notes the site of the fire is still smouldering, and she’s asking parents to keep a close eye on their children until the debris is cleaned up today or tomorrow.