Ste Anne Co-op grand opening includes new pharmacy delivery

The home of the co-op’s first gas station celebrated the home of its first brand new grocery store with a grand opening June 20.

It also touted some features added since the Ste Anne food store first opened its doors last October.

General manager Martin Trudeau acknowledged the history of Clearview Consumers Co-op, which got its start in Ste Anne 94 years ago and was soon called Ste Anne Co-op until 2018.

“This is more than just a building. It’s a long-term investment in the people in this community, an expansion of our promise to serve with quality, care and co-operative values,” said Trudeau, surrounded by co-op board members, store staff, dignitaries, and locals waiting to get their barbecued hotdogs, chips and Co-op brand drinks.

Clearview Co-op now has 14 locations in the Southeast with over 32,000 members. This is the first new grocery store at over 20,000 sq. ft., but Clearview did purchase others in St Malo and La Broquerie. Trudeau last fall said the plan is to add more food stores in the Southeast in the future.

Ste Anne food store senior manager Gavin Walls told the crowd he hoped community support he had seen so far meant the store would be a viable option for those looking to get their groceries in their home town.

“We want this to continue to strive forward in the next infinite years to come,” said Walls.

A new feature of the store is courtesy of the pharmacy, which opened in November. It is now offering free delivery.

Pharmacy manager Aishat Akande said delivery started a month ago and is free all the way to places like Richer, Paradise Village, Landmark, Mitchell and Steinbach. Farther places can pay a charge to get prescriptions delivered. Co-op members get a return on pharmacy purchases just like groceries and gas.

Akande said delivery is important for the area’s seniors and others with mobility issues.

“It’s not possible for them to always get out, especially when the weather gets colder,” she said.

“It’s really a game changer.”

Akande said flu clinics will be coming this fall. Travel planning around medications and smoking cessation with government subsidies are also offered.

To avoid waiting at a clinic or the emergency room, pharmacists can now also give out some antibiotics for things like pink eye or other minor infections, fungal infections, morning sickness and skin care.

Akande added that the Ste Anne location will also with a prescription be able to give daily medication to manage opioid addictions.

The provincial government also announced its aim to allow pharmacists to soon give birth control without a prescription.

The new Ste Anne Co-op pharmacy is open Monday to Saturday.