Oak River Co-op celebrates silver anniversary
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- Published on Wednesday, October 21, 2015
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
Co-operatives celebrate their unique business model by hosting Co-op Week in mid-October of each year. The village of Oak River, with a population of 125, boasts two co-operatives: Vanguard Credit Union and Kenton/Oak River Co-op. These businesses worked together to provide a free luncheon to their customers on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Barbecued pork on a bun, pickles and cheese were served to nearly 100 people who attended the party at OakDale Senior Home. Dessert was a decorated cake, made to recognize the 25th year of operation of Oak River Co-op.
When Ron’s Lucky Dollar store closed, “concerned community members approached the board of directors of Kenton Co-op about the possibility of opening a branch store in Oak River,” states History of Blanshard, Volume IV. “Several meetings were held with the board and Oak River community. The final decision was made to undertake this project and on Sept. 21, 1990, our store was officially open for business at 29 North Railway Street.”
The building was previously home to a variety store and before that, a restaurant. It’s use for the last quarter-century has been selling groceries, including produce, once-weekly delivery from Country Crocus Bakery in Hamiota and twice-weekly farm supplies from Kenton Co-op, if they have been ordered in advance. The store regularly stocks baler twine and salt blocks, but other hardware comes from the parent store when general manager Ed Alexander makes his visits to Oak River.
Ed officially welcomed everyone to the lunch and acknowledged the community’s support throughout the years. He presented Shelley Ramsey a bouquet of flowers and a gift certificate in recognition of her 25 years of service with the company, the last 19 as manager. Wendy Peters received a verbal bouquet for her 19 years of employment there. Oak River’s first manager was Roxanne Turnbull, who served in that capacity for six years before working alongside her husband as administrator of Mr. T’s Services.
Oak River Co-op has 28- by 58 feet of display space as well as a receiving/storage area and office. It is open Monday and Wednesday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The stored is manned by four women: Shelley, Wendy, Chantel Lapierre and Felicity Cavell.
Oak River’s first board representative, Dick Heapy, was asked to cut the cake. He was joined by current board rep Diane Kuculym, past rep Pat Greenaway, Kenton rep Bob Good and board president Robert Alexander. Ninety-six people signed the guest book.
