Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/12/2018 (2653 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Long Plain First Nation is touting its second retail cannabis location as a one-stop shop for Winnipeggers to get gas and grass.
On Dec. 7, the First Nation and its partners from META Cannabis Supply Co. — which is owned by National Access Cannabis — cut the ribbon on a new store at 420 Madison St. The business is located on Long Plain’s three-acre urban reserve in the Polo Park area that currently includes an office building and a Petro-Canada gas station.
“I’m sure a lot of people will come and gas up and come and pick up their grass at the same time,” Long Plain Chief Dennis Meeches said. “It’s a great location.”
The First Nation opened its first META store on its urban reserve land in Portage la Prairie in November and Arrowhead Development Corporation chief executive officer Tim Daniels says business is starting to pick up at the location at 79 Keeshkeemaquah Dr.
“It would have been nice to have the businesses open on legalization day; however, it takes time to build,” Daniels said. “Right now in Portage la Prairie we’re the only location in the area for cannabis, so it was important for us to open that one first.”
Arrowhead — which manages all of the businesses owned by Long Plain — opted to go with modular buildings for both of its META stores in order to open to the public quicker and allow for more flexibility in future development. The First Nation is planning on building a hotel and retail space on its Winnipeg reserve that the cannabis store will be moved into.
The partnership with National Access Cannabis has allowed Long Plain to expand its business portfolio.
“For the longest time we’ve been into gas stations, gaming and commercial properties, but it’s adding another business to the corporation in terms of diversifying,” Daniels said.
“We know there’s a market out there and we want to service that market,” Meeches said, adding that retail cannabis is one way Indigenous communities can gain a larger piece of the Canadian economy.
“We’re going to be playing catch-up for a very long time and not only do we need these jobs and the corporate growth, but a lot of the success of our businesses goes back into Long Plain.”
Roughly 30 people, many of whom are Long Plain band members, are employed at both of the First Nation’s pot shops. Revenue from the businesses managed by
Arrowhead is reinvested in things like education, cultural programming, housing, roads and infrastructure for the community located south west of Portage la Prairie.
The META Madison Street location is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Long Plain First Nation is touting its second retail cannabis location as a one-stop shop for Winnipeggers to get gas and grass.
On Dec. 7, the First Nation and its partners from META Cannabis Supply Co. — which is owned by National Access Cannabis — cut the ribbon on a new store at 420 Madison St. The business is located on Long Plain’s three-acre urban reserve in the Polo Park area that currently includes an office building and a Petro-Canada gas station.
Supplied photo
(From left) Onekanew (Chief) Christian Sinclair, Opaskwayak Cree Nation; Tim Daniels, chief executive officer, Arrowhead Development Corporation; Heather Pelletier, location manager; and Chief Dennis Meeches, Long Plain First Nation, at the opening of META Cannabis Supply Co.’s Madison Street location on Dec. 7.
“I’m sure a lot of people will come and gas up and come and pick up their grass at the same time,” Long Plain Chief Dennis Meeches said. “It’s a great location.”
The First Nation opened its first META store on its urban reserve land in Portage la Prairie in November and Arrowhead Development Corporation chief executive officer Tim Daniels says business is starting to pick up at the location at 79 Keeshkeemaquah Dr.
“It would have been nice to have the businesses open on legalization day; however, it takes time to build,” Daniels said. “Right now in Portage la Prairie we’re the only location in the area for cannabis, so it was important for us to open that one first.”
Arrowhead — which manages all of the businesses owned by Long Plain — opted to go with modular buildings for both of its META stores in order to open to the public quicker and allow for more flexibility in future development. The First Nation is planning on building a hotel and retail space on its Winnipeg reserve that the cannabis store will be moved into.
The partnership with National Access Cannabis has allowed Long Plain to expand its business portfolio.
“For the longest time we’ve been into gas stations, gaming and commercial properties, but it’s adding another business to the corporation in terms of diversifying,” Daniels said.
“We know there’s a market out there and we want to service that market,” Meeches said, adding that retail cannabis is one way Indigenous communities can gain a larger piece of the Canadian economy.
Supplied photo
Long Plain First Nation opted for a modular building for its META Cannabis store at 420 Madison St. near Polo Park.
“We’re going to be playing catch-up for a very long time and not only do we need these jobs and the corporate growth, but a lot of the success of our businesses goes back into Long Plain.”
Roughly 30 people, many of whom are Long Plain band members, are employed at both of the First Nation’s pot shops. Revenue from the businesses managed by Arrowhead is reinvested in things like education, cultural programming, housing, roads and infrastructure for the community located south west of Portage la Prairie.
The META Madison Street location is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
.jpg?w=1000)